Qualcomm has unveiled the X105 5G Modem-RF at MWC 2026, marking a significant upgrade to its predecessor, the X85 modem, and designed to support the emerging “agentic AI era.”
The new X105 modem is a flagship component intended to power cellular connectivity in high-end smartphones set to be released in the near future. It is anticipated that the X105 will be featured in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset, which could potentially support upcoming devices such as the OnePlus 16 or Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra.
A key advancement of the X105 is its compatibility with 5G Advanced Release 19, a standard that represents a crucial step towards the development of 6G and enhances connectivity to meet the demands of the AI era. This makes the X105 the first modem to support this advanced release.
The X105 also introduces enhanced support for 5G over satellite through added NR-NTN connectivity. This improvement makes satellite connectivity a more viable option for end-users by enabling support for data, voice, and messaging services.
Furthermore, Qualcomm has incorporated support for Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) as a cellular fallback mechanism. According to the company, this feature is designed to improve connectivity in challenging environments, such as elevators or parking garages, by leveraging existing LTE infrastructure.
The X105 leverages agentic AI to enhance cellular performance. Qualcomm plans to provide APIs that will allow third-party developers to utilize predictive intelligence, further expanding the modem’s capabilities.
In terms of performance, the X105 offers significant upgrades over its predecessor, the X85. It supports downlink rates of up to 14.8Gbps and uplink rates of up to 4.2Gbps, making it a substantial improvement in terms of speed.
Brady Snyder, a contributor to Android Central, highlighted the practical benefits of the X105’s features, noting that the NB-IoT fallback could have resolved connectivity issues he experienced in a parking garage. Snyder stated that a phone equipped with the X105 would have prevented communication problems when Wi-Fi was unavailable.
It is worth noting that Qualcomm provided travel, food, and lodging for the trip to MWC 2026. However, the company had no input on the coverage and did not review the article before its publication.
Android Central is a publication focused on consumer technology, and Brady Snyder is a tech journalist for the outlet, specializing in news, phones, and software.
