TL; DR
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 carries a third generation Oryon CPU with 2X 3.8 GHz prime cores and 6X 3.32 GHz performance cores, marking a 36% increase over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- The Hexagon NPU records a 46% improvement in AI throughput, the Adreno 840 GPU with Frame Motion Engine 3.0 registers an 11% graphics gain, and power efficiency improves by 13%.
- The OnePlus 15R will be the first device to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.
Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 as the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and as the tier positioned below the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The company frames the 8 Gen 5 as a continuation of the 8 Gen 3 line rather than part of the Elite naming system.
The chip is manufactured on a 3 nm TSMC process. It features a third generation Oryon CPU with 2X 3.8 GHz prime cores and 6X 3.32 GHz performance cores. The graphics component is an Adreno 840 GPU running at 1.2 GHz and incorporating Frame Motion Engine 3.0.
ALSO READ: Samsung’s Exynos Nightmare Might Finally End with The Galaxy S27 Ultra
AI tasks are handled by a Hexagon NPU with six scalar and eight vector cores, producing a 46% improvement over the 8 Gen 3. Qualcomm notes support for always listening capability. Efficiency rises by 13%.
Connectivity is enabled through the Snapdragon X80 modem, which supports 10 Gbps downlink, 3.5 Gbps uplink, Wi Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. Qualcomm includes a triple 20 bit AI ISP that supports up to 320 MP photos and 8K recording at 30 fps.
ALSO READ: iQOO 15 Review: Multiple Steps Forward, No Steps Back
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs. Snapdragon 8 Elite
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite (2024) | |
| CPU | 2X Prime @ 3.8 GHz + 6X Perf @ 3.32 GHz (3rd-gen Oryon) | 2X Prime @ 4.6 GHz + 6X Perf @ 3.62 GHz (3rd-gen Oryon) | 2X Prime @ 4.32 GHz + 6X Perf @ 3.53 GHz (2nd-gen Oryon) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 (sliced, FME 3.0, no HPM) @ 1.2 GHz | Adreno 840 (sliced, FME 3.0, 18MB HPM) | Adreno 830 @ 1.1 GHz |
| NPU (AI) | Hexagon (6 scalar + 8 vector cores), 46% faster than 8 Gen 3 | Hexagon (12 scalar + 8 vector cores) | Hexagon (fewer cores than Gen 5 variants) |
| Process Node | 3 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (TSMC) | 3 nm (TSMC) |
| Modem | Snapdragon X80 (10 Gbps down / 3.5 Gbps up) | Snapdragon X85 (12.5 Gbps down / 3.7 Gbps up) | Snapdragon X80 (10 Gbps down / 3.5 Gbps up) |
| ISP | Triple 20-bit AI ISP: 320 MP photo, 8K @ 30 fps | Triple 20-bit AI ISP: 320 MP photo, 8K @ 60 fps | Triple 18-bit ISP: 200 MP photo, 8K @ 30 fps |
| Memory Support | LPDDR5X @ 4800 MHz (76.8 GB/s max) | LPDDR5X @ 4800 MHz (higher bandwidth potential) | LPDDR5X @ 5300 MHz (84.8 GB/s max) |
Clock speeds on the 8 Gen 5 fall below the Elite Gen 5, which uses 4.6 GHz prime cores and 3.62 GHz performance cores. The GPU retains a similar structure but does not include the 18 MB HPM block present in the Elite Gen 5. GPU frequency exceeds the older Elite 2024’s Adreno 830 at 1.1 GHz.
ALSO READ: OnePlus 15R, Pad Go 2 and Watch Lite Set for December 17 Launch in India
Upcoming Phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5
Upcoming devices using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 include the OnePlus 15R with a 6.78 inch 1.5K display, a 7,400 mAh battery, 100W charging, a dual camera setup and two colors, green and black, with a global launch on December 17.
Additional phones include the iQOO Neo 11, vivo S50 Pro mini, vivo X300 FE and Motorola Edge 70 Ultra. These models begin appearing from mid-December 2025 into early 2026, with more announcements anticipated around CES 2026.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
