The processor will also power the Galaxy S26 series, with a possible “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” branding.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite, which powered devices like the Galaxy S25 series, could have been followed by something like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2.
Here’s the lineage: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Snapdragon 8 Elite (effectively “Gen 4”) Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Qualcomm says the new naming convention better reflects product milestones and will carry over to future Snapdragon platforms.
The company confirmed that the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max will launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The processor will also power the Galaxy S26 series, with a possible “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy” branding.
Qualcomm.
TL;DR.
Qualcomm has revealed that the “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5” will be the name of its upcoming flagship processor. “.”.
Xiaomi has confirmed that the new chipset will power its upcoming flagship phone lineup, the Xiaomi 17 series.
With the potential moniker “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy,” the processor will also power the Galaxy S26 series.
The “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5,” Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship mobile chipset, has been formally announced. Following the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite branding last year, Qualcomm has provided an explanation for its new naming scheme ahead of the 2025 Snapdragon Summit, where the chip maker will unveil the processor that will power the upcoming line of high-end Android flagship phones.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 could have been the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which powered gadgets like the Galaxy S25 series. The business is instead going straight to a “Gen 5” processor. Although it might appear that Qualcomm skipped several generations at first, the company has provided an explanation for the reasoning behind its naming convention.
“The truth is more straightforward and potent, even though it may appear that we skipped generations. Since we unveiled our new single-digit naming and visual identity, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 represents the fifth generation of our high-end 8-series platforms. In a blog post, Qualcomm stated, “By aligning with Gen 5, we’re strengthening our leadership position and making our product roadmap easier for consumers to understand.”.
This is the family tree.
Gen 1 Snapdragon 8.
Gen 2 Snapdragon 8.
Snapdragon 8 Generation 3.
Snapdragon 8 Elite (also known as “Gen 4”).
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
Qualcomm claims that the new naming scheme will be consistent across upcoming Snapdragon platforms and more accurately represents product milestones.
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Xiaomi, meanwhile, is quickly implementing the new chip. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will be used at launch for the Xiaomi 17, 17, Pro, and 17 Pro Max, the company announced. In an attempt to directly compete with Apple’s iPhone 17 range, Xiaomi also completely eschewed the “16” designation in favor of the 17 series. The processor, which may be branded as “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy,” will also power the Galaxy S26 series.
Later this year, the Snapdragon Summit is anticipated to provide more information on features and performance. Rumor has it, though, that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will have unique Oryon cores and be built on TSMC’s 3nm process.
