3 Minutes
Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at its Snapdragon Summit in Maui, positioning the new platform as a sizable step up from last year s Elite chip. Promising notable CPU, GPU and AI gains along with an upgraded 5G modem and new video features, the Gen 5 aims to raise sustained real-world performance across flagship Android phones from many major brands.
Key upgrades and technical highlights
At the core of the platform is Qualcomm s third-generation Oryon CPU, led by a prime core that can reach up to 4.6GHz. Qualcomm is advertising roughly 20 percent higher peak performance and up to 35 percent better power efficiency compared with the prior generation. Early benchmarks on devices such as the standard Xiaomi 17 support those claims, with single-core Geekbench scores around 3,705 and multi-core near 11,228 — figures that rival the single-core performance of Apple s A19 Pro and edge ahead in multi-core workloads.
Graphics get a lift too: the Adreno GPU delivers about a 23 percent increase in graphics throughput and higher clocks to sustain demanding features like ray-traced mobile gaming. For on-device intelligence, the Hexagon NPU improves throughput by roughly 37 percent, boosting tasks from real-time inference to generative editing and enhanced camera processing via the Spectra ISP.
Connectivity is upgraded with the new X85 5G modem, which supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands for broader global compatibility and better peak speeds where mmWave is available. Video creators will notice another first: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the inaugural mobile platform to support the Advanced Professional Video, or APV, codec, enabling near-lossless 8K capture and workflows that are friendlier to post-production.
Availability and what it means for Android flagships
More than a dozen manufacturers have already committed to the Gen 5, from Xiaomi and Samsung to OnePlus, Vivo, iQOO, Oppo, Realme, ROG and others. Xiaomi s 17 series is expected to be the first to ship with the new chipset, followed by models such as the iQOO 15 and OnePlus 15. Qualcomm s broader goal is clear: not just to chase numbers, but to deliver sustained, real-world performance that competes with the latest Apple silicon across multitasking, gaming and AI-driven camera experiences.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 brings meaningful uplifts across CPU, GPU, AI and connectivity, while adding pro-level video features that could change mobile content creation. For consumers, the practical benefits should include smoother gaming, faster on-device AI and improved battery efficiency under sustained loads — provided OEMs tune thermals and software to take full advantage of the new silicon.
Source: gizmochina
Comments