Compare Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs 8 Gen 5: CPU/GPU specs, benchmarks, connectivity, camera features, efficiency, and who each chip is best for.
© A. Krivonosov
A side-by-side look at Qualcomm’s two new chips — Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 — makes it clear the company is steering them toward different tiers. The Elite version steps up as a true flagship for top-tier phones, while the standard Gen 5 is positioned as a more attainable option for devices that sit a rung below the absolute top.
Built on TSMC’s 3 nm process, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 uses an assertive CPU layout: two Prime cores clocked up to 4.6 GHz and six Performance cores up to 3.62 GHz. Paired with Adreno 840 graphics and a 20-bit ISP, it promises a notable performance jump — up to 20 percent over the previous generation — and nearly a one-third uplift in graphics tests. Early benchmarks put it at around 3,800 points in Geekbench 6 single-core and up to 11,500 in multi-core, while AnTuTu reaches about 3.8 million. The platform also brings a 5G X85 modem, Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and advanced photo and video processing, including the new APV format and an expanded dynamic range. Qualcomm indicates improved power efficiency too: up to 35 percent at the CPU level and up to 16 percent for the entire SoC. On paper, that combination looks built for sustained speed and camera ambition, though real-world gains will hinge on cooling and device design.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 also uses a 3 nm process but opts for a more restrained setup. It features one Oryon Prime core up to 3.8 GHz and seven performance cores up to 3.32 GHz. While full details on the GPU and ISP remain limited, Qualcomm points to next-generation graphics, a powerful NPU, and an advanced ISP. In essence, Gen 5 keeps the headline technologies while dialing back frequencies and simplifying the architecture to strike a balance among price, performance, and power draw. For many devices, that compromise looks sensible.
Put simply, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is made for ultra-flagships where peak metrics and cutting-edge camera capabilities matter most, whereas Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 aims at the broader flagship class — powerful phones without the top-shelf price tags. The Elite chip shines in benchmarks and packs leading connectivity and multimedia processing, but it also calls for robust cooling and can warm up under sustained maximum load. Gen 5, meanwhile, fits brands looking to trim the bill of materials without significantly denting the user experience. This deliberate split reads as a dual-flagship strategy: one platform for the premium crowd, another for the mainstream. For buyers, it widens the choice — Elite for enthusiasts who want the biggest numbers, Gen 5 for those who prefer nearly the same tech in a more approachable package.