Danny Weber
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro reportedly costs $300, more than double the Gen 1. This could push 2026 Android flagship prices to new highs. Read more.
Prices for flagship smartphones could rise yet again, driven by soaring mobile processor costs. According to Wccftech citing insider Abhishek Yadav, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is set to be Qualcomm's most expensive chip for Android flagships, and it could significantly push up the price of next-generation devices.
The chipset is reported to cost manufacturers $300. By comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 ran brands around $240–280, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, used in 2021–2022 flagships, was priced at roughly $130. That means Qualcomm's top-tier processor has more than doubled in cost over just a few generations.
This jump is almost certain to impact final smartphone prices. Manufacturers will either have to pass the extra expense on to customers or cut costs on other components. But in the premium segment—where cameras, displays, memory, and build materials are key—there's limited room to economize.
According to Yadav, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is likely to appear only in the most expensive, high-end flagships. More affordable models may switch to the standard Snapdragon 8 Gen 6, whose pricing hasn't been disclosed yet. This could widen the gap between ultra-premium phones and those a step below.
If the rumor proves true, 2026 could mark another steep price hike for Android flagships. With memory, display, and advanced process technology costs already climbing, an expensive processor adds yet another factor pushing manufacturers toward new pricing records.
© A. Krivonosov