Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 Announced: Powering the Xiaomi 17 Series

Qualcomm has officially confirmed that its next flagship mobile processor will carry the name Snapdragon 8 Elite 5, a move that both clarifies and confuses the company’s naming strategy. At first glance, skipping from last year’s Snapdragon 8 Elite straight to Elite 5 looks like a leap of several generations, but in reality, Qualcomm is aligning the brand with the fifth evolution of its Snapdragon 8 series that started in 2021 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Since then we’ve seen the Gen 2, Gen 3, and the Elite – what might have been called Gen 4 – before arriving at the Elite 5.

This subtle but deliberate rebranding has raised questions.

Some argue the number four was intentionally skipped because in Chinese culture the digit carries associations with bad luck, making it less appealing in a flagship product. Others see the ‘Elite’ tag as Qualcomm’s way of distinguishing chips powered by its new Oryon CPU architecture, which sets them apart from the regular “Gen” line. Either way, the Elite 5 is being presented as a refinement rather than a reinvention – an evolution of the framework rather than a fresh start.

Qualcomm will unveil the new chipset during its Snapdragon Summit in Maui, Hawaii on September 23. Early details already suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 will push mobile performance to new heights. The CPU will feature custom Oryon cores, with the prime core running at an astonishing 4.6 GHz, while a “for Galaxy” or Extreme Edition variant may reach up to 4.7 GHz. On the graphics side, the GPU is rumored to hit 1.2 GHz, promising record-breaking AnTuTu scores in the range of 4.2 to 4.4 million. The chip will also be manufactured using TSMC’s advanced 3nm N3p process, improving efficiency alongside raw power.

The first devices to showcase this powerhouse will be Xiaomi’s upcoming 17 series, which includes the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. This marks a significant step for Xiaomi as it continues to chase Apple’s design and marketing strategies. From renaming phones to mirror Apple’s numbering system, to adopting curved corners and features reminiscent of the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, Xiaomi has made no secret of its ambition to stand shoulder to shoulder with Cupertino’s best. Some users view this as clever positioning, while others dismiss it as blatant imitation.

Meanwhile, gamers are already speculating about what the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5’s performance means for console-level titles. Could we finally see smooth mobile emulation of demanding games like Red Dead Redemption 2? While previous Elite chips showed great raw power, some claim Gen 3 actually handled emulation better due to optimization issues. If developers adapt quickly, the Elite 5 might finally deliver on the long-promised dream of console-quality gaming in your pocket.

For all the excitement, confusion lingers around Qualcomm’s growing list of processor tiers: Elite, standard, “for Galaxy,” plus variations in the 7 and 6 series. The company risks overwhelming casual buyers with its layered naming scheme. But one thing is clear – the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5 is being positioned as the pinnacle of mobile performance, and the smartphone wars this fall will be fought on its silicon foundation.