Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 announced: Plenty powerful but Efficiency?

Qualcomm has announced its latest flagship system-on-chip, successor to 8 Elite – Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The announcement of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 marks another chapter in their increasingly erratic naming scheme. After abandoning the “Gen” nomenclature for the 8 Elite, they’ve inexplicably returned to it with Gen 5. They also explained about the this naming scheme in a blog post.

September 2025 has been remarkable for mobile silicon launches. After Apple unveiled the A19 Pro and MediaTek introduced the Dimensity 9500, Qualcomm has completed the trilogy with its latest flagship system-on-chip.

Qualcomm positions it as “the world’s fastest mobile system-on-a-chip.”

The company’s bold claims center around three pillars: the 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU being “the fastest mobile CPU ever,” state-of-the-art on-device AI processing, and breakthrough experiences in gaming and content creation. With a claimed 20% CPU performance boost, 23% GPU enhancement, and 37% faster NPU performance, these numbers sound impressive, but there is more to it.

Technical Specifications: The Complete Package

Core Configuration:

• CPU: 2+6 core architecture
  • 2x Performance cores (up to 4.61GHz)
  • 6x Efficiency cores
  • 3rd Generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU technology
• GPU: Adreno 840
  • New architecture with increased cache
  • Support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing
  • Vulkan 1.3 and OpenGL ES 3.2
• NPU: Upgraded Hexagon processor
  • 37% performance improvement
  • Direct GPU-NPU data passthrough
  • Enhanced AI model support
• Memory: LPDDR5X support up to 9600MHz
• Storage: UFS 4.1
• Connectivity: 5G modem, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
• ISP: Triple 18-bit ISPs supporting up to 200MP
• Video: 8K HDR recording, AV1 decode

CPU Configuration: Oryon Evolution continues with the 2+6 Formula

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 maintains Qualcomm’s successful 2+6 core configuration from the previous generation:

• 2x Super-large cores with 9-wide decoding, positioned close to ARM’s C1-Ultra
• 6x Medium cores with minor optimizations over the previous generation
• 12MB shared L2 cache for both core clusters
• 8MB on-chip SLC with 50% increased cache overall

This architecture represents a refinement rather than a reimagining. The super-large cores focus on improving back-end execution unit utilization efficiency, while the medium cores receive only incremental updates. The IPC (Instructions Per Clock) improvements are notable 8% for integer operations and 11% for floating-point, bringing a combined ~10% IPC uplift.

The Frequency vs Efficiency

The 8 Elite Gen 5’s peak frequency of 4.61GHz sounds impressive until you realize it comes with a staggering 20W TDP for single-core operations.

Real-world testing reveals that this frequency is essentially unattainable under normal conditions even aggressive cooling struggles to maintain it, with thermal throttling kicking in almost immediately.

I mean there are laptop CPU’s with less power requirement than 20W

The Chinese reviewer’s – GeekerWan liquid nitrogen cooling experiment at -80°C still couldn’t achieve stable 4.61GHz operation. This appears to be a GeekBench 6-optimized configuration rather than a practical performance target, reminiscent of Intel’s controversial 14900K approach that led to stability issues.

Memory Subsystem Excellence

One of the chip’s standout improvements is the memory controller optimization. With LPDDR5X 9600 support, the platform achieves:

• 90ns memory latency for accesses above 192MB
• 50% reduction compared to previous generation
• Performance now matching Apple’s traditionally superior memory implementation

GPU Performance: The Adreno 840 Story

The Adreno 840 represents a conservative evolution in a year when competitors made bold moves. Rather than dramatically increasing core count or introducing new architectures, Qualcomm focused on cache improvements and efficiency optimizations.

Architecture and Capabilities:

• Increased cache for better bandwidth efficiency
• 3.2 TFLOPS FP32 compute (up from 2.9 TFLOPS)
• Hardware ray tracing support, though behind competitors
• Native support for Unreal Engine 5’s latest features

Performance Metrics:

• 3,143 points in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light
• Positioned between Apple A19 Pro and MediaTek Dimensity 9500
• Strong performance in the 5-8W power envelope
• Ray tracing performance lags approximately 1,000 points behind competitors in Solar Bay Extreme

The GPU’s conservative approach means missing features like FP16 double-rate compute and dedicated tensor cores, relying instead on the NPU for AI acceleration workloads.

AI and NPU Capabilities: Steady Progress

The upgraded Hexagon NPU delivers meaningful improvements while taking a different approach than competitors:

Key Features:

• 37% faster performance over previous generation
• Direct GPU-NPU passthrough eliminating memory bottlenecks
• Enhanced model support for popular AI frameworks
• Optimized for traditional AI workloads rather than generative AI

What’s Missing:

Unlike MediaTek’s BitNet 1.58-bit support for efficient large language models, Qualcomm maintains a more traditional approach. The lack of dedicated tensor cores means AI workloads must be carefully distributed between GPU and NPU resources.

Performance Analysis: The Three-Way Battle

CPU Performance vs Competition

In GeekBench 6 testing under forced cooling conditions:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: 3,836 single-core / 12,352 multi-core
• MediaTek Dimensity 9500: 3,709 single-core / 10,716 multi-core
• Apple A19 Pro: Still leads in single-core efficiency

The Snapdragon takes the crown in raw multi-core performance, benefiting from its dual super-large core design compared to MediaTek’s 1+3+4 configuration. However, efficiency tells a different story:

Energy Efficiency Reality Check:

• Low-frequency efficiency shows no improvement over the 8 Elite, with slight regression below 3W
• High-frequency improvements are significant but occur in power ranges rarely used in mobile scenarios
• The medium cores show steady but unremarkable efficiency gains
• Memory controller improvements deliver 50% lower latency at 90ns, finally matching Apple’s standards

GPU: Incremental Updates in a Revolutionary Year

The Adreno 840 GPU represents a conservative approach in a year when competitors went bold:

• Peak performance: 3,143 points in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light
• Positioned between A19 Pro and Dimensity 9500
• Ray tracing: Significantly behind both competitors (1,000 points lower in Solar Bay Extreme)
• Compute: 3.2 TFLOPS FP32 (up from 2.9 TFLOPS)
• Missing features: No FP16 double-rate compute, no tensor cores

The GPU’s energy efficiency falls between Apple and MediaTek, performing well in the 5-8W range but unable to match the Dimensity 9500’s peak performance due to conservative core scaling. The increased cache helps efficiency but can’t compensate for the lack of architectural innovation.

NPU and AI: Playing Catch-Up

The Hexagon NPU delivers 37% faster performance, but notably lacks the advanced features of competitors:

• No BitNet support (unlike MediaTek’s 1.58-bit processing)
• Relies on GPU-NPU passthrough instead of dedicated tensor cores
• Focuses on traditional AI workloads rather than generative AI optimization

Gaming Performance:

Real-world gaming tests reveal practical performance:

Wuthering Waves (The Standout Result):

• 8 Elite Gen 5: 59.8 fps at 1883×864, 5.13W, 42.3°C
• A19 Pro: 57.8 fps at 1558×718, 5.89W, 43.3°C

This represents a significant achievement higher resolution, better frame rates, lower power consumption, and cooler temperatures than Apple’s flagship. However, this appears to be the best-case scenario rather than the norm.

The Device Ecosystem: Early Adopters

Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max: Breaking New Ground

Xiaomi’s immediate adoption of the 8 Elite Gen 5 in their flagship series showcases interesting design choices:

Xiaomi 17 Pro:

• 6.3″ primary display with 1-120Hz LTPO
• Revolutionary 2.7″ secondary display (904×572px, 120Hz)
• 6,300mAh silicon battery with 100W charging
• Triple 50MP camera system with new periscope design
• Pricing: Starting at $700 (converted from CNY 5,000)

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max:

• 6.9″ main display with similar specs
• 2.9″ secondary display for enhanced functionality
• Massive 7,500mAh battery maintaining 100W charging
• Enhanced periscope with larger 1/2″ sensor
• Pricing: Starting at $840 (converted from CNY 6,000)

Both devices showcase how manufacturers can differentiate even with the same chipset, focusing on battery capacity, charging speeds, and innovative features like secondary displays.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: The Anticipated Flagship

While not officially announced, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to feature:

• Refined One UI optimization for the 8 Elite Gen 5
• Enhanced thermal management system
• Likely focus on sustained performance over peak numbers
• Expected premium pricing positioning

Samsung’s track record suggests they’ll prioritize consistent performance and thermal management over achieving maximum benchmark scores, potentially offering a more balanced real-world experience.

Mighty powerful but Efficiency ?

Strengths:

• Genuine IPC improvements in CPU cores
• Excellent memory subsystem finally matching Apple
• Strong gaming efficiency in optimal scenarios
• Broad OEM adoption ensuring market presence

Concerns:

• Unsustainable peak frequencies prioritizing benchmarks over practicality
• Conservative GPU approach in a year of GPU innovation
• Power consumption reaching laptop-level TDPs
• Thermal challenges requiring exotic cooling for advertised speeds

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 represents Qualcomm doing what it does best and worst. The genuine architectural improvements and memory subsystem enhancements show real engineering progress. The 2+6 core configuration proves superior to MediaTek’s approach for multi-threaded workloads, and the platform remains highly attractive to OEMs.

However, the obsession with achieving headline frequency numbers at unsustainable power levels raises concerns about Qualcomm’s priorities. The 20W single-core TDP for a mobile processor is absurd, existing solely to win benchmark wars rather than improve user experience. This approach may lead to users experience throttling or stability issues,if not managed well software wise.

For consumers, devices powered by the 8 Elite Gen 5 will deliver flagship experiences with strong performance across the board. The key will be choosing devices from manufacturers who prioritize sustainable performance over peak numbers. Xiaomi’s aggressive battery capacities and Samsung’s traditional focus on thermal management suggest different approaches to extracting the best from this capable but complicated chipset.

While Qualcomm maintains its position as the default choice for Android flagships, the gap between competitors is narrowing.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is undoubtedly powerful, but Qualcomm needs to remember that in mobile, sustained efficiency trumps momentary glory.