Recent news has emerged about Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship chip, the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2.” Codenamed “SM8850,” this chip is expected to be manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 3nm “N3P” process and is slated for an official release in October 2025. As the successor to the current “Snapdragon 8 Elite,” it promises to further elevate the performance benchmark for mobile devices, generating significant excitement among tech enthusiasts.
The “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” continues Qualcomm’s self-developed Oryon processor architecture, now in its second generation. Reports indicate that the chip will feature a “2+6” core configuration, consisting of two high-performance primary cores and six performance-optimized cores. This design proved highly efficient in the previous generation, and the new chip is expected to push the boundaries of frequency and performance even further. Sources suggest that its primary core clock speed could reach 5.0 GHz, a notable leap from the 4.47 GHz of the first-generation “Snapdragon 8 Elite.” Additionally, the chip will incorporate the new Adreno 840 GPU, anticipated to deliver enhanced graphics rendering capabilities, supporting smoother gaming experiences and complex graphical computation tasks.
In terms of performance metrics, the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” is projected to exceed 3.8 million points on the AnTuTu V10 benchmark, compared to the current generation’s scores of approximately 2.6 to 3 million (depending on the device). This represents a performance increase of 26% to 40%. This leap is attributed to the chip’s adoption of the ArmV9 architecture, which offers significant advantages in instruction set efficiency and computational power over the previous Armv8 architecture. Furthermore, the chip will support ARM’s SME 1 (Scalable Matrix Extension) and SVE2 (Scalable Vector Extension) instruction sets, further optimizing the efficiency of machine learning and AI task processing. This means future smartphones will not only excel in gaming and multitasking but also run large-scale AI models more efficiently, driving the development of on-device intelligent applications.
From a manufacturing perspective, the 3nm “N3P” process is TSMC’s latest-generation technology. Compared to the previous N3E node, it offers improved power efficiency and higher transistor density. This not only boosts the chip’s performance but also reduces energy consumption, providing more room for improved battery life in smartphones. Industry predictions suggest that mass production of the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” will begin in the second half of 2025, with the first flagship phones featuring this chip potentially debuting by late 2025 or early 2026. Brands such as Xiaomi, OPPO, and OnePlus are expected to be among the first to benefit from this technology.
Looking back at Qualcomm’s recent trajectory, the introduction of the self-developed Oryon architecture marks a shift away from reliance on ARM’s standard designs. The first-generation “Snapdragon 8 Elite” already set a benchmark in the Android ecosystem with its outstanding single-core and multi-core performance. For instance, its single-core performance on Geekbench improved by approximately 45%, with multi-core performance seeing a similar 45% boost, delivering a smoother user experience. Building on this foundation, the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” is poised to intensify competition with Apple’s A-series chips.
Beyond the smartphone market, Qualcomm is also exploring the application of similar technologies in other fields. For example, its automotive chips, “Snapdragon Cockpit Elite” and “Snapdragon Ride Elite,” are also based on the Oryon architecture, demonstrating the potential for cross-platform technology sharing. This suggests that the innovations behind the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” may not be limited to smartphones, potentially extending to tablets, laptops, and even smart vehicles in the future.
For tech enthusiasts, the appeal of the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” lies not only in its hardware upgrades but also in its implications for future applications. Support for more efficient AI computation means phones can handle more complex real-time tasks, such as augmented reality (AR), voice recognition, and image processing. Meanwhile, the enhanced GPU performance lays the groundwork for ray tracing and virtual reality (VR) experiences on mobile devices. Combined with the widespread adoption of 5G networks, this chip could drive smartphones to evolve from communication tools into all-purpose computing platforms.
While specific details about the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” await official confirmation, the leaked specifications are already enough to spark anticipation about its performance. As the release date approaches, how Qualcomm balances performance and power efficiency, as well as how it leverages software optimization to maximize hardware potential, will be key points of focus. What’s clear is that this chip is set to inject new energy into the flagship smartphone market in 2025, ushering in a comprehensive upgrade in technology and user experience.