Snapdragon is no longer just a brand of Qualcomm for processors which go in smart devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, wearables, etc. For India is means much more.
In the past few years, we have seen how Snapdragon has become a platform for Indian OEMs across different categories to launch within the country as well as globally. Be it automotive, video surveillance or smart eyewear, Snapdragon has shown up collaborative engagement with different OEMs from India to design, develop and deploy products.
This is important as it not only gives these OEMs access to latest technologies but also offers them a ‘turnkey’ platform expediting their hustle and go-to-market.
At the MWC Barcelona 2026, while visiting Qualcomm’s booth, my eyes got locked on something. I saw a huge range of smart eyewear on display powered by Snapdragon. (Please watch the video to get a glimpse of the breadth that Snapdragon has to offer in this emerging category). I believe among wearables this is going to take off and come very close to smartphone penetration. I have already explained the reasons in this earlier blog.
What caught my attention was to see a Lenskart smart eyewear among over 30 smart eyewear brands on the display at the booth. Lenskart, a purely Indian brand being showcased on a global technology forum, a forum which has no substitute! We all know MWC Barcelona is the penultimate of display of innovation and future of technology.
This journey of Lenskart, which was seen simply an eyewear brand few years ago and less of a technology OEM, was seen along in the league of OEMs which have great legacy as well as products to showcase in technology.
For an Indian OEM this completes the story. It gives them the complete package. They are able to participate in new and emerging technologies that is not only good for them but for the country as well. It gives us as a nation to participate in new and promising areas than to catchup with potential that has already exhausted or is being controlled by other countries. Developing capabilities in an emerging field early on can also give us an opportunity to go deeper in the ecosystem and position India as a hub in the category, in this case smart eyewear.
Developing products does not help it all. An OEM while trying to establish in a category has so many things to look after. It has to fine tune the product, juggle with the supply chain, augment the manufacturing, manage for resources and perform several of such intricate tasks before it can really position in the category. Now if it gets a partner like Snapdragon, which takes it global, is a collaborative model of association. By this collaboration, the OEM, in this case Lenskart, is not only building its credentials in India but worldwide.
Having tracked the journey of several OEMs in India in different categories including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, laptops, wearables, etc., they have faced it as a big challenge to be able to address all that it takes to build a credible technology company in India as well as globally. Now if they have a partner like Snapdragon which helps them walk this journey collaboratively, it should yield better results. With such an enablement we might not see OEMs wiping off the scene as has happened in the past. The launch pad like Snapdragon could be a great enablement for the Indian OEMs leaving a mark not just within the country but worldwide.
