Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 Set for Early Launch with Significant Performance Gains

Qualcomm is reportedly planning to unveil its next-generation flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, ahead of schedule. According to recent reports, the new processor is expected to be announced in late September 2025, with commercial devices featuring the chip hitting the market as early as October, at least in China.

Performance Enhancements

Leaked benchmarks suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will offer substantial performance improvements over its predecessor. The chipset is rumored to deliver a 30% increase in GPU performance and a 25% boost in CPU capabilities, positioning it as a significant upgrade for upcoming Android flagship devices. 

The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, model number SM8850, is expected to feature two prime cores and six performance cores, utilizing TSMC’s N3P fabrication process for enhanced efficiency. The inclusion of the Adreno 840 GPU, clocked at 1.35GHz, marks a notable step up from the previous generation. 

The accelerated launch timeline appears to be a strategic move by Qualcomm to align with the anticipated release of Apple’s iPhone 17 series, which is expected to debut in September 2025. By introducing the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 earlier, Android manufacturers can better position their flagship devices to compete directly with Apple’s offerings during the critical holiday shopping season. 

Anticipated Devices

While specific devices featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 have yet to be confirmed, it’s anticipated that major Android OEMs will adopt the new chipset in their upcoming flagship models. The early availability of the processor could lead to a wave of high-performance Android smartphones entering the market in Q4 2025.

As more information becomes available, consumers can look forward to a new generation of Android devices powered by Qualcomm’s latest and most powerful chipset to date.