Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 8 Elite Version Featuring 7-Core Cluster, One Core Fewer Than October’s Flagship Chipset

In October of the previous year, Qualcomm debuted the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, showcasing a high-performance system on a chip (SoC) designed for flagship smartphones. This advanced chipset is equipped with two performance cores operating at a default frequency of 4.32GHz, alongside six efficiency cores functioning at 3.53GHz. Interestingly, reports suggest that the performance cores might be pushed to an impressive speed of 4.57GHz under optimal cooling conditions.

Introduction of a New 7-Core Version of Snapdragon 8 Elite

Recently, there have been indications of a new variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, characterized by one less core. Qualcomm has traditionally avoided introducing lower-power versions of their top-tier silicon, but this shift seems aimed at helping their partners bring flagship models to market while keeping prices manageable.

Chip-Binning Strategy: A Closer Analysis

The updated Snapdragon 8 Elite model, identified as ‘ SM8750-3-AB,’ maintains the same default clock speeds for its performance and efficiency cores. However, it reduces the total core count to seven, marking a significant change from the previous eight-core setup. This modification indicates Qualcomm’s strategic implementation of chip-binning, a practice also adopted by companies like Apple.

Through chip-binning, manufacturers can create lower-performance variants of their existing chips without wasting silicon from production batches. Although this new 7-core iteration of the Snapdragon 8 Elite does not compromise on single-core performance, its multi-core results are expected to be inferior to those of the 8-core model.

Snapdragon 8 Elite with 7-core configuration

Implications for Smartphone Buying Decisions

The production of the Snapdragon 8 Elite comes at a significant cost, prompting Qualcomm’s partners to consider options for savings. Consequently, a slight decrease in performance may be viewed favorably in exchange for lower component costs, especially since this difference usually only becomes apparent in synthetic benchmark tests. For consumers, this means a new layer of diligence when reviewing smartphone specifications before making a purchase.

Enthusiastic buyers might be tempted to jump at the chance of acquiring a Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered device priced below the typical flagship range. However, it is now crucial for potential buyers to scrutinize the specifications closely to discern whether they are dealing with the full-fledged 8-core version or the newly minted 7-core variant.