Qualcomm may unveil Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at Snapdragon Summit, aligning with 8 Gen 5. Geekbench hints a gaming phone on 8 Gen 5; rumors tentative.
© A. Krivonosov
At the upcoming Snapdragon Summit, which kicks off on September 23, Qualcomm is preparing to unveil its next flagship processor. On paper, the follow-up might have been Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, yet fresh rumors suggest the company is set to shake up its naming once again.
According to leaker Digital Chat Station, the SM8850 chip will be called Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. A jump of several “generations” at once naturally raises eyebrows: why skip from Gen 1 straight to Gen 5? The move looks like an attempt to align the Elite series with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, positioned as a more affordable version with similar architecture and lower performance. If accurate, this rebrand would tidy up the portfolio, even if the abrupt numbering leap is likely to spark debate.
Earlier, the REDMAGIC 11 Pro gaming phone surfaced in Geekbench 6 carrying Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 rather than the top Elite chip. That sighting reinforces the idea that Qualcomm is carving the lineup into premium and more accessible tiers, giving partners clearer choices across price segments.
That said, the source has not always been precise, so it’s wise to treat the naming talk with caution. The final name will become clear in about a month, at the official presentation.