Danny Weber
10:13 30-09-2025
© A. Krivonosov
Qualcomm preps Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (SM8975) and Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 (SM8950) on a 2 nm process for 2026, after Gen 5 gains in CPU, GPU, AI, and 5G X85.
No sooner had Qualcomm unveiled its new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 than chatter about the next wave followed. According to well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, the company is already lining up two flagship processors for 2026: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 6.
The source says internal model numbers are already set: SM8975 for Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and SM8950 for the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 6. For reference, today’s 8 Elite Gen 5 and 8 Gen 5 carry SM8850 and SM8845 codes. The upcoming chips are expected to be built on a 2 nm process and to continue the refreshed naming strategy in the Snapdragon 8 lineup—details that point to a steady, deliberate roadmap.
While specifics for Gen 6 are still scarce, the current generation offers a sense of direction. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is built on the third-generation Oryon CPU architecture, features a core clocked up to 4.6 GHz, and delivers a 20% performance uplift with up to 35% better power efficiency compared with its predecessor. Graphics are 23% faster, ray tracing has been improved, the Hexagon NPU is accelerated for AI tasks, and support for the APV codec enables near-lossless 8K video recording. Taken together, the Gen 5 spec sheet sets a high bar for whatever comes next.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 also integrates the new X85 5G modem, and Xiaomi has already introduced the first phones based on it within the 17 series. By late 2025 and into early 2026, devices with this chip are expected from OnePlus, vivo, iQOO, OPPO, Realme, and Honor.