Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Unveiled: Fastest Mobile CPU with 3rd-Gen Oryon Cores at 4.60GHz

Qualcomm has unveiled its latest mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which replaces the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite. This new chipset leverages Qualcomm’s advanced third-generation Oryon cores, offering significant enhancements in both performance and energy efficiency.

Exploring the 3rd-Generation Oryon Cores

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 utilizes a ‘2 + 6’ CPU configuration, featuring two high-performance cores clocked at 4.60GHz and six efficiency cores clocked at 3.62GHz. According to Qualcomm, this SoC achieves up to a 20% increase in performance compared to its predecessor; however, it remains unclear whether these gains pertain to single-core or multi-core operations. The San Diego-based company even claims this is the fastest mobile CPU available, but concrete benchmarks are necessary to substantiate such assertions.

This octa-core CPU claims to bring 35% greater efficiency, with overall power consumption reportedly 16% lower than the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Additionally, the 3rd-generation Oryon cores purportedly include hardware-based AI acceleration, although, like similar designs from MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, it does not support SME2.

Qualcomm has officially announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

GPU and Gaming Enhancements

The GPU component of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 features the Adreno 840, which adopts a ‘sliced’ architecture initially introduced with the previous model. The graphics processor includes an impressive 18MB cache, known as Adreno High Performance Memory, which enables developers to optimize their games for this chipset while consuming 10% less power than its predecessor.

Qualcomm has collaborated with prominent game developers like Tencent to ensure optimization for this platform. With a maximum GPU clock speed of 1.20GHz—up from the Adreno 830’s 1.10GHz—the Adreno 840 promises a 23% increase in performance alongside a reduction in power consumption by 20%.Notably, it supports Unreal Engine 5 right out of the box.

Powering the next generation of flagship smartphones: @Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. It delivers faster performance, more immersive gaming, and #AI that runs directly on your device.#SnapdragonSummit pic.twitter.com/6NMPfSnKCn

— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) September 24, 2025

Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and AI Capabilities

The upgraded Hexagon NPU is designed to manage complex AI workloads seamlessly, even without an internet connection. Qualcomm claims this new NPU is 37% faster than that of the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite, featuring added AI accelerators that enhance ‘performance per watt’ by 16%.

Advanced Connectivity Features

Integrating with the Snapdragon X85 5G modem, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is expected to deliver outstanding connectivity with downlink speeds reaching 12.5Gbps and uplink speeds of 3.7Gbps. Qualcomm highlights the modem’s improved power efficiency and enhanced location accuracy.

This chipset continues to benefit from Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7900 suite, which includes support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies—all designed to operate within a single, energy-efficient package. Compared to its predecessor, this latest iteration reportedly consumes 40% less power.

Camera and Video Support Innovations

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is capable of supporting 4K video at 120 frames per second, along with 1080p slow-motion video at 480 frames per second and still images of up to 320MP. One particularly exciting feature is its support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for video capture, which allows smartphones using this chipset to compete with Apple’s ProRes format. Furthermore, the new chipset includes a 20-bit ISP, an upgrade from the previous 18-bit model, facilitating a fourfold increase in dynamic range.

Expect to see a variety of flagship devices debuting with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, including the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 series, alongside the already confirmed Xiaomi 17 model.

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