Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a new addition to its 8-series chipsets positioned just below the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 aims to deliver a flagship-level experience similar to the Elite model but targets devices with a more accessible price point.
Like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is manufactured using a 3nm process and incorporates Qualcomm’s third-generation Oryon CPU. It features 2 prime cores clocked at 3.8 GHz alongside 6 performance cores running at 3.32 GHz.
Qualcomm compares the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5’s performance to the two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, highlighting a 36% boost in CPU performance, an 11% increase in GPU output, a 46% improvement in AI processing, and an overall 13% reduction in system-on-chip power consumption.
The chip is equipped with the Adreno 840 GPU featuring Frame Motion Engine 3.0, similarly found in the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, though without the Adreno High-Performance Memory (HPM) feature.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 also integrates Qualcomm’s Hexagon Neural Processing Unit (NPU), delivering a 46% uplift in AI tasks compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, with support for on-device AI and multi-modal inputs. Additionally, it includes Qualcomm’s Spectra Image Signal Processor (ISP) and the X80 5G Modem-RF System— the same modem featured in last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite.
OnePlus will be the first to launch devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, starting with the OnePlus Ace 6T/15R. Other manufacturers, including iQOO, Motorola, and vivo, are expected to announce phones equipped with this new chipset in the near future.
