The next Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 (or 2nd generation) could see its price increase according to a new rumor. Which could also impact the price of smartphones that integrate it. Qualcomm has significantly boosted the performance of this SoC, but its production cost of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is higher than that of its predecessor.
Devices equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC are already more expensive than their predecessors. For example, the OnePlus 13 is slightly more expensive than the OnePlus 12 (test), and the Xiaomi 15 is expected to cost more than the Xiaomi 14. As for the Samsung Galaxy S25 line, it is rumored to be more expensive than the Galaxy S24 (review).
While several factors contribute to the increase in the cost of these high-end models, one of the main ones is the increase in the price of Snapdragon processors. It appears that Qualcomm is set to further increase the price of its next-generation Snapdragon 8 SoC.
According to the South Korean media Kipost (via the leaker Jukanlosreve), the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite would be more expensive due to several factors, including global inflation and significant SoC upgrades.
Although the exact figures have not been disclosed, it has been rumored that the price increase will be substantial. Therefore, Qualcomm is currently in talks with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) about possible price negotiations.
If manufacturers fail to negotiate lower acquisition costs, it is likely that they will pass these increases on to consumers, thereby increasing the price of devices equipped with the second generation Snapdragon 8 Elite.
The traditional toolbox infographic showing the main features of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite system-on-chip, whose processor is equipped with PC-grade Oryon cores. / © Qualcomm
Additionally, some manufacturers may consider switching to alternative solutions such as MediaTek's Dimensity SoCs or, in Samsung's case, using more in-house Exynos processors in future Samsung Galaxy models.
The second-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC is rumored to deliver a 20% performance improvement over the current Snapdragon 8 Elite. Additionally, it would be built using a new 3nm manufacturing process, which promises increased efficiency.
Qualcomm would launch a Snapdragon 8s Elite for affordable high-end smartphones
In addition to the high-end Snapdragon SoC, a “Lite” version called Snapdragon 8s Elite is starting to appear in benchmark databases and leaks. According to the leaker Digital Chat Station, this SoC would be intended for high-end smartphones at an affordable price, thus positioning itself between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in terms of performance.
Like the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8s Elite is expected to power upper mid-range and budget smartphones. Among the models rumored to use this SoC we have Xiaomi's Poco F6 range, Motorola's Edge 50 Ultra and perhaps the upcoming Nothing Phone 3.
Would you be willing to pay more for a smartphone equipped with the next generation Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC? Do you think the performance increase justifies the higher price?
To go further, discover the best SoCs for high-end smartphones in 2024. Also visit our selection of the best SoCs for mid-range Android smartphones from last year.
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