DenseNet-121: Optimized for Qualcomm Devices

Densenet is a machine learning model that can classify images from the Imagenet dataset. It can also be used as a backbone in building more complex models for specific use cases.

This is based on the implementation of DenseNet-121 found here. This repository contains pre-exported model files optimized for Qualcomm® devices. You can use the Qualcomm® AI Hub Models library to export with custom configurations. More details on model performance across various devices, can be found here.

Qualcomm AI Hub Models uses Qualcomm AI Hub Workbench to compile, profile, and evaluate this model. Sign up to run these models on a hosted Qualcomm® device.

Getting Started

There are two ways to deploy this model on your device:

Option 1: Download Pre-Exported Models

Below are pre-exported model assets ready for deployment.

Runtime	Precision	Chipset	SDK Versions	Download
ONNX	float	Universal	QAIRT 2.42, ONNX Runtime 1.24.3	Download
QNN_DLC	float	Universal	QAIRT 2.45	Download
TFLITE	float	Universal	QAIRT 2.45	Download

For more device-specific assets and performance metrics, visit DenseNet-121 on Qualcomm® AI Hub.

Option 2: Export with Custom Configurations

Use the Qualcomm® AI Hub Models Python library to compile and export the model with your own:

• Custom weights (e.g., fine-tuned checkpoints)
• Custom input shapes
• Target device and runtime configurations

This option is ideal if you need to customize the model beyond the default configuration provided here.

See our repository for DenseNet-121 on GitHub for usage instructions.

Model Details

Model Type: Model_use_case.image_classification

Model Stats:

• Model checkpoint: Imagenet
• Input resolution: 224x224
• Number of parameters: 7.99M
• Model size (float): 30.5 MB
• Model size (w8a16): 8.72 MB
• Model size (w8a8): 8.30 MB

Performance Summary

Model	Runtime	Precision	Chipset	Inference Time (ms)	Peak Memory Range (MB)	Primary Compute Unit
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile	0.678 ms	0 - 47 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile	0.783 ms	0 - 46 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® X2 Elite	0.742 ms	16 - 16 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® X Elite	1.75 ms	15 - 15 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® X Elite	1.75 ms	15 - 15 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile	1.064 ms	0 - 90 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Qualcomm® QCS8550 (Proxy)	1.519 ms	0 - 18 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite For Galaxy Mobile	0.783 ms	0 - 46 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	float	Qualcomm® QCS9075	2.611 ms	1 - 3 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8	Qualcomm® QCS6490	107.716 ms	21 - 29 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8	Snapdragon® 7 Gen 4 Mobile	42.531 ms	20 - 37 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8	Qualcomm® QCM6690	48.276 ms	22 - 39 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8	Snapdragon® 7 Gen 4 Mobile	42.531 ms	20 - 37 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8_mixed_int16	Qualcomm® QCS6490	148.009 ms	28 - 36 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8_mixed_int16	Snapdragon® 7 Gen 4 Mobile	63.855 ms	28 - 44 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8_mixed_int16	Qualcomm® QCM6690	74.191 ms	28 - 43 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	ONNX	w8a8_mixed_int16	Snapdragon® 7 Gen 4 Mobile	63.855 ms	28 - 44 MB	CPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile	0.72 ms	1 - 42 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile	0.88 ms	1 - 38 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® X2 Elite	0.941 ms	1 - 1 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® X Elite	2.019 ms	1 - 1 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® X Elite	2.019 ms	1 - 1 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile	1.208 ms	0 - 72 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® QCS8550 (Proxy)	1.795 ms	1 - 2 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.701 ms	1 - 40 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.701 ms	1 - 40 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.701 ms	1 - 40 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® QCS8450 (Proxy)	3.3 ms	0 - 78 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® SA7255P	7.888 ms	1 - 38 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite For Galaxy Mobile	0.88 ms	1 - 38 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® SA8295P	3.055 ms	0 - 36 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	QNN_DLC	float	Qualcomm® QCS9075	2.747 ms	1 - 3 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile	0.722 ms	0 - 56 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile	0.884 ms	0 - 57 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile	1.215 ms	0 - 94 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® QCS8550 (Proxy)	1.828 ms	0 - 6 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.73 ms	0 - 56 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.73 ms	0 - 56 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® SA8775P	2.73 ms	0 - 56 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® QCS8450 (Proxy)	3.286 ms	0 - 86 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® SA7255P	7.947 ms	0 - 52 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Snapdragon® 8 Elite For Galaxy Mobile	0.884 ms	0 - 57 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® SA8295P	3.056 ms	0 - 49 MB	NPU
DenseNet-121	TFLITE	float	Qualcomm® QCS9075	2.811 ms	0 - 18 MB	NPU

License

• The license for the original implementation of DenseNet-121 can be found here.

References

• Densely Connected Convolutional Networks
• Source Model Implementation

Community

• Join our AI Hub Slack community to collaborate, post questions and learn more about on-device AI.
• For questions or feedback please reach out to us.