Qualcomm is preparing to unveil its next flagship smartphone chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, in September 2026.
For the first time, a 'Pro' model will accompany the standard version.
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This article compiles all known leaks and rumors about the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Qualcomm has not officially confirmed any details.
Process Node and CPU Architecture
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be among the first chips built on TSMC's 2nm process. This node promises significant energy efficiency gains.
The chip adopts a '2+3+3' CPU layout: two prime cores, three performance cores, and three efficiency cores.
This differs from the previous '2+6' layout.
The Oryon CPU includes 16MB of L2 cache, up from 12MB on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Peak clock speeds may reach 5.0 GHz.
GPU and Gaming Features
The Adreno 845 GPU uses Qualcomm's slice-based architecture with 12MB of GMEM graphics cache and 6MB of system-level cache.
It supports ray tracing and Snapdragon Elite Gaming features.
The Pro model will feature an Adreno 850 GPU with larger cache and heat path block (HPB) technology for better thermal management.
AI and NPU
Leaks suggest an upgraded Hexagon NPU with improved power efficiency and support for newer large language models. On-device generative AI and agentic AI experiences are expected.
Connectivity, Memory, and Storage
The Snapdragon X90 5G modem may achieve peak download speeds exceeding 15 Gbps. It includes AI hardware on the baseband chip.
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The standard model supports LPDDR5X memory and UFS 5.0 storage. The Pro model is expected to feature faster LPDDR6 memory, enabling better AI performance and high-FPS gaming.
Upcoming Devices
Smartphones expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 include:
- Samsung Galaxy S27
- Samsung Galaxy S27+
- OnePlus 16
- iQOO 16
- Xiaomi 18
More devices will likely be announced closer to launch. Stay tuned for updates as Qualcomm reveals official details.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected to launch in September 2026, following Qualcomm's previous launch patterns.
The chipset model number is SM8950. MediaTek and Apple are also expected to unveil their 2nm smartphone chips around the same time.
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The 2nm node is expected to deliver a massive leap in energy efficiency, allowing the chip to run faster while consuming significantly less battery.
