Just because Qualcomm already has the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 on the market doesn’t mean it’s done expanding the lineup.
A fresh leak suggests the company is preparing another version of its current flagship chip, and this one may be built for brands that want flagship-level performance without pushing phone prices into ultra-premium territory.
According to reliable Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm is testing a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 variant carrying the SM8850-1-AB model number. While it isn’t expected to outperform the existing chip, early information says its Geekbench 6 results are nearly identical to the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
That makes the rumored chip interesting. Instead of chasing higher benchmark numbers, Qualcomm could be chasing a different goal: making flagship silicon more affordable.
The leak claims phones powered by this new version are expected to sell for under CNY 4,000 (around US$590). If that turns out to be true, brands making “flagship killer” devices may no longer need to jump to the more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 just to stay competitive.
This wouldn’t be the first time Qualcomm has split one flagship platform into several versions either.
The regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 uses the SM8850-AC model number. There’s also the SM8850-5-AC, a seven-core variant that debuted in the OPPO Find N6, while Samsung ships its own customized SM8850-1-AD version inside the Galaxy S26 lineup and Galaxy Z Fold8.
If this latest report is accurate, the SM8850-1-AB would become the fourth member of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 family.
What’s interesting is that Qualcomm appears to be stretching the life of its current flagship platform instead of quickly moving everyone to the next generation. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Smartphone chips have become so powerful that many users won’t notice small year-to-year gains in daily use. A slightly cheaper flagship processor with nearly the same performance could actually benefit both manufacturers and buyers.
For phone makers, it could lower production costs. For consumers, it may mean more devices offering flagship-grade gaming, cameras, and AI features without crossing premium price brackets.
Of course, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is still expected to become Qualcomm’s next big leap when it arrives, but this rumored chip could fill the gap for brands that want to deliver high-end performance while keeping prices under control. Qualcomm has already positioned the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as one of its fastest and most AI-focused mobile platforms, powering flagship phones from brands including Samsung, Xiaomi, HONOR, OnePlus, OPPO, vivo, and others.