Qualcomm is reportedly preparing two versions of its next flagship mobile processor: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. A new leak from tipster Digital Chat Station now reveals how the two chips could differ.
Instead of launching a single top-tier processor, Qualcomm appears to be splitting its flagship lineup into two performance tiers; one for mainstream premium devices, and another for Ultra-class smartphones.
The standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, identified as model SM8950, is expected to be built on TSMC’s 2nm process. It reportedly uses a 2+3+3 Oryon CPU layout, paired with a 16MB shared L2 cache. On the graphics side, it may feature an Adreno 845 GPU with six slices, alongside 12MB GMEM and 6MB system-level cache.
It is also tipped to support LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 5.0 storage, making it suitable for flagship phones that need strong performance while keeping costs under control.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, model SM8975, is expected to push things further. According to earlier reports, the Pro variant may support newer LPDDR6 memory, offer a larger cache configuration, and include stronger peripheral capabilities.
Graphics performance may also get a boost through the rumored Adreno 850 GPU, which would place it above the standard version for gaming and demanding workloads.
Clock speeds are another possible difference. The Pro model is rumored to reach speeds as high as 6GHz, while the standard Gen 6 is expected to focus more on balanced power and efficiency.
In terms of positioning, the standard chip is likely aimed at premium flagships and upper mid-range high-performance devices. Meanwhile, the Pro version is expected to power top-end Ultra phones, with leaks already pointing to devices like the OnePlus 16 and iQOO 16.
If these leaks prove accurate, Qualcomm’s next strategy is clear: offer one chip for wider flagship adoption, and another for brands chasing maximum performance.