Qualcomm’s surprise Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 takes a page from Apple (Update: Chip details)Will Android makers also now split their premium lineups like Apple?

Qualcomm’s surprise Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 takes a page from Apple (Update: Chip details)

TL;DR

• Qualcomm unveiled a second premium-tier processor alongside its main Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
• Called the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, the chipset marks a new split within Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 family.
• The company says the split mirrors Apple’s two-chip iPhone strategy.

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Update: September 26, 2025 (1:15 AM ET): Qualcomm has now confirmed some details about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. The company revealed to journalists, including Android Authority, that the chip has a 3nm TSMC design with custom Oryon CPU cores (3.8GHz Prime core and 3.32GHz Performance cores). The language suggests we’re looking at a 1+7 CPU layout as opposed to the 8 Elite family’s 2+6 setup.

Otherwise, the company said this chip has a “next-gen” Adreno GPU, a “powerful” NPU, and a “superior AI-ISP powered camera.” That doesn’t tell us much, so we’re still keen to see exactly what this chipset is capable of compared to its Elite stablemates.

Will Android makers also now split their premium lineups like Apple?Adamya Sharma2025-09-26T05:18:57.000Z{}