While the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 hasn't even been made official yet, a first leak has already revealed its successor, expected in 2027. Qualcomm could indeed follow the same strategy as Apple by launching two separate versions of its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3 chip. And this development is likely to impact the price and performance of future high-end smartphones.
Two versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3 in the works
According to Digital Chat Station, a well-known leaker on Weibo, Qualcomm is working on two versions of its next high-end Snapdragon chip, expected under the code name SM8950. This processor would be marketed under the name Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 3, and it could be accompanied by a lighter version: the SM8945. The principle is reminiscent of the Apple A18 chips in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus and the A18 Pro chips in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, with a common CPU base but different graphics performance.
The idea would therefore be to reserve the most powerful chip for premium models, such as the Pro or Ultra versions of certain brands, while more "standard" high-end smartphones would receive a slightly less powerful version. An approach that could create a more marked difference between the different models in the same range, similar to what Apple has been doing with its iPhones for several generations.
An additional cost that could weigh on the price of smartphones
Still according to the same leaker, Qualcomm is preparing to produce these new chips using TSMC's 2nm engraving process, an expensive technological advance. The manufacturing cost of these chips would have increased considerably, which should be reflected in the final price of high-end smartphones from the end of 2026. In short, phones from 2027 could see their price increase significantly, or integrate a less powerful chip to contain costs.
Models like the "standard" Galaxy S27 or Xiaomi 17 could thus be equipped with the SM8945 version, leaving the full Gen 3 to the most expensive versions. This information should obviously be taken with a grain of salt since Qualcomm has not yet officially announced anything and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 has not even been presented yet. The development of the future chip therefore still has time to evolve before its expected commercialization at the end of 2026.
Source: Android Authority
0 Comments