Qualcomm appears to be accelerating the launch schedule for its flagship chipsets each year. Historically, the company unveiled its next-generation chipsets around November or December, but this timeline has been gradually shifted earlier.

The current Snapdragon 8 Elite was launched in October 2024, and now there are indications that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will debut as soon as September. According to the reliable tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is expected to be announced in September, with the first smartphones utilizing this chipset hitting the market in October.

This mirrors the rollout of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, where several smartphone manufacturers, such as Realme, Xiaomi, and OnePlus, quickly launched devices powered by it. As for the capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, initial reports suggest it will deliver a substantial performance boost compared to its predecessor.

Leaked AnTuTu benchmarks indicate a single-core score of 4,000 points— a notable enhancement from the previous 3,200 points. Moreover, its multi-core score stands at 13,000, outpacing the Snapdragon 8 Elite’s 10,300 points.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is anticipated to leverage TSMC’s third-generation 3nm process technology. It is also expected to have a larger cache, support for faster memory, and enhancements to both GPU and CPU performance.

The chipset may feature second-generation Oryon custom cores, structured with 2x Prime cores and 6x high-performance cores, explaining the expected increase in power versus the previous model. However, with Qualcomm’s history of raising prices and external factors such as tariffs possibly influencing costs, the anticipated price of devices featuring this new chipset remains in question.

It is unlikely that manufacturers will absorb all associated costs, which could therefore lead to higher prices for flagship smartphones in 2026. Prospective buyers may want to start budgeting for these upcoming releases.