Qualcomm has officially confirmed that its next-generation flagship mobile chipset will carry the unusual name “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5,” breaking from conventional numbering expectations and establishing a new naming framework for its premium processors.
What is the official name of Qualcomm’s newest flagship chip?
The chipset manufacturer has officially designated its upcoming flagship processor as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This announcement comes ahead of the Snapdragon Summit 2025, scheduled for September 23 in Hawaii, where Qualcomm will unveil the complete specifications and capabilities of the new processor.
Why did Qualcomm skip to Gen 5 numbering?
The naming progression follows a logical sequence that Qualcomm has clarified for consumers. It counts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, and the current Snapdragon 8 Elite as the first four generations, making the new chip the fifth generation in the series.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite effectively served as “Gen 4” in this counting system, though it carried different branding to highlight the introduction of Oryon CPU cores.
Industry observers suggest the avoidance of “Gen 4” numbering relates to cultural sensitivities in China, where the number four is considered unlucky, potentially influencing Qualcomm’s decision to jump directly to Gen 5.
Which devices will use the new chipset?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is set to power major Android flagship devices launching in 2026. Xiaomi has already confirmed that its upcoming Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max smartphones will feature the new processor.
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is also expected to utilize the chipset, likely with a specialized “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” variant. OnePlus 15 is another confirmed device that will incorporate the new chip.
What performance improvements are expected?
Early benchmark rumors suggest significant performance gains for the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with an expected AnTuTu score of somewhere between 4.2 million and 4.4 million points – at least a 58% improvement over the current Snapdragon 8 Elite’s average score of 2.67 million. This would also place it 5-10% ahead of MediaTek’s competing Dimensity 9500 processor.
The chipset is expected to be manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process and will continue featuring Qualcomm’s custom Oryon CPU cores. Additionally, rumors indicate the processor will include enhanced AI capabilities and improved power efficiency compared to its predecessor.
Will there be additional variants?
Alongside the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (model SM8850), Qualcomm is reportedly developing a secondary high-end processor with model number SM8845. This chip may be branded as the “Snapdragon 8 Gen 5,” positioned as a tier below the Elite variant but still featuring Oryon cores and flagship-level capabilities. This dual-chip strategy would mark a departure from Qualcomm’s traditional single flagship release per year.
Emman has been writing technical and feature articles since 2010. Prior to this, he became one of the instructors at Asia Pacific College in 2008, and eventually landed a job as Business Analyst and Technical Writer at Integrated Open Source Solutions for almost 3 years.
