Key Takeaways
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite has been revealed by Qualcomm.
- Because it uses Oracle CPU cores, it is said to be the fastest mobile processor ever.
- Future products from Samsung, OnePlus, and other companies will make use of the new technology.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite, which Qualcomm has unveiled, is said to be the fastest mobile system on a chip ever, in part because it incorporates PC-oriented computational cores into your phone.
Instead of using the previous Kryo cores, the new SoC is the first mobile-oriented component to leverage the same Oryon CPU technology used in PC processors like the Snapdragon X Elite. Theoretically, this results in improved on-device AI that includes “advanced” photo processing and multimodal models.
Qualcomm also asserts superior overall performance, claiming 62% more responsiveness in Chrome and 45% speedups in single and multi-core performance as compared to the 8 Gen 3. The Snapdragon 8 Elite is touted as the first mobile platform to enable complete Nanite elements in Unreal Engine 5.3, so sure, gaming does benefit from this. Stated differently, games built with that engine might feature the kind of near-photorealistic realism that was previously only found in high-end console and PC implementations.
Additionally, you can anticipate an X80 5G modem with AI acceleration and new “sliced architecture” Adreno graphics, which contribute to both the possibility of multi-gigabit cellular service and more precise location features.
Numerous well-known manufacturers, including ASUS, Honor, iQOO, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi, have already committed to supporting the Snapdragon 8 Elite. The company claims that the initial models would be accessible in the “coming weeks.”
It will take some time before actual testing reveals how well the Elite performs in comparison to other models like MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 and Apple’s A18 Pro. Both claim notable improvements in overall performance along with enhanced on-device AI. Notably, Apple also promotes console-quality versions of Android-only games like Resident Evil Village and Death Stranding; if the games aren’t available, higher frame rates might not be important.
The issue of practicality is another. As demonstrated in our assessments of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro XL, streamlined software or optimized design can make an allegedly slower SoC feel as quick as or faster.
However, early tests suggest the Snapdragon 8 Elite may outperform the A18 Pro, and the generational performance claims are among the biggest in a long time. Qualcomm has been playing catch-up a lot in recent years. It may now seize the lead and maintain that position for a number of months.
