Qualcomm may release Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro in 2026 with support for LPDDR6 and older memory options, helping smartphone makers balance cost and performance.
© A. Krivonosov
According to new leaks, Qualcomm is preparing an unusual move in the flagship chip segment. In 2026, the company may release two versions of its top processor simultaneously: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. Notably, the higher-end model is expected to offer much greater flexibility in memory and storage choices. This decision could be a direct response to the ongoing DRAM crisis and rising component costs.
Insider information suggests the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will be compatible not only with the latest LPDDR6 and UFS 5.0 standards but also with older, more affordable options like LPDDR5X, LPDDR5, and previous storage versions. This approach would allow smartphone manufacturers to balance performance and cost independently, potentially lowering final prices while maintaining margins even with expensive flagship hardware.
In this context, the base Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 appears less versatile. The leak claims it may be limited to LPDDR5 support, which seems odd for a chip of this caliber and could stem from either a source error or early testing phases. Regardless, industry rumors indicate manufacturers are currently more interested in the Pro version despite its higher price.
Additional market pressure comes from Qualcomm's shift to TSMC's 2nm N2P process, which is expected to significantly increase the chip's cost. As a result, companies like Xiaomi, already testing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, are reportedly hesitant to adopt LPDDR6. This memory is anticipated to be about 20% more expensive than LPDDR5X and likely only appear in configurations starting at 16GB. Ultimately, the new chip's flexibility could become a key selling point for Qualcomm's partners, enabling flagship releases without sharp price hikes.