- 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
- 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
- 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
- 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
- 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
55%
Plausible
Qualcomm will introduce its first 2nm chipsets later this year, but don’t expect these SoCs to share the same capabilities just because they utilize the same lithography. In fact, a tipster shares some specification differences between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 to show the ‘Pro’ version will only be found in the ‘top of the line’ flagships arriving next year.
Despite sporting the same CPU cluster, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro boasts a better GPU, increased graphics memory, and more
We’ve mentioned before that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will share the same 2 + 3 + 3 CPU cluster as the slower Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, but expect to witness some major frequency differences between the two chipsets. According to Digital Chat Station, the top-end silicon will be designed for top-notch performance, meaning that it’ll only be preferred in those expensive flagships that are kitted out with beefy cooling solutions to tame the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
As for the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, it’ll be tweaked to deliver a blend of performance and power draw. Thankfully, Qualcomm is rumored to maintain the same shared L2 cache between the two chipsets, which will not only improve performance and efficiency but also lower latency. However, the top-end silicon will ship with Qualcomm’s latest and greatest Adreno 850, while the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be treated to an Adreno 845 graphics processor.
We expect both GPUs to have different clock speeds, with rumors suggesting that the Adreno 850 will be treated to 18MB of graphics memory, whereas the slower part will only ship with 12MB. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro will represent the first time that a Qualcomm SoC gets LPDDR6 RAM support, but for smartphone partners who wish to keep their component costs down, can also use LPDDR5X memory, though that’ll cause them to leave some performance on the table.
Unfortunately, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 may miss out on LPDDR6 RAM support, but there’s a silver lining here because the standard version could still be paired with the faster UFS 5.0 storage.
| Minor specification differences | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Lithography | TSMC 2nm | TSMC 2nm |
| CPU cluster | 2 + 3 + 3 | 2 + 3 + 3 |
| Shared L2 cache | 16MB | 16MB |
| GPU | Adreno 850 | Adreno 845 |
| GPU memory | 18MB | 12MB |
| LPDDR6 support | Yes | No |
| LPDDR5X support | Yes | Yes |
| UFS 5.0 support | Yes | Yes |
| Primary attribute | Extreme performance | Balancing performance and power consumption |
What other surprises will Qualcomm reveal later this year?
The differences between the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 weren’t the only details shared by Digital Chat Station, as he also states that Qualcomm plans to unveil various 3nm SoCs that will be found in less expensive, but capable smartphones. We’ve mentioned that Qualcomm’s lineup this year will be stacked, starting with the SM8850, which is the current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
However, an updated model with the designation number SM8850Q could be unveiled later this year, followed by the SM8845 Pro, which will serve as the immediate successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and could be referred to as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Pro. In short, it’s going to be extremely confusing when looking at the names of these SoCs, but you’d best prepare yourself because Qualcomm has a ton of incoming announcements.
News Source: Digital Chat Station
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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