Qualcomm is preparing for its annual Snapdragon Summit, where it is expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. According to insider Digital Chat Station, the base chip could receive a substantially redesigned graphics subsystem.
The source claims that the GPU in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will consist of six sections. By comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 use three graphics sections each, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 has two. This architecture divides shader cores and other GPU blocks into separate parts that the chip can manage depending on workload.
Moving to six sections could potentially increase performance, improve workload distribution and reduce power consumption. However, doubling the number of sections does not guarantee twice the speed: the final result will also depend on clock speeds, cache size, memory bandwidth and other specifications.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will likely receive more powerful graphics and target the most expensive flagship smartphones and mobile gaming. At the same time, leaks suggest that the chip's price could rise noticeably compared with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Qualcomm has not yet disclosed the official specifications of the new platforms. More details about the processors and their graphics architecture are expected at the Snapdragon Summit, scheduled for September 22–24, 2026.