Qualcomm's next flagship chip is like a Hollywood star with several stage names - Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 or Elite 2 - but when it hits the scene, you'll recognize it by its performance, not its business card. It's already surpassed 4 million points on the AnTuTu test, which is a new benchmark for mobile processors. If numbers bore you, let's put it this way: today's flagships barely breathe at 2.5 to 3 million.
The world debut is announced for Snapdragon Summit, which will be on September 23rd, and until then, Qualcomm is (traditionally) happy to take care of the confusion in the names.
Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 becomes “Gen 5”?
Anyone who understands Qualcomm's chip naming deserves a silicon medal. It's long been rumored that the new model will Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, but from reliable Chinese circles (Digital Chat Station) comes the claim that the model will SM8850 wore the label Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.
Sounds logical? Not really. But Qualcomm has a talent for confusion – just think of their Snapdragon 7 series, where even today no one is quite sure what the “s” in the names mean.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is already heating up the middle class
As if there wasn't enough chaos in the Qualcomm house already, they recently launched Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, which targets the mid-range, but is somewhere between “almost flagship” and “still average” in terms of power. If you’re feeling dizzy, you’re not alone – analysts are shaking their heads too.
Xiaomi 16 first in line – Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
Regardless of the name, the new chip delivers a brutal leap in performance. Xiaomi 16 and 16 Pro will be the first phones with this monster. And when we say monster, we mean it – over 4 million points on AnTuTu is territory that even the most advanced gaming phones have yet to enter.
Specifications that smell of the future
The standard version of the new chip is said to have: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
- two Prime cores at 4.61 GHz,
- six powerful cores at 3.63 GHz,
- brand new Adreno 840 GPU for games that will probably lie before release that they need even more power,
- and of course the expected leap in artificial intelligence, because without AI, brick and mortar would still be selling phones today.
“For Galaxy” exclusive to Samsung
Samsung remains Qualcomm's VIP partner. Galaxy S26 series will have a special version of the chip marked for Galaxy, where the Prime cores will be wound on 4.74GHzThis means that Samsung will have the fastest Android on the market for a few months – until the exclusivity is extended to other brands.
Snapdragon 8 Plus and partnership with Samsung
As a surprise, it is also mentioned Snapdragon 8 Plus, which suggests that Qualcomm is preparing a double whammy – two top processors in the same year. Samsung and Qualcomm apparently still like to dance together, which gives the Koreans the front row in the fight for “best Android 2025”.
Conclusion: Numbers don't lie, names do
Until September 23rd, we're left with only speculation. Will it be Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, or maybe “Snapdragon X: for real this time”? Whatever they call it, one thing is clear: with 4 million points on AnTuTu, Qualcomm is setting new rules for the game. And rules, as we know, are meant to confuse you a little more later.
