TL; DR
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 lineup will arrive in two versions: standard and Pro, both built on TSMC’s new 2nm N2P process.
- The Pro variant will feature LPDDR6 RAM, better GPU performance and AI capabilities, while the regular version will stick to more cost-friendly specs.
- Expected to launch in late 2026, the Pro could be around $70 pricier than the current 8 Elite Gen 5, possibly raising flagship phone prices even more.
It’s not even been long since Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phones started hitting shelves in China (and are still yet to land in India), but leaks have already started spilling details about Qualcomm’s next flagship SoC: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 lineup. And this time, it’s not just one chip. Qualcomm is reportedly preparing two flagship variants: the standard 8 Elite Gen 6 and a higher-end 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. Yes, you read that right.
The Pro version will naturally go all out, while the regular one aims to keep costs manageable for brands and users alike. Expect some phone makers to stick with the standard Gen 6 to keep flagship prices under control, while the Pro model will likely power the most premium Android devices in 2026.
What’s New Under the Hood
Both chips will reportedly be fabricated on TSMC’s advanced N2P 2nm process, which should bring better power efficiency, improved thermals, and higher sustained performance. Qualcomm is also said to be introducing its third-generation Oryon CPU architecture, using a 2+3+3 core setup.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is where things get interesting. It’s said to support next-gen LPDDR6 memory, which offers faster data speeds and improved energy efficiency compared to LPDDR5X. It will also come with upgraded GPU architecture, details of which are scarce at the moment.
Both variants are rumored to include UFS 5.0 storage support, though.
ALSO READ: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Launched Officially: Check Specs, Benchmarks, and Upcoming Phones
The Most Expensive Mobile SoC?
Early leaks suggest the Pro variant could cost around $70 more than the current 8 Elite Gen 5. That might not sound like much, but it could bump up the retail pricing of flagship Android phones from brands like Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and iQOO.
The standard Gen 6, on the other hand, could become a go-to choice for manufacturers looking to deliver flagship-level performance at slightly lower costs, something we might see in early 2027 smartphones once the series rolls out globally.
Qualcomm’s Naming Keeps Getting Messier
At this point, Qualcomm’s naming strategy feels like solving a puzzle. This year, we have the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, where the latter is the cheaper version of the Elite.
Now, with the next lineup, it gets even more confusing: there’s the 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, followed by the 8 Elite Gen 6 (which is the cheaper version of the Pro), and then the 8 Gen 6, which is actually the cheaper version of the cheaper version.
And just to make things even trickier, there’s also the 8s Gen 5, and eventually, we’ll see the 8s Gen 6 as well. It’s a mouthful of names and a maze of tiers, but that’s where Qualcomm seems to be heading, with more segmentation, more options, and probably, more confusion. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
ALSO READ: Upcoming Phones With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
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