Qualcomm is reportedly working on another version of its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The new chip could arrive later this year, according to the source on Weibo. The chipset will reportedly carry the model number SM8850-1-AB. Despite its lower price, it is expected to deliver Geekbench 6 scores close to the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
According to the source, the new Snapdragon chip will power devices priced below CNY 4,000. That works out to around $590 based on the current exchange rate. This suggests the new version will cost less than the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The standard model carries the SM8850-AC model number.
Qualcomm already offers three different versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The standard model is one of them, while the other two target specific devices and markets. One version is the SM8850-5-AC, which features a seven-core CPU instead of the standard octa-core setup. Oppo uses this version in its Find N6 foldable phone.
The third variant is the SM8850-1-AD. Samsung uses this chipset in its Galaxy S26 family and Galaxy Z Fold8 series. As a result, the upcoming SM8850-1-AB would become the fourth known version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The new chipset could give smartphone makers another option for high-performance devices at a lower price. It may also appeal to brands building so-called flagship killer phones. These devices typically offer premium performance without the price of top-end flagship models. The new Snapdragon variant could fit that strategy well.
However, its biggest challenge could come from Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship chip. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected to be significantly more expensive. Therefore, manufacturers may choose the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant to keep device prices under control. At the same time, they could still offer performance close to Qualcomm’s current flagship platform.
It remains unclear which smartphones will use the new chipset. More details should emerge as Qualcomm prepares to introduce the new variant later this year.
