Qualcomm has officially confirmed its next flagship chip will be called Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a name meant to mark the fifth generation of its premium Snapdragon 8 family.
The “Elite” label remains reserved for platforms that push the limits of capability, experience, and innovation. Gen 5 aligns this chip with its predecessors: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3, and what was effectively the fourth generation under the “Elite” banner.
Qualcomm argues this naming strategy clarifies how its roadmap works for both customers and OEMs. Gen 5 signals where each platform stands and when it arrives.
Xiaomi has confirmed that its upcoming 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max phones will run this new chip. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series is also expected to carry Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, potentially in a variant labelled “for Galaxy.”
Leaks suggest the chip is built on TSMC’s 3nm process and will keep custom Oryon CPU cores. Rumored performance numbers point to major gains over its predecessor.
Full specs and more detail are expected during the Snapdragon Summit, scheduled for September 23, 2025.
