Qualcomm has officially introduced its new flagship mobile chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which brings groundbreaking performance and AI enhancements to the mobile industry. Initially expected to be branded as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, Qualcomm has opted for a name change this time, choosing “Elite” to highlight its premium performance. Powered by Qualcomm’s custom Oryon CPU, previously seen in the Snapdragon X Elite for laptops, this chipset sets a new benchmark for mobile computing. Here’s everything you need to know about the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the smartphone brands confirmed to adopt it.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset: Key Highlights

The Snapdragon 8 Elite is built using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, making it one of the most power-efficient and high-performing mobile chipsets available. It delivers substantial gains in CPU speed, power efficiency, and AI-driven capabilities.

Next-Gen Oryon CPU: The chipset’s Oryon CPU has a prime core clocked at 4.32 GHz and performance cores at 3.53 GHz, which makes it the fastest mobile SoC on the market, surpassing MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 that tops out at 3.63 GHz.

AI-Driven Enhancements: The chipset leverages Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU for enhanced AI performance, which is now 45% faster. This boosts tasks like image recognition, contextual responses, and camera optimizations.

Enhanced Camera and Graphics: Equipped with an Adreno GPU, the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers 40% improved GPU performance and introduces mobile-first support for Unreal Engine 5.3, enabling film-quality 3D environments in mobile gaming.

Power and Efficiency Gains: Qualcomm promises a 44% boost in CPU performance, 44% improved power efficiency, and 27% overall power savings over previous generations.

Specifications of Snapdragon 8 Elite

The Snapdragon 8 Elite comes packed with high-end specifications, making it ideal for premium smartphones. Below are the detailed specifications:

CPU: Qualcomm Oryon CPU with 64-bit architecture, prime core at 4.32 GHz and performance cores at 3.53 GHz.

GPU: Qualcomm Adreno GPU with 40% better performance.

Camera Support: Up to 48MP triple cameras at 30fps with zero shutter lag, and up to 320MP photos. It supports 8K HDR video recording at 60fps and 4K at 120fps.

Memory & Storage: Supports LP-DDR5x memory, up to 24GB RAM with dual-channel, and UFS 4.0 storage.

Connectivity: Equipped with Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and integrated Ultra Wideband (UWB). Wi-Fi offers speeds up to 5.8 Gbps.

Audio: Supports Qualcomm aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless audio for superior sound quality, with spatial audio and head tracking.

Battery & Charging: Features Quick Charge 5 technology and USB 3.1 Gen 2 support for faster charging.

AI Camera Features

The Snapdragon 8 Elite introduces new AI-powered camera functionalities like Limitless Segmentation, which enhances images by recognizing and refining details such as faces, hair, and clothing. It also allows the removal of unwanted objects from videos, providing advanced editing options for users on the go.

Smartphone Brands Using Snapdragon 8 Elite

Although the specific phones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite haven’t been officially revealed yet, Qualcomm has confirmed that several leading brands will be launching their devices with this flagship chipset. The first phones are expected to arrive within a week, with notable brands preparing to incorporate this cutting-edge technology:

Some of the flagship series likely to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite include Xiaomi’s 15 series, Honor Magic 7 series, and Realme GT 7 Pro.

Conclusion

The launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite marks a significant advancement in mobile technology, combining record-breaking CPU speeds, robust AI capabilities, and superior camera performance. As top smartphone brands gear up to integrate this new chipset, users can expect a new level of mobile experience with faster, more efficient, and smarter devices. With the first phones arriving soon, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is set to redefine flagship smartphones in 2024.