Since the launch, Snapdragon 8 Elite has been one of the best chipsets in the market. Qualcomm’s latest flagship processor beats most of the competition but the company is not resting here. It has already started working on the next generation chipset, reportedly called Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and leaks are already coming in and giving us a glimpse of what to expect from this moster chipset.
Early in 2025
According to Digital Chat Station, a well known tech leaker, Qualcomm wants to announce the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 ahead of schedule. For two years in a row, the company has been moving its Snapdragon Summit forward in the calendar where it announces its flagship processor. If this trend continues, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 may be announced as early as October 2025.
For reference, the current Snapdragon 8 Elite was launched in mid October 2024. By moving the launch date forward, Qualcomm is showing it wants to stay ahead in the mobile processor game.
Wider Adoption or Exclusive Appeal?
Another point to consider with the chipset is its adoption rate. While there are reports that the flagship chipset will be in more devices than last year, then again considering the price premium of Snapdragon 8 Elite series smartphones, that’s a big if.
These kind of processors are usually found in flagship smartphones and tablets so their market share is very limited. Whether Qualcomm can balance performance with affordability to reach a wider audience remains to be seen.
Built on TSMC’s Latest Technology
Of all, the making process would be one of the biggest highlight for the Elite 2. The chipset will be made using TSMC’s N3P node, same as Apple’s A19 chips. For sure the latest process will bring better efficiency and performance to strengthen Qualcomm as a leader in innovation when it comes to mobile processors.
This move to TSMC N3P node is in line with the industry’s trend of smaller and more efficient chips. To users this means Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 devices could have longer battery life, better in-device heat management and overall performance boost.
Big Performance Boost
Performance is always the heart and soul of every new chipset launch and this isn’t different with this chip. Leaks say Qualcomm’s next flagship processor will have 20% CPU performance boost over the previous one.
And that’s not all. The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 reportedly has big GPU upgrades to make it the go-to chip for gamers and power users. If the rumors are true the chipset may set a new standard for premium mobile graphics performance for resource hungry applications like gaming, AI and AR/VR.
What This Means for You
The Elite 2 is another step forward for mobile tech for the geek and the non-geek. First to market, with the latest process and huge performance boosts, it might set the bar for flagships.
But how much will it cost and how fast will it be adopted? While it promises performance like no other, it will be very expensive for anything less than a premium device.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is going to be a monster when it drops. Qualcomm has definitely delivered on its promise of innovation and whatever we’ve seen so far of this upcoming chip is good for mobile computing.
