Qualcomm is gearing up to unveil its latest flagship mobile chipset. The CPU previously known as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, will arrive during the Snapdragon Summit set for October 21 to 23. It will come as Snapdragon 8 Elite! Earlier this year, in June, Qualcomm rolled out the Snapdragon X Elite, designed specifically for Windows laptops. It offers substantial enhancements in AI processing capabilities. This processor includes a specialized Neural Processing Unit (NPU). This NPU can run generative AI Large Language Models (LLMs) with great efficiency. Rumors are swirling that Qualcomm will rebrand the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 to the Snapdragon 8 Elite to create a more cohesive identity with its Windows processor lineup. This potential name change was hinted at in a recently leaked poster. The poster was teasing the upcoming Xiaomi 15 release.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Specifications
Reports indicate that the Snapdragon 8 Elite will feature a powerful configuration. It will consist of six CPU cores running at 3.53GHz and two additional cores at an impressive 4.32GHz. For graphics, it will be equipped with the Adreno 830 GPU. The GPU will be set at 1.1GHz. Leaked information suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Elite could deliver a remarkable 46% to 53% performance boost in GPU capabilities compared to its predecessor.
Additionally, Qualcomm’s newly introduced Snapdragon X80 modem is expected to be integrated into this chipset. This modem will include several noteworthy features. These include built-in satellite support (NB-NTN) without the need for extra components. Furthermore, 10% lower power consumption for mmWave, a 30% improvement in location accuracy. Finally, the ability to aggregate six 5G carriers for enhanced speeds. With AI emerging as a pivotal focus in the smartphone arena, the Snapdragon 8 Elite will bring significant advancements in this regard.
Recent benchmarks for the upcoming OnePlus 13 have shown promising results. The SoC achieved a score of 3,216 in single-core tests and exceeded 10,000 in multi-core tests with a remarkable score of 10,051. However, it’s worth noting that the name Snapdragon 8 Elite has not yet been officially confirmed.
Overall, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is expected to deliver outstanding performance. It will feature notable improvements in CPU and GPU power along with advanced AI processing capabilities. It will enhance both device efficiency and user experience.
The new Flagship SoC Will Push the Price Beyond the Usual
Smartphone fans need to be aware that the enhanced performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite will come with a higher price tag. Recent reports indicate that smartphone manufacturers will face increased costs when sourcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite from Qualcomm. This price hike is primarily due to TSMC’s costly N3E manufacturing process. It will raise the price by approximately 20%. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is projected to cost around $190. For comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is priced at $152.
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The Snapdragon 8 Elite will go head-to-head with MediaTek’s upcoming Dimensity 9400, slated for launch on October 9. It’s anticipated that the Dimensity 9400 may also be priced around $155. It means an increase from last year’s Dimensity 9300, which was priced at $124.
The rise in cost for the Snapdragon 8 Elite suggests that smartphones featuring this new chip will likely carry higher price points. Last year, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 launched at approximately 3,999 Yuan (~$570) in China. Hence, it’s estimated that devices powered by the 8 Elite could see a price increase of about 500 Yuan for the base model.
First Flagships Featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite
The Xiaomi 15 and 15 Pro, set to launch on October 23, are likely to be the first smartphones in the world to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Other devices expected to make their debut in China by the end of this month include the Honor Magic 7 series (comprising the Magic 7, Magic 7 Pro, Magic 7 Ultimate, and Magic 7 RS Porsche Design), as well as the OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13.
Looking ahead to next month, we can anticipate the arrival of Snapdragon 8 Lite phones in early November, just in time for the Singles’ Day shopping festival on November 11 in China. Among the Snapdragon 8 Elite devices expected to launch during this period are the Realme GT 7 Pro and Redmi K80 Pro.
Before the year wraps up, several other models are also anticipated to be unveiled. That includes the Red Magic 10 series, Nubia Z70 Ultra, and OnePlus Ace 5 Pro. All devices will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Additionally, this new chipset will also come in the Samsung Galaxy S25 lineup, Oppo Find X8 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and Vivo X200 Ultra.
Will the New Flagships Be Worthy Of The Hype?
Many Snapdragon 8 Elite phones will be released in China soon. On the other hand, the first global models may not arrive until early 2025. The Galaxy S25 series could be one of the first to feature this new chip worldwide.
If you’re okay with spending more, it might be worth waiting for these phones. The Snapdragon 8 Elite will offer great performance, especially for things like gaming, video editing, and multitasking. Many of these new phones will also use silicon carbon batteries, which last longer but still keep the phone slim. This will also be the first chance to try Qualcomm’s new Oryon Cores in a phone.
That said, there are a few downsides. These phones will likely cost more due to higher manufacturing costs, so they might not be the best choice for people on a budget. Also, they might only be available in China at first, with global launches happening months later. This could limit your options at launch.
If you don’t want to wait or pay more for the Snapdragon 8 Elite, there are already plenty of great phones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 available now, offering excellent performance at a lower price.
