Qualcomm has finally put the missing piece on the table for its latest premium smartphone chips. While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 arrived without a dedicated modem announcement at first, that changed at MWC 2026 with the official reveal of the Qualcomm X105 5G modem. The headline promises are exactly what flagship users want: faster speeds, noticeably better power efficiency, and smarter connectivity behaviors designed to improve real-world performance.
Qualcomm is positioning the X105 as the industry’s first “Release 19-capable” modem, an important milestone for next-generation 5G features. One of the biggest upgrades tied to Release 19 support is NR-NTN (New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network), which enables 5G satellite connectivity. In practical terms, that opens the door to data and even video communications through satellite links when traditional cellular networks aren’t available.
On peak performance, Qualcomm says the X105 can reach up to 14.8Gbps download speeds and 4.2Gbps upload speeds. Those numbers are aimed at top-tier devices and advanced network deployments, but they also signal extra headroom for congested areas, premium hotspot use, and next-gen carrier features as networks continue to improve.
Efficiency is another major theme. The modem’s RF transceiver is built on a 6nm process, which helps shrink the footprint and improve power consumption compared to older designs. Qualcomm claims the improved manufacturing process allows the RF transceiver to use up to 30 percent less power. That matters because modem and RF activity can be a significant drain during heavy 5G use, streaming, and tethering.
The X105 also adds a connectivity fallback that’s easy to overlook but extremely useful: NB-IoT support as a last resort when you can’t connect to satellite or standard terrestrial cellular coverage. Situations like elevators, basements, subways, and other underground locations can be brutal for signals, and narrowband IoT connectivity can help maintain basic reach in challenging environments.
Another key addition is deeper AI integration. Qualcomm says the modem can use AI to optimize power usage while also ramping up peak connectivity when needed. For phone makers, Qualcomm’s APIs can be used to tune the experience further, with goals like reducing latency and improving battery life for specific use cases. In other words, the X105 isn’t just about raw speed—it’s also designed to make smarter decisions about when to push performance and when to conserve energy.
Location services get attention too. The Qualcomm X105 includes quad-band GNSS to improve location accuracy, and Qualcomm claims this can deliver up to a 25 percent reduction in power consumption for location-related tasks. That could translate into better navigation and tracking without the same battery hit, especially for users who rely on maps, fitness tracking, and location-based apps throughout the day.
As for when you’ll actually see the Qualcomm X105 in devices, there’s no official commercial launch timeline yet. However, it’s expected to arrive alongside Qualcomm’s first 2nm chipsets, which are anticipated to be announced in the fourth quarter of this year. Major smartphone brands are also likely to showcase upcoming hardware featuring this modem during Qualcomm’s next Snapdragon-focused events, so more details on real-world devices and performance should follow soon.
