Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite processor may adopt a significantly altered naming convention, potentially being branded as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, according to a recent leak. This would be a departure from the expected “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” or “Snapdragon 8 Elite 2” nomenclature. The information comes from leaker Digital Chat Station, who posted on Weibo that the SM8550 chipset is slated to be marketed as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
This potential name change is raising eyebrows, considering the original Snapdragon 8 Elite was launched in late 2023, marking a shift from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The move to “Gen 5” for the successor suggests Qualcomm might be aligning the naming scheme with another rumored high-end processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 (SM8445 chipset).
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is rumored to be a flagship processor featuring custom Oryon cores and manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process. This speculation suggests Qualcomm intends to position the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 as related processors within the same family. Further reports indicate that an SM8835 chipset, which would likely have been named Snapdragon 8s Gen 5, is not expected to be released.
If the leak proves accurate, Qualcomm’s decision to jump to “Gen 5” for its next-generation Elite processor signals a strategic shift in its branding approach, potentially aimed at streamlining its product portfolio and highlighting the shared technological advancements across its high-end mobile chipsets.
