Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is expected to undergo a significant naming change, potentially being branded as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, according to a recent leak from Digital Chat Station on Weibo.
The leak suggests that the SM8550 chipset will be marketed as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, deviating from the expected “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2” or “Snapdragon 8 Elite 2” nomenclature. This move is raising eyebrows, given that the original Snapdragon 8 Elite was launched in late 2023, marking a shift from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
The decision to jump to “Gen 5” for the successor implies that 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 speculated to be a flagship processor featuring custom Oryon cores and manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process.
This speculation suggests that Qualcomm intends to position the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 as related processors within the same family. Additionally, 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 adopt the “Gen 5” naming convention for its next-generation Elite processor signals a strategic shift in its branding approach. This move is potentially aimed at streamlining its product portfolio and highlighting the shared technological advancements across its high-end mobile chipsets.
