OnePlus Will Globally Debut the First Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Smartphone

The smartphone industry is entering a new chapter as Qualcomm expands its flagship processor family with not just the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 but also a second powerhouse, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. While Qualcomm gave only a brief teaser about this new chip, one brand has already stepped into the spotlight: OnePlus. The company confirmed it will be the first to launch a device powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, and it won’t be a limited regional release – it’s set to make a global debut.

Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 in classic dramatic fashion, presenting it as a “one more thing” surprise during the Snapdragon Tech Summit.

Positioned just below the flagship Elite version, this processor is designed to offer near-flagship performance at a slightly more accessible level. Although Qualcomm withheld most technical details, OnePlus China’s president Li Jie revealed on Weibo that the chip will be manufactured on a 3nm process and feature Oryon CPU cores, Qualcomm’s in-house design aimed at closing the gap with rivals like Apple’s custom silicon.

So, which OnePlus model will showcase this silicon first? Speculation is buzzing. The brand hasn’t confirmed, but industry watchers believe the candidates are likely the OnePlus 15R or the OnePlus 15T. Historically, the R-series has targeted markets like India with powerful yet slightly lower-priced devices, while the T-series often experiments with design and positioning. Last year’s OnePlus 13R shipped with the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at launch, so it makes sense that its successor might be the first to get the fresh but slightly lower-tier Gen 5. On the other hand, the OnePlus 13T (also marketed as the 13S in India) shared the flagship chipset with the OnePlus 13, but introduced a smaller screen and a different form factor. If OnePlus continues with this dual-path approach, the 15T could arrive globally with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, providing flagship design cues at a more balanced price point.

OnePlus’s unusually close collaboration with Qualcomm is also worth noting. The company has already confirmed that its upcoming OnePlus 15 will debut with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, essentially becoming the launch partner for both Qualcomm’s absolute flagship and its second-tier high-end chip. This dual debut paints a picture of OnePlus not just as a hardware maker but as a key strategic partner for Qualcomm’s silicon rollout. That kind of trust suggests Qualcomm sees OnePlus as an ideal vehicle to showcase its technology to a global audience, much like how Samsung or Xiaomi have often enjoyed early dibs in previous years.

For consumers, this means OnePlus may soon offer two distinct paths into Qualcomm’s next generation: a premium Elite flagship for those chasing every ounce of performance, and a Gen 5 device that balances raw power with a more accessible price and perhaps a more compact form factor. While we still don’t know exactly what the OnePlus 15R or 15T will look like, the anticipation is already building. If anything, the excitement surrounding both chips makes it clear that 2025 will be a defining year for OnePlus and for the Snapdragon brand itself.