June 19, 2025 — Qualcomm’s next powerhouse chipset, tentatively dubbed the Snapdragon "8 Plus", is rumored to launch in Q4 2025, setting the stage for a new wave of ultra-premium Android smartphones. According to industry insiders, this silicon beast will target "flagship killer" devices from brands like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and iQOO, promising unprecedented performance and efficiency gains over its predecessors.
The Leak: What We Know
Fresh leaks from Chinese tipsters and tech forums suggest the Snapdragon 8 Plus (codenamed SM8690) will be built on TSMC’s 3nm N3E process, a significant upgrade from the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Early specs hint at:
- A tri-cluster CPU (1+4+3 core design) with a prime Cortex-X5 core clocked at 3.8 GHz.
- An Adreno 850 GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
- An upgraded Hexagon NPU for on-device AI tasks (think real-time video generation and advanced photography).
- Support for LPDDR6 RAM and Wi-Fi 8.
One well-known leaker on Weibo shared preliminary benchmarks showing a 25% multi-core performance jump over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, alongside 30% better power efficiency. If accurate, this could translate to cooler, longer-lasting devices—addressing a key pain point for power users.
Why a "Plus" Model?
Historically, Qualcomm’s "Plus" variants (e.g., 2023’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2) debut mid-cycle to refresh flagship devices. This time, however, sources claim the 8 Plus isn’t just an incremental update. As GSMGoTech reports, it’s designed to compete with Apple’s A19 Pro and Google’s Tensor G5, with a focus on gaming, generative AI, and camera capabilities. The chip may even debut alongside a new "Elite" branding strategy to signify its tier-above status.
Specs Deep Dive
A comprehensive April leak from GSMGoTech detailed the chip’s full architecture:
- Imaging: 200MP photo capture, 8K/60fps video, and a dedicated "Low-Light Vision" ISP.
- Gaming: Unreal Engine 6 optimizations and variable-rate shading.
- Connectivity: Snapdragon X80 5G modem (10 Gbps peak speeds).
Notably, the 8 Plus is expected to enable "console-grade" mobile ray tracing—a feature that could reshape mobile gaming.
Market Impact
With Samsung’s Galaxy S26 series and Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra tipped as early adopters, the Snapdragon 8 Plus could redefine Android’s 2026 flagship landscape. Analysts speculate it’ll target a $1,000–$1,300 price bracket, positioning it against premium foldables and Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro.
For context, today’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 phones—like the OnePlus 13 or ASUS ROG Phone 8—already push boundaries. You can explore current-gen devices here to gauge how far the next leap might take us.
The Bottom Line
Qualcomm hasn’t officially commented, but if leaks hold, the Snapdragon 8 Plus could be the most significant mobile SoC of 2025—blurring lines between smartphones and PCs. As AI workloads and AAA gaming demand more horsepower, this chip might just be the engine that lets Android flagships truly "kill" the competition.
Stay tuned for updates at IFA Berlin this September, where Qualcomm could tease its roadmap.
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