Qualcomm is gearing up to launch its next generation of top-tier smartphone chipsets, and for the first time in the company’s history, there will be a “Pro” model as well. The new chipsets, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, will likely be unveiled in September 2026, following previous launch patterns.
We’ve already published a detailed post about the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, covering all the details from various leaks and reports. In this post, we’ll learn what the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will have to offer, based on the details we’ve gathered so far.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6: Spec sheet
| Launch | September 2026 |
| Process node | 2 nm (TSMC) |
| CPU | 2 x prime cores 3 x performance cores 3 x efficiency cores |
| Peak CPU speed | up to 5.0 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 845 Snapdragon Elite Gaming features ray tracing support |
| GPU GMEM/cache | 12MB GMEM |
| System cache (LLC) | 6MB LLC |
| Memory | LPDDR5X |
| Storage | UFS 5.0 |
| Model number | SM8950 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6: Everything you need to know
Process node and CPU architecture
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be one of the first chips to use TSMC’s latest 2nm cutting-edge node. MediaTek and Apple are also expected to unveil their 2nm smartphone chips around the same time later this year.
The latest node is expected to deliver a massive leap in energy efficiency, allowing the chip to run faster while consuming significantly less battery. While efficiency is the main focus, the node may also allow Qualcomm to push raw speeds higher.
According to a reliable tipster, Digital Chat Station, the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will use a new ‘2+3+3’ CPU layout instead of a regular ‘2+6’ layout, focusing more on higher efficiency. The Oryon CPU is said to have 16MB of L2 cache, up from 12MB on the 8 Elite Gen 5. Some rumors say the chip could offer a peak speed of 5GHz, or at least close to that.
GPU and gaming capabilities
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is said to feature an upgraded Adreno 845 GPU utilizing Qualcomm’s slice-based architecture. The GPU will reportedly use 12MB of GMEM graphics cache and 6MB of system-level cache (SLC). On the software side, the GPU will leverage the full suite of Snapdragon Elite Gaming features to offer a great gaming experience.
The “Pro” model will reportedly use an Adreno 850 GPU with higher cache, but leaks also say the chip will introduce heat path block (HPB) technology for the first time on a Qualcomm chip. It’s an advanced hardware-level thermal management technology designed to handle the intense heat generated by the chip.
AI and NPU capabilities
Not much has been revealed about the AI and NPU capabilities of the upcoming Snapdragon flagship through leaks, but we’re likely looking at an upgraded Hexagon NPU with significantly better power efficiency, support for newer LLMs, and extensive generative AI capabilities. We can also expect a more powerful on-device agentic AI experience.
Connectivity, memory, and storage
The standard 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected to feature an upgraded Snapdragon X90 5G modem with advanced AI hardware directly on the baseband chip. Rumors say the peak download speed could cross 15Gbps on a 5G network.
Leaks say the 8 Elite Gen 6 will support the same LPDDR5X memory as its predecessor, but will upgrade to a faster UFS 5.0 storage. The “Pro” model, however, is expected to support LPDDR6 memory, which could be a big differentiator between the standard and Pro versions.
The fact that LPDDR6 is significantly faster than the current LPDDR5X RAM would allow the chip to run complex AI assistants and generate images faster using on-device AI. It should also improve power efficiency and enable stable, high-FPS gaming at higher resolutions.
Upcoming devices with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip
These smartphones are expected to come with the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6:
- Samsung Galaxy S27
- Samsung Galaxy S27+
- OnePlus 16
- iQOO 16
- Xiaomi 18
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