Snapdragon 8s Elite May Launch With A Different Name

Last year, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. This represents a new naming scheme for the company, which wants to make its flagship products more identifiable. So it made sense that many assumed the next-gen Snapdragon 8s would use the Elite name. But it turns out that isn’t the case.

No Elite branding

According to multiple posts on Weibo by tipster Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm could choose a different name for the Snapdragon 8s Elite. Instead of using the “Elite” branding, the upcoming chipset will simply be known as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. This suggests that maybe the chipset isn’t deserving of the Elite name.

Qualcomm typically launches multiple variants of its flagship chipset. For instance, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 888 in 2021 and followed up with a slightly upgraded variant called the Snapdragon 888+. Then, in 2023, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and followed up with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in 2024, which was a slightly less powerful (and more affordable) version of the chipset.

This is why Qualcomm might not want to use the Elite name for the Snapdragon 8s, otherwise, it could dilute the brand for its main flagship series.

What we know so far

Based on rumors, the Snapdragon 8s Elite/Gen 4 will not use Qualcomm’s new custom Oryon cores. Instead, the chipset will feature one Cortex-X4 prime core with clock speeds of up to 3.21 GHz. It is also rumored to come with three Cortex-A720 cores clocked at speeds of up to 3.01 GHz. Then, there are two cores that go up to 2.8 GHz and two extra Cortex-A520 cores clocked at up to 2.02 GHz.

The GPU is also getting a downgrade. Instead of the Adreno 830, the chipset will use the Adreno 825 GPU.

Don’t get us wrong; it is still a very powerful chipset. However, don’t expect performance like the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It will probably find its way into upper mid-range phones. This allows customers to buy smartphones and tablets that are near flagship level but without flagship prices. The new Snapdragon 8s Elite/Gen 4 will debut in early April, so we should have more information by then.