Introduction
Qualcomm is set to revolutionize the flagship mobile experience with the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 application processor (AP), expected to launch this October. Following the success of its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the new chipset aims to deliver remarkable performance enhancements that will cater to high-end Android devices, including the eagerly anticipated Galaxy S26 series. Let's delve into what we can expect from this powerful new processor.
With leading Android smartphones receiving a boost from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite application processor (AP) this year, the company is already gearing up for the release of its successor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 AP. Set to be unveiled in October, this new chipset is anticipated to enhance the performance of the Galaxy S26 series in the U.S., China, and Canada, as well as the Galaxy S26 Ultra worldwide in the next generation.
According to a post on Weibo by leakster Digital Chat Station, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will incorporate Qualcomm's second-generation Oryon CPU cores, promising a performance increase of approximately 25% over the original Snapdragon 8 Elite. The graphics performance is also poised for a 30% uplift, thanks in part to an increase in the GPU's independent cache size from 12MB to 16MB. The SoC is expected to support both LPDDR5X and LPDDR6 RAM technology.
The LPDDR6 standard represents the next generation of RAM, offering enhanced data transfer rates ranging from 10.667 Gbps to an impressive 14.4 Gbps, compared to LPDDR5X’s top rate of 8.533 Gbps.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will be fabricated by TSMC using its advanced third-generation 3nm process technology (N3P). While Qualcomm had the option to produce the chip with TSMC’s next-generation 2nm process, choosing the 3nm node allows the company to maintain more favorable pricing for its customers.
In addition to powering the Galaxy S26 series, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 AP is expected to feature in other premium smartphones, including the OnePlus 14 and flagship models from Motorola in 2026, along with various other high-end Android devices.
Recent benchmark results from Geekbench indicate considerable improvements with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 compared to its predecessor. The single-core score has reached 4,000, evidence of a notable 25% performance boost from the 3,200 score of the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Additionally, the multi-core performance with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 has achieved 13,000, compared to 10,300 for the earlier model, marking a significant 26.2% increase.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 features a new architecture with two Prime CPU cores for handling the most demanding tasks and six Performance CPU cores designed for less intensive applications, in contrast to the Snapdragon 8 Elite's configuration of fewer Prime cores.
As it stands, Qualcomm’s new flagship AP, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, is set to showcase a performance increase between 25% and 30%, securing its place as a formidable contender in next year's mobile technology landscape.
