- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 is tipped for a September launch, earlier than its predecessor.
- Leaked specs suggest significant performance gains, including rumored 5GHz speeds and a 40% AnTuTu increase.
- Xiaomi is expected to be among the first to release smartphones featuring the new Snapdragon chip.
The next big thing in phone processors is coming soon. Word from Digital Chat Station on Weibo is that Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chip might be coming sooner than we thought, possibly this September. Earlier Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 leaks showed about a 20% increase in performance. Now, new info is hinting at some serious speed boosts and a likely first appearance in Xiaomi’s upcoming phones. Let’s see what this new chipset is bringing.
Leaked Performance of the 8 Elite 2
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is supposed to bring some significant upgrades. Something similar to how Mediatek recently dropped the Dimensity 9400 Plus, which theoretically turned out to be better than the 8 Elite. Here are the rumored specs for this new chipset:
- Faster CPU: The CPU is rumored to get a speed boost, clocking in at a base frequency of 4.4GHz, a slight increase from the current 8 Elite’s 4.32GHz.
- Next-Gen CPU Cores: Expecting a move to second-generation Oryon CPU cores, which could bring around a 25% performance improvement over the previous generation.
- Beefier Graphics: The GPU is also getting an upgrade with its dedicated cache, possibly increasing from 12MB to 16 MB. This could potentially lead to a 30% overall graphics performance boost.
- Big Performance Jump: A 40% increase in AnTuTu benchmark scores is expected, potentially hitting around 3.8 million.
- Efficient Power: It’ll be using TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process. The new chip might offer a 4% performance increase with a 9% reduction in power consumption at the same speeds.
- Enhanced Multimedia: The chip is also expected to integrate the new SME instruction set, a part of the Arm64 architecture. This will enhance multimedia and graphics processing capabilities, making it more efficient.
- Memory Options: It’s likely to support both LPDDR5x and the newer LPDDR6 RAM, promising faster data speeds.
Launch Timeframe
According to Digital Chat Station, the announcement might occur as early as September of this year. This would be a notable shift from the original Snapdragon 8 Elite, which was officially launched in late October.
Also Read:
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Unveiled: The Flagship Killer Processor You Can Afford
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Could Launch On This Date: What To Expect
- Snapdragon 8s Elite: Specs, Leaks, and Expected Launch Details
This early launch seems strategically timed to directly challenge Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 17 series, which is also expected to make its debut in September. The first smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 are expected to hit the market shortly after the launch, possibly in October.
This headstart might also be planned to capture more attention before MediaTek launches its next-generation flagship chipset, the Dimensity 9500. It will be interesting to see the launch of this new chipset competing with other processors like Apple’s Bionic chips and Dimensity 9400+.
Phones Launching With Snapdragon 8 Elite 2
The rumors suggest that Xiaomi is likely to be among the first ones to launch with this new chipset. The upcoming Xiaomi 16 and possibly the Xiaomi 16 Pro will be the initial flagships to showcase this new processor.
Also, the Redmi K90 Pro, Realme GT 8 Pro, OnePlus 14, iQOO 14, Xiaomi 16 Ultra, Vivo X300 Ultra, and the Oppo Find X9 Ultra are expected to be powered by the 8 Elite 2. The Ultra variants are expected to launch in the first half of 2026.
Let’s see how the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 holds up against the expectations. Share your views with us on our X.
