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Qualcomm Already Prepping Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 for 2026 Launch

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Gen 6 could launch in September next year

Abubakar Mohammed profile picture
by Abubakar Mohammed
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Illustration of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6

Image Credit: Beebom

Summary

  • The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Gen 6 will bear the identifiers SM8975 and SM8950, respectively.
  • The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could use TSMC's 2nm process, offering gains in performance.
  • Qualcomm will likely stick to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 naming scheme considering it recently addressed the same.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 may have only just been unveiled, but the company is already preparing for 2026. We have our first leak on the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 chipsets, expected to launch next year.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could be based on TSMC's 2nm process

New information from tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Gen 6 will bear the identifiers SM8975 and SM8950, respectively. In comparison, the current chipsets are represented by numbers SM8850 and SM8845.

Digital Chat Station on Weibo with exclusive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 information
Digital Chat Station on Weibo with exclusive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 information

More importantly, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected to be manufactured on TSMC's 2nm process and could offer substantial gains in performance and efficiency. We already know that Qualcomm could be one of the major clients for TSMC next year, with Apple claiming more than half of TSMC's yield for its A20 processor.

While details on both the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Gen 6 are scarce, the recently launched Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 8 Gen 5 give us a glimpse of what to expect. For starters, with Qualcomm calling it Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, we're certain its successor will be called the 8 Elite Gen 6.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on a phone with a person holding the device
Image Credit: Qualcomm
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on a phone with a person holding the device
Image Credit: Qualcomm

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the first to debut with third-generation Oryon cores, and we expect the same cores to power the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

What should be interesting, though, is if Qualcomm bases its less expensive Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 off the current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This is because the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is basically a rebranded Snapdragon 8 Elite.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has already made its debut in Xiaomi 17 series, with phones like OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8 Pro and iQOO 15 soon landing with the same processor. Stay tuned as we will cover all the potential improvements that could make their way to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and 8 Gen 6.

Abubakar Mohammed profile picture
Abubakar Mohammed

Guides Writer

Expertise :

Abubakar is a seasoned Tech Journalist who covers everything Android and consumer electronics. He's a die-hard self-repair enthusiast who loves to dive into the specifics of consumer tech. In his free time, you will find him hunting heads in Valorant. He has previously worked with Android Police and How-to Geek.

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