Qualcomm Q3 earnings to highlight AI's impact on smartphone market, data center plans

July 29, 2026 - 18:00

Qualcomm is scheduled to release its fiscal third quarter earnings after the market closes on Wednesday, with investors closely watching how artificial intelligence is influencing both its core smartphone business and its push into data centers. The chipmaker has been a key beneficiary of the AI boom, particularly through its Snapdragon processors that now power many flagship Android phones equipped with on-device generative AI features. Analysts expect the company to report revenue growth driven by a recovery in the smartphone market, as consumers upgrade to devices that can run AI tasks locally, such as real-time language translation and image editing.

Beyond mobile, Qualcomm's efforts to expand into data center chips are also in focus. The company has been developing server processors based on its custom Oryon architecture, aiming to challenge established players like Intel and AMD in the lucrative cloud computing market. While this segment remains small compared to its handset business, any updates on customer adoption or new design wins could signal long-term growth potential. The earnings report comes at a time when the semiconductor industry is navigating uneven demand, with some sectors like automotive and IoT still sluggish. Investors will be listening for Qualcomm's guidance on the current quarter, especially regarding how AI-related demand might offset broader economic headwinds.