Qualcomm’s next flagship chip might resurrect the Snapdragon 8 Gen name with a twist
A fresh leak suggests Qualcomm’s upcoming top-tier smartphone processor may not debut as the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 after all. Instead, the company could merge its recent “Elite” branding with the older “Gen” naming, launching the chipset as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
The claim comes from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who says the model number SM8850 is tentatively tied to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 name. Tentative is the keyword here—nothing is final—but the move would fit Qualcomm’s habit of tweaking its branding as generations progress.
There’s more. An earlier rumor pointed to an in-between chip, SM8845, positioned above the current Snapdragon 8 Elite (SM8750) but below the SM8850 flagship. If Qualcomm wants a tidy lineup, SM8845 could land as the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4, bridging the gap and making the series easier to understand.
Consistency hasn’t been Qualcomm’s strong suit when it comes to names. Recent history swung from Snapdragon 865 to 888, then to 8 Gen 1, only for the 8 Gen family to be sidelined by the 8 Elite moniker. Reintroducing the Gen label alongside Elite could be Qualcomm’s way of signaling clear generational progress without abandoning the premium “Elite” badge it just established.
Launch timing looks firm. Qualcomm has scheduled its next Snapdragon Summit for September 23–25, where the new flagship SoC will take center stage. Regardless of the final nameplate, the first wave of phones powered by the chip is expected to arrive in October 2025.
What to expect from the new Snapdragon 8 Elite series
– A naming refresh that likely combines “Elite” status with clear generational markers
– A tiered stack: current 8 Elite (SM8750), a possible mid-step 8 Elite Gen 4 (SM8845), and the flagship 8 Elite Gen 5 (SM8850)
– Usual generational gains in CPU and GPU performance, AI acceleration, and power efficiency
– Rapid adoption by major Android flagships shortly after the summit
Bottom line: Qualcomm may be ready to tidy up its flagship lineup with a name that balances premium branding and easy-to-follow generations. Keep an eye on the Snapdragon Summit—final names and hard specs are just weeks away, with retail devices likely close behind.
