Qualcomm Confirms Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as Its Next Flagship Chipset"
Qualcomm has officially confirmed that its next-generation flagship CPU, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, will be unveiled at the Snapdragon Summit later this month. This announcement has sparked excitement in the tech community, especially as the processor is slated to power major Android flagships in 2025, including the Samsung Galaxy S26 and OnePlus 15. This CPU, positioned as the successor to last year's Snapdragon 8 Elite, is expected to compete directly with Apple's A19 Pro and MediaTek's Dimensity 9500.
Qualcomm's confirmation brings an end to weeks of debate over its naming strategy. The business has decided to press forward with "Elite Gen 5," a branding change that distinguishes it from the previous "Snapdragon 8 Gen" series. According to industry sources, the rebranding was driven in part by cultural considerations, particularly the avoidance of the number "4," which is considered unlucky in China, one of Qualcomm's greatest markets. The use of the name "Elite" emphasises the chipset's premium positioning, which aligns with Qualcomm's Orion core architecture.
According to early rumours, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will significantly improve performance. Geekbench 6 leaks indicate that single-core scores exceed 4,000 and multi-core results exceed 11,000. Compared to the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite, which averaged roughly 3,100 single-core and 9,800 multi-core, this is a significant improvement. If these figures are correct, Qualcomm may finally be on pace with or perhaps ahead of Apple in multi-core performance, albeit Apple still leads in sustained single-core efficiency.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is also rumoured to include next-generation AI capabilities, enhanced GPU performance, and advanced power efficiency designed for extended gaming sessions and heavy multitasking. Rumours suggest that the chip, internally designated SM8850, could have a slightly lower-tier sister, SM8845, which might be marketed as Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 for mid-premium devices. This dual-launch strategy gives Qualcomm a competitive advantage in various pricing ranges while keeping its premium category leadership.
The timing of its launch is important. Apple has previously released the A19 Pro with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which has competitive benchmark results. Meanwhile, MediaTek is preparing to introduce the Dimensity 9500. Together, these three chipsets are projected to define the second half of 2025, making it one of the most competitive years in mobile processing history. For consumers, this implies quicker, more efficient smartphones with unparalleled AI-powered capabilities will hit the market in late 2025 and early 2026.
As excitement grows for the Snapdragon Summit, all eyes will be on Qualcomm to see how it pitches its new flagship versus competitors. If the leaked benchmarks and rumours are correct, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 might set a new standard for Android performance while reaffirming Qualcomm's position in the worldwide smartphone chipset business.