Qualcomm has unveiled two new Snapdragon mobile processors aimed at bringing flagship-style features to cheaper smartphones, with the company promising smoother gaming, AI-enhanced cameras and faster connectivity for mid-range and budget devices launching later this year.

The new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chips are designed for affordable Android phones from brands including Xiaomi, OPPO, Honor, Redmi and realme, with devices expected to hit the market in the second half of 2026.

A major focus of both platforms is Qualcomm’s new ‘Snapdragon Smooth Motion UI’, which the company claims significantly improves responsiveness and reduces lag.

Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 delivers 20% faster app launches and 18% less screen stutter, while the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 boosts app launch speeds by 43% and cuts stutter by 25%.

Gaming performance is also getting a substantial lift. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 features a 77 per cent GPU improvement over its predecessor and supports 90FPS gameplay for the first time in the Snapdragon 4 series, targeting younger gamers looking for affordable high-refresh-rate phones.

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 adds AI-powered camera enhancements, Wi-Fi 7 support and a 21 per cent graphics performance uplift.

Qualcomm Senior Vice President Chenwei Yan said the chips were designed to balance “performance, power efficiency and connectivity” while extending premium smartphone experiences to more users globally.

The launch comes as rising component costs continue to push smartphone prices higher, increasing demand for more capable budget devices.