On-Device AI Silicon: Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek NPUs — 2026-09-12
Qualcomm and Apple have intensified the on-device AI race this week, with Qualcomm detailing a Hexagon NPU capable of running 30-billion-parameter models locally and Apple launching its first 2nm A20 Pro chip featuring a 32-core Neural Engine. Meanwhile, MediaTek reported a 44% surge in monthly sales driven by AI chip momentum, signaling strong market demand for edge AI silicon.
On-Device AI Silicon: Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek NPUs — 2026-09-12
Top developments
Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU Targets 30B-Parameter Local Models
Qualcomm has released detailed specifications for the next-generation Hexagon NPU in the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, confirming support for Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) models up to 30 billion parameters. The new architecture includes an "Element Accelerator" and 50% more shared memory to handle these massive workloads efficiently on smartphones. This development positions Qualcomm to challenge cloud-dependent AI by enabling complex generative tasks directly on the device, potentially reducing latency and privacy concerns for users.
Apple’s A20 Pro: First 2nm Chip with 32-Core Neural Engine
Apple officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and its new A20 Pro chip, marking Apple’s first move to TSMC’s 2nm process node. The A20 Pro features a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and two 16-core Neural Engines totaling 32 cores, designed to boost on-device AI power while managing thermal efficiency. Analysts note that Apple’s advanced packaging techniques are forcing competitors like Qualcomm and MediaTek to accelerate their own 2nm transitions to maintain competitive AI performance per watt.
MediaTek Sales Surge 44% on AI Chip Momentum
MediaTek Inc. reported a 44% year-over-year surge in monthly sales, driven significantly by its emerging AI chip business and partnerships with major tech firms like Alphabet’s Google. This growth underscores the rapid adoption of MediaTek’s Dimensity series in premium Android devices, where NPU performance is becoming a key differentiator. The financial results highlight the increasing importance of on-device AI capabilities in driving smartphone upgrade cycles.
Intel Faces Market Pressure as Apple Ends Intel Mac Support
Intel’s stock fell 5.5% following news of a $20 billion share sale and Apple’s definitive shift away from Intel-based Macs. As Apple’s M-series chips continue to dominate high-performance laptop markets with superior AI capabilities via their unified memory architecture and Neural Engines, Intel faces increased pressure to innovate its own NPU offerings. The move signals a broader industry trend where ARM-based silicon is gaining ground in both mobile and PC segments due to better energy efficiency for AI workloads.
Local view
China: Local media outlets are closely following the "four-way battle" among flagship 2nm chips, comparing the performance of Apple’s A20 Pro, Huawei’s Kirin 9050, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600. Reports from Smzdm highlight that while Apple leads in process technology, domestic players are focusing on specific AI optimizations for local apps and services. iFeng Technology emphasizes that the shift toward "Agentic AI" on devices is pushing manufacturers to integrate more powerful NPUs to handle complex, multi-step tasks locally without cloud reliance.
Korea: Korean tech media reports that the competition in the AI PC market is shifting from raw processing speed to on-device AI computational power. Data Economy News notes that Acer’s launch of local AI desktops at IFA 2026 reflects this trend, with consumers increasingly prioritizing devices that can run large language models offline for privacy and speed. This aligns with Samsung’s strategy of doubling its AI-enabled mobile devices, leveraging its own Exynos NPU improvements alongside Google Gemini integration.
Context & numbers
The global shipment share of GenAI-capable smartphones is forecast to reach 45% in 2026, up from lower percentages in previous years, according to Counterpoint Research. In the PC segment, AI Advanced PCs (those with dedicated NPUs) are projected to account for nearly 59% of global shipments in 2026, a significant jump from ~39% in 2025. These figures illustrate the rapid mainstreaming of NPU-equipped devices as standard rather than niche products.
On the radar
- Snapdragon Summit 2026: Scheduled for September 22, where Qualcomm is expected to officially launch the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and provide further details on the NPU’s real-world performance benchmarks.
- Apple Mac Shipments: Apple’s M6 Mac mini ($899) and M5 Ultra Mac Studio ($5,499) are set to ship on September 22, 2026, potentially setting new standards for desktop-class on-device AI performance.
- Qualcomm Price Hikes: Qualcomm confirmed double-digit chip price hikes effective September 1, 2026, which may impact OEM margins and retail prices for Android devices relying on their latest silicon.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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