Qualcomm Steps Snapdragon 8 Up to Elite Status With Custom Cores and Powerful AI

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The Snapdragon 8 Elite is such a big step up in performance that Qualcomm decided the system-on-a-chip needed a new name. Rather than give it the obvious Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 moniker, Qualcomm elevated the chip to elite status.

What makes the Snapdragon 8 Elite a powerhouse isn't the name, however; It's the custom cores. Qualcomm dumped the ARM Cortex designs it has relied on for past processors in favor of using its own. By designing its own silicon, much like a certain fruit-branded company has, Qualcomm was able to realize bigger-than-normal leaps in raw power when compared with the popular Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Phones with the Snapdragon 8 Elite inside are going to be seriously fast, much more efficient, and better than ever at AI.

Oryon and Adreno: Mega Power

Now in its second generation, Qualcomm's Oryon CPU is the raw engine of the 8 Elite. It moves from the 4nm process of the 8 Gen 3 to TSMC's second-generation 3nm process with a 4.32GHz prime core and 3.53GHz performance cores, all using a 64-bit architecture. This arrangement generates a 45% jump in CPU speed and a matching 45% improvement in power efficiency. It supports up to dual-channel LPDDR5x memory at up to 5.3Gbps in densities up to 24GB for fast data retrieval. Qualcomm claims Oryon delivers a 27% overall improvement in power savings, which means up to 2.5 more hours of mobile game time.

The Oryon CPU works tightly with the new Adreno GPU, which has a sliced architecture. Each slice has its own dedicated memory, which means smoother performance, longer battery life, cleaner graphics, and more realistic 3D environments. Qualcomm says the GPU supports the Unreal Engine 5.3 and Unreal Chaos Physics Engine, HDR gaming (10-bit color and Rec.2020), OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.3, and hardware-accelerated H.265, VP9, and AV1 decoding. The result is a huge 40% jump in speed and a corresponding 40% jump in efficiency compared with the 8 Gen 3. Typical year-over-year gains for CPU and GPU performance often fall in the 15-25% range.

Hexagon and Spectra: Embedded AI

If Oryon and Adreno form the heart of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Hexagon NPU is its brain. The revised version of Hexagon has a fused AI accelerator architecture with scalar, vector, and tensor accelerators. These are aided by micro tile inferencing, large shared memory, and an upgraded power delivery system with support for INT4, INT8, INT16, and FP16 precisions. This allows Hexagon to tap into large language models (LLMs) and large action models (LAMs) to support the largest global Generative AI ecosystem. Because Hexagon can handle longer token inputs, it can consume more data to make it an expert when it comes time to handle your queries. Together with the Sensing Hub, which supports always-sensing cameras, mics, and other sensor inputs, Hexagon can react to different types of information. Qualcomm says this means 8 Elite can handle more requests on-device.

But it's not just about Generative AI. AI is baked into other aspects of the chip, including the Spectra image signal processor (ISP) and the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF System.

The Spectra ISP is a triple, 18-bit processor that can handle image capture with a single 320MP camera, and a single 108MP camera or three 48MP cameras with 30fps focus tracking and zero shutter lag. Spectra supports 10-bit color for photos and video; HEIF, HEIC, and HEVC capture; Rec. 2020, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision; as well as 8K60 HDR video playback, 4K120 video capture, and lots of AI processing to reduce noise, compute bokeh, and more.

Qualcomm says AI-powered cameras will redefine photography (whether we like it or not). Adding algorithmic processing power to image recognition will lead to sharper selfies, clearer video chats, and hyped-up High Dynamic Range. The ISP now has the ability to create a nearly unlimited number of segments within photographs (foreground, subject, background, etc.) and can enhance each element individually. For example, cameras will be able to see faces, hair, and clothing and allow you to edit each segment on its own. The Real-Time Insight AI can help capture natural skin tones no matter the color so each person in a shot looks like themselves. This applies to pets, too, and the AI-based Pet Capture tool means sharper shots of your pets as they race by. Phone video cameras will be able to capture 4K60 video in near-total darkness, as well as apply Video Object Eraser tools to remove unwanted background items from your videos.

Spectra also handles audio features. Snapdragon Sound is baked in, of course, which can handle lag-free spatial audio, realistic 3D audio gaming environments, and greater range with accessories like Bluetooth headphones. It includes aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, the Aqstic audio codecs, low total harmonic distortion, and spatial audio with head tracking.

Let's not forget the radio suite. AI is on board the Snapdragon X80 5G modem and FastConnect 7900 Wi-Fi package. Qualcomm says, "AI is really good at math." It turns out that being able to do math accurately and quickly helps radios determine how best to manage various types of connections.

The X80 is a complete 5G modem-to-antenna module packed onto a single chip with six antennas for smartphones, 6x carrier aggregation, and an AI-based mmWave range extender. Its dedicated tensor accelerator for AI improves data speeds, reduces latency, and boosts coverage and location accuracy at lower powers.

The FastConnect 7900 combines , Bluetooth, and ultra-wideband into a single chip for end-user solutions like digital keys, object location, and indoor navigation. AI tracks performance and adjusts as needed to maintain the best connection.

In terms of numbers, Qualcomm claims up to 10Gbps downloads and 3.5Gbps uploads over 5G via combined sub-6GHz and mmWave. It also delivers 30% better location accuracy, even when inside concrete buildings. Thanks to tri-band spectrum support (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz), phones should be able to use Wi-Fi with 40% less power and see speeds up to 5.8Gbps on the download.

It also includes Bluetooth 6 with LE Audio and dual Bluetooth antennas, as well as triple-frequency GPS (L1, L2C, L5) for improved location tracking outdoors.

The Rest

The Snapdragon 8 Elite powers a lot. In addition to the above, it can handle high-quality displays. Qualcomm says it supports 4K screens at up to 60Hz or Quad HD+ screens at up to 240Hz. The latter will be fantastic for gaming phones. It can also push content to external displays, such as 8K screens at 30Hz and 1080p screens at 240Hz with 10-bit color, HDR10, HDR10+, and Dolby Vision.

Quick connections via wire include USB-C Version 3.1 Gen 2, UFS 4.0 storage, and Quick Charge 5. These mean faster data transfers to computers and other devices and rapid recharging.

On the security front, the 8 Elite adds protections for photographers. It includes IP protection for AI models and Truepic with C2PA for video and audio.

When is all this coming? Really soon! Qualcomm says hardware partners Asus, Honor, iQoo, OnePlus, Oppo, RealMe, Samsung, Vivo, and Xiaomi all have devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite on deck for the "coming weeks." We expect to see the OnePlus 13 before the end of the year and the Samsung Galaxy S25 early in 2025.

We look forward to testing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite and comparing it to Apple Silicon and MediaTek's latest flagship chip.