Newly leaked details suggest Qualcomm is set to launch its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro processors, potentially marking the company’s first transition to TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process. These advancements may lead to higher prices for Ultra phones and create a distinction within the flagship tier.
The leak, reported by renowned tipster Digital Chat Station, indicates that these processors could debut in premium devices like the OnePlus 16 as early as the end of this year. Model numbers SM8975 and SM8950 appear to correspond to the Pro and standard variants of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, respectively. This shift to a 2nm process could improve performance and efficiency compared to the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Both processor variants are expected to feature a 2+3+3 CPU configuration, continuing Qualcomm’s established custom Oryon core design. Significant differences arise in graphics performance; the Pro model (SM8975) is touted to include an Adreno 850 GPU with 18MB of graphics memory cache (GMEM), while the standard version (SM8950) uses an Adreno 845 GPU with 12MB GMEM. Greater on-chip graphics cache is anticipated to enhance performance and power efficiency, particularly in graphics-intensive applications.
Additionally, the Pro variant is rumored to support LPDDR6 memory alongside LPDDR5X, whereas the standard chip is only expected to support LPDDR5X. If confirmed, this would mark the introduction of LPDDR6 in Android smartphones, providing manufacturers with new opportunities to differentiate ultra-premium devices.
The rise in production costs resulting from increasing component prices, including those associated with RAM, alongside the high cost of the Pro variant, could drive flagship prices significantly higher. Digital Chat Station previously indicated that the SM8975 has the potential to be “extremely expensive.” Some mid-range models are reportedly testing the SM8950, highlighting Qualcomm’s strategic tier differentiation.
With the potential for higher pricing on models like the forthcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra, consumers may face a changing landscape in the upper echelon of smartphone offerings. The implications of these leaks suggest a pivotal moment for Qualcomm as it prepares to advance its chipset technology in a competitive market.
