Qualcomm is preparing to unveil its next big chipset — the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (also referred to as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5) — at the Snapdragon Summit starting September 23 in Hawaii. This new processor is expected to power the next wave of flagship smartphones and set new performance standards in the premium segment.
Xiaomi 16 Series to Lead the Way
The first devices to showcase the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 are expected to be the Xiaomi 16 and Xiaomi 16 Pro, which are likely to debut in October. Soon after, we could see the chip inside other major flagships such as the OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8, iQOO 14, Vivo X300 Ultra, and Samsung Galaxy S26 series.
Built on TSMC’s 3nm Technology
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is rumored to be built on TSMC’s 3nm (N3P) process, which should bring better efficiency and stronger performance compared to its predecessor. It is also expected to support the latest LPDDR5x and LPDDR6 RAM, making it capable of handling demanding apps, games, and multitasking with ease.
What to Expect Next
Full details of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 are yet to be revealed, but early leaks suggest it will deliver a massive performance jump compared to current flagships. With so many brands already lined up to use it, the chipset is shaping up to be one of the most impactful mobile launches of 2025. We’ll know more once Qualcomm officially introduces it later this month at the Snapdragon Summit.
