Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile SoC was officially unveiled during the company’s Summit 2024 event in Maui in October, and soon after, flagship devices from OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Asus started arriving with the new chipset. As these Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphones make their way into the market, rumors and leaks surrounding the next iteration, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, have already begun to surface. According to reports, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is expected to offer a significant performance increase, with a rumored 20 percent boost over its predecessor, signaling continued advancements in mobile chipset technology.
According to renowned leaker Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, also referred to as the ‘SM8850’, will be built using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process, known as N3P. This manufacturing shift could mark a substantial upgrade in terms of energy efficiency and performance, as the previous generation was produced using TSMC’s second-generation 3nm process, N3E. A move to the more advanced N3P process is likely to result in better overall performance and more efficient power consumption, which could be crucial for enhancing the capabilities of next-generation smartphones.
The increased performance of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is expected to come from various improvements in the architecture, with the new chipset possibly sporting higher clock speeds and better optimization for demanding tasks such as gaming, AI processing, and multitasking. The 20 percent performance boost is particularly significant, as it demonstrates Qualcomm’s commitment to staying ahead of the curve in a highly competitive mobile chipset market. This enhancement could translate to faster app loading times, smoother gaming experiences, and improved overall efficiency in tasks requiring heavy processing.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is anticipated to be a key player in the upcoming flagship smartphones from major manufacturers, potentially setting the standard for mobile performance in 2025. If the performance improvements hold true, users can expect even more power-packed devices with superior computational capabilities. As the next-generation chipset nears its official release, the mobile industry will likely see further advancements in mobile computing, AI, and gaming, thanks to the continued evolution of Snapdragon processors.