TL; DR
- Snapdragon 8 Elite has been launched as the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- It brings major upgrades in CPU, GPU, AI, and efficiency, built on a 3 nm process. 45% faster CPU, 40% GPU boost, 33% better ISP, and 45% faster NPU.
- An overclocked version is expected in January with the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, clocked at 4.6 GHz.
- Upcoming smartphones include the realme GT7 Pro, iQOO 13, OnePlus 13, Xiaomi 15, Xiaomi 15 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, HONOR Magic7, HONOR Magic7 Pro, OPPO Find X8 Ultra, vivo X200 Ultra, nubia Z70 Ultra, nubia Red Magic 10 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 9, and more.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite has officially been launched at the Snapdragon Summit 2024, confirming the long-rumored renaming of Qualcomm’s flagship chipset from the expected Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. As Qualcomm’s top-tier mobile platform for 2024 and 2025, the 8 Elite brings some significant upgrades over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The new SoC is built with a fresh Qualcomm Oryon CPU architecture, featuring two prime cores clocked at 4.32 GHz, leading to 45% improvements in both single-core and multi-core performance. The remaining six cores tick at 3.53 GHz, further supported by a total cache of 24 MB.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is the company’s first smartphone chip built on a 3 nm process node, specifically TSMC’s N3E process. The chipset promises 44% lower CPU power consumption and 40% lower GPU power usage, alongside a 27% boost in overall efficiency.
ALSO READ: Apple iPhone 18 Series to Feature TSMC’s next-generation 2nm Chip
The Snapdragon 8 Elite also brings some improvements to the GPU, with a 40% performance boost and 35% improvement in ray tracing, thanks to a new sliced architecture and on-board GMEM. These upgrades are complemented by support for advanced gaming engines such as Unreal Engine, NandTime, and the Chaos Engine for better gaming.
The AI performance of the chip has also been enhanced with a 45% faster NPU, featuring a six-core vector accelerator and eight-core scalar accelerator, making the SoC capable of advanced on-device AI tasks, including AI-based photo editing.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite also brings a 33% better ISP and other camera improvements. It’s also got 5300 MHz dual-channel LPDDR5X RAM, which is about 10% faster than the 4800 MHz RAM on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
Connectivity is equally robust, with the new Snapdragon X80 modem and 5G Advanced support. There’s also “AI-enhanced” Wi-Fi 7 via the new Qualcomm FastConnect 7900. Additionally, the ultra-wideband is integrated into the chip itself.
Qualcomm would also launch an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite somewhere in January alongside the Samsung Galaxy S25 series. This overclocked version is expected to be boosted by ~1.5 GHz, bumping the clock speed from 4.32 GHz to about 4.47 GHz.
ALSO READ: MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Vs. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite: Early Benchmarks Comparison
Upcoming Phones with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
A host of upcoming flagship smartphones will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite and most of these will be launching next week in China, with the global release starting next month. Here’s a list of all the upcoming smartphones with the Snapdragon 8 Elite:
1. realme GT 7 Pro
The realme GT 7 Pro is set to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, featuring a 6.8” 1.5K micro quad-curve display. It will have a 50 MP + 8 MP + 50 MP (3x) rear camera setup and a 32 MP front camera.
The phone will run on realme UI 6.0 based on Android 15 and pack a 6,500 mAh battery supporting 120W fast charging. It’s expected to be priced between ₹55,000 and ₹60,000. In India, the realme GT 7 Pro will be launched in mid-November, making it India’s first smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
ALSO READ: Exclusive: realme GT 7 Pro Will be India’s First Snapdragon 8 Elite Phone, Launch Timeline Inside
2. OnePlus 13
Launching on October 31 in China, the OnePlus 13 will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a 6.82” 2K micro quad-curve display, and a 50 MP triple camera setup with 3x optical zoom. The device will include a 32 MP selfie camera, a 6,000 mAh battery with 100W wired charging, and 50W magnetic wireless charging. It’s expected to be priced under ₹70,000.
ALSO READ: OnePlus 13 Design and Launch Date Officially Unveiled in China
3. iQOO 13
The iQOO 13 will also be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, with flagship specifications aimed at performance enthusiasts. Although specific details are under wraps, the device is expected to have a 50 MP + 50 MP + 50 MP (2x) rear camera setup, 32 MP front camera, and a 6.8” OLED screen. The expected price is around ₹55,000 to ₹60,000. In India, the iQOO 13 will be launched on December 3.
ALSO READ: Exclusive: iQOO 13 India Launch Preponed to December 3rd
4. Xiaomi 15 Series
Expected to launch on October 29, the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The Xiaomi 15 will sport a 6.36” 1.5K LTPO display with a ~4,900 mAh battery and support for 100W wired/50W wireless charging. It will have a triple 50 MP camera setup and may cost around ₹70,000 in India.
The Xiaomi 15 Pro, featuring a 6.7” 2K LTPO display, is said to have a 5,400 mAh battery with 120W wired/66W wireless charging. This model is expected to be priced between ¥5,299 and ¥5,499 in China. Like last year, this model might not make it to India.
Xiaomi 15 Pro design and specs: Xiaomi 15 Pro: Exclusive First Look Reveals Design, Specs & Camera
5. Samsung Galaxy S25 Series
Scheduled for early next year, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will debut with an overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite. It will feature a 4.6 GHz prime core clock speed, a new 48 MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging. The phone will run on One UI 7, with an anticipated price around ₹1.25 lakh in India.
ALSO READ: No Mediatek for Samsung Galaxy S25 Series? S25 Series could be Snapdragon only
6. HONOR Magic7 Series
The HONOR Magic7 series will also feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, complemented by a 6.78” 1.5K quad-curve display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. This device will be equipped with a 50 MP front camera and a rear setup featuring three 50 MP sensors including one with 3x zoom.
The Magic7 will feature a 5,700 mAh battery and also support 80W wired and 50W wireless charging. Additionally, it will include an optical fingerprint scanner and a 2D face unlock feature. The estimated starting price for the HONOR Magic7 is around ¥4,400. While the exact launch date remains unclear, it is anticipated to arrive in India sometime next year.
7. ZTE nubia Z70 Ultra
The nubia Z70 Ultra was initially rumored to feature a 50 MP camera with a 35 mm variable aperture lens and a 1.5K display with ultra-thin bezels. It’s now officially confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. While the launch date remains undisclosed, this device should launch by the end of this year.
8. ZTE nubia Red Magic 10 Pro
The ZTE nubia Red Magic 10 Pro, aimed at gamers, will also feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite, making it the first gaming-focused phone to use this chipset. It’s expected to also launch by the end of this year.
9. ASUS ROG Phone 9
Another gaming phone, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 has been officially confirmed to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The launch date is set for November 19. The device will come with 24 GB of RAM and 1 TB of internal storage, alongside 65 W fast charging.
10. vivo X200 Ultra
vivo has teased an upcoming smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, hinting at the possibility of it being the vivo X200 Ultra. Details are scarce, but Vivo’s teaser says “Stay Tuned” for more information, likely to be revealed soon.
Other smartphones that will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite include the vivo X200 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, OPPO Find X8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold7, Galaxy Z Flip7, and some other foldables in 2025. What are your thoughts on the Snapdragon 8 Elite and which 8 Elite-powered smartphone are you the most excited for? Let us know in the comments section below.
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