Learn about Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips: Pro and standard variants with TSMC 2nm process, Adreno GPUs, LPDDR6 support, and competition with MediaTek.
© A. Krivonosov
Details have emerged online about Qualcomm's next-generation flagship processors, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series. According to insider Digital Chat Station, the company is preparing two chip variants: a standard model and a more powerful Pro version, suggesting a new strategy for splitting the flagship lineup.
Both versions, designated SM8950 and SM8975, are being built on TSMC's advanced 2nm process. They will feature a 2+3+3 core architecture, balancing high performance with energy efficiency. However, the key differences between the models will lie in graphics and memory.
The higher-end SM8975, likely branded as the Pro version, comes with Adreno 850 graphics, an increased 18MB L2 cache, and support for LPDDR6 memory. It also includes an additional cache buffer and enhanced memory capabilities, positioning this chip for ultra-premium devices.
The base SM8950 model will be slightly simpler: it's expected to feature an Adreno 845 GPU, smaller cache sizes (12MB L2 and 6MB L1), and support for LPDDR5X memory. This variant will probably become the main choice for most flagship smartphones due to its more balanced specifications and cost.
Separately, MediaTek's upcoming Dimensity 9600 processor could position itself between the two Snapdragon versions in terms of performance, intensifying competition in this segment. Meanwhile, Qualcomm is also developing a separate Snapdragon 8 Gen 6, though its specifications might be less impressive. The more expensive Pro version is expected to be more complex and costly to produce, which could limit its availability.