Qualcomm has officially launched its most advanced mobile processor to date, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, establishing a new standard for performance, AI, and mobile gaming. This next-generation flagship chip succeeds the Snapdragon 8 Elite and is set to be featured in high-end devices from major brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and OnePlus. The Xiaomi 17 series is confirmed to be the first smartphone lineup equipped with this new chipset, with others expected to follow shortly. The announcement underscores Qualcomm’s intensified focus on video, AI, and efficiency—three critical areas where Android manufacturers aim to compete with Apple’s iPhones.
A standout feature of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the introduction of the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, a first for mobile processors. Qualcomm states that the codec allows for ‘near-lossless’ video capture, granting professionals greater creative flexibility for post-production tasks such as color grading and adjustments to highlights or shadows. The chip also incorporates Dragon Fusion computational imaging, co-developed with Arcsoft, which Qualcomm describes as ‘fully computational’ and capable of treating every video frame as a high-quality photograph. With a 20-bit triple ISP and support for up to 48MP triple cameras or 108MP single sensors, this promises improved dynamic range, detail, and tone mapping for both photography and videography.
On the performance side, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 boasts a peak CPU clock speed of 4.6GHz and offers a 20% performance enhancement over its predecessor. Although Qualcomm has not specified whether this applies to single- or multi-core workloads, users can anticipate up to 16% improved power savings and a 35% increase in CPU efficiency, potentially enhancing battery life. Qualcomm positions the new processor as a gaming powerhouse, providing full Unreal Engine 5 support with Nanite and Lumen. The chip also features mesh shading for more efficient rendering. While Qualcomm has not disclosed any enhancements to ray tracing, it has hinted that benchmark tests will soon reveal more information.
Significant advancements in artificial intelligence come with the new Hexagon NPU, which Qualcomm claims is 37% faster than the previous generation. The NPU now supports hardware-based matrix acceleration, INT2 precision, and can execute larger AI models locally. Users will experience more responsive AI-driven tools, including Qualcomm’s Personal Scribe and an updated Sensing Hub, which offer personalized recommendations and task automation. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 also integrates the FastConnect 7900 suite, which combines Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) into one solution. Qualcomm asserts this leads to up to 40% power savings compared to earlier implementations.
For mobile networks, the X85 modem provides impressive download speeds of 12.5Gbps and upload speeds of 3.7Gbps, along with enhanced efficiency and location accuracy. The Xiaomi 17 series will be the first to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, with Samsung, OnePlus, and other brands expected to follow. While specific pricing details are not yet available, smartphones with this chipset are anticipated to be positioned firmly within the premium flagship segment in India. Further information regarding pre-orders and regional rollouts is expected in the coming weeks.