Qualcomm appears to be broadening its current-generation flagship platform well beyond the typical release window, according to a new leak. Even with the next Snapdragon series expected to launch within months, the company is reportedly readying a fourth variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, this time with cost-sensitive smartphones in mind.
A growing chip family
Three versions of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 are already shipping in devices. The SM8850-5-AC is a seven-core variant powering the OPPO Find N6, while the standard eight-core SM8850-AC appears in products such as the OnePlus 15. A higher-clocked edition, the SM8850-1-AD, drives the newly announced Galaxy Z Fold8.
Tipster Digital Chat Station now claims that a fourth model, designated SM8850-1-AB, will arrive in the coming months. According to the post, this upcoming version is engineered to deliver benchmark results close to the standard eight-core configuration while carrying a lower price tag, positioning it for smartphones priced below approximately 4,000 CNY (roughly $600). Crucially, the SM8850-1-AB is expected to maintain the same feature set found across the rest of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 lineup.
Rising component costs reshape strategy
The timing aligns with industry-wide cost pressures that are reshaping flagship pricing. Memory and other component costs have been trending upward, a dynamic that is anticipated to lift the bill of materials for Qualcomm’s next-generation silicon. Earlier leaks have indicated that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could cost manufacturers upwards of $300 per unit, a significant increase that would heavily influence final retail pricing.
Even the standard Gen 6 chip, which is rumored to omit some features in an effort to control expenses, is unlikely to arrive at a budget-friendly level. In this environment, a refreshed last-generation flagship part that sustains near-premium performance becomes an increasingly practical option for device makers, particularly given that contemporary smartphones already surpass the daily performance needs of most users.
Unanswered questions around another variant
Some uncertainty remains. Digital Chat Station previously referenced another chip under development, a “Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5XX” identified by the codename SM8850Q. That processor does not appear in the newer leak, leaving its status unclear—it may have been merged into the SM8850-1-AB project, postponed, or continue on its own separate path.
Qualcomm is widely expected to formally introduce the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro chips at the Snapdragon Summit scheduled for September. That event is also the likely venue for any official clarity on whether a more affordable Gen 5 variant will join the company’s extended portfolio.
Sources: m.weibo.cn, wccftech.com