According to the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, Qualcomm is set to launch a new version of its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC later this year, identified as the SM8850-1-AB. This new model is expected to achieve similar Geekbench 6 scores as the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
DCS notes that this chipset will be integrated into devices priced below CNY 4,000, approximately $590 based on current exchange rates, suggesting it will be more affordable than the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which carries the model number SM8850-AC.
For context, there are already three versions of this chipset available. In addition to the standard model, there's the SM8850-5-AC, which features a seven-core CPU instead of an octa-core configuration and is utilized in Oppo's Find N6. The SM8850-1-AD is implemented in Samsung's Galaxy S26 series and Galaxy Z Fold8 series.
The upcoming model will be the fourth iteration. It will be intriguing to see which 'flagship killer' devices opt for this version instead of upgrading to the presumably pricier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
Source (in Chinese)
