Qualcomm Surprises Everyone with a Cheaper Version of Its Flagship Chip

Qualcomm’s latest top-tier chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, was launched last October. This octa-core powerhouse is already fueling premium devices from brands like OnePlus, Nubia, and Xiaomi.

It’s also set to feature in Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 series. But there’s more. Qualcomm seems to have a less powerful version of this chip in the works, which could bring flagship performance to more affordable phones, Android Authority reports.

This new variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, labeled SM8750-3-AB on Qualcomm’s website, has a slightly reduced core count. Unlike the full Snapdragon 8 Elite, which has eight cores, the new version has seven.

It drops one Performance core but keeps the rest of the specifications the same. This could mean a lower price, making it easier for manufacturers to produce budget-friendly flagship models.

Rumors are also swirling about another chip, the Snapdragon 8s Elite. This one might not be as strong as the hepta-core Snapdragon 8 Elite.

With a different core setup and lower clock speeds, it looks like Qualcomm is aiming to fill the gap between mid-range and flagship devices. The Snapdragon 8s Elite is expected to use a mix of Cortex cores but will run slower than last year’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

If these chips perform as expected, we could see a new wave of affordable, high-performance smartphones soon. For now, we’ll have to wait and see how Qualcomm’s strategy unfolds.

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