The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is already shaping up to be a beast of a chipset, and it’s safe to say that Qualcomm has outdone itself. Following the massive success of its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite, expectations for its successor were sky-high. 
So far, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 doesn’t disappoint-this chip promises some serious power improvements that could leave laptop CPUs in the dust.
Recent leaks suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 (also known as SM8850) could hit some of the highest clock speeds ever seen in a smartphone processor. One version of this chip reportedly peaks at an astonishing 5.3GHz, surpassing even Intel’s Core Ultra 9 288V, a high-end 2024 laptop CPU that tops out at 5.1GHz. While desktop processors may still have the upper hand, this comparison alone demonstrates the sheer power Qualcomm is bringing to the table.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 promises significant performance boosts across the board. With its new Oryon architecture, Qualcomm is pushing CPU performance up by nearly 30%. What’s even more impressive is that this boost comes at half the power cost-an incredible leap in efficiency. On the GPU side, the Adreno 840 GPU is expected to elevate mobile gaming to new heights, offering smoother performance for demanding titles.
Early benchmarks have already shown stellar single-core and multi-core scores, further cementing the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2’s position as one of the most powerful smartphone chips on the market. However, it’s not all smooth sailing for Qualcomm. MediaTek is upping its game with the upcoming Dimensity 9500 processor. Utilizing TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing process, this chip is rumored to feature a core configuration with two X930 cores for performance and six A730 cores for efficiency. With this move, MediaTek is closing the gap between itself and Qualcomm, intensifying competition in the mobile processor space.
This competition could lead to quicker advancements in technology and more powerful devices for consumers. For those in need of a new phone now, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 remains a solid choice, offering excellent performance at a more affordable price point. But if you can hold off, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is undoubtedly worth waiting for, especially for heavy multitaskers and gamers who demand top-tier performance from their mobile devices.
In short, if you’re someone who uses their phone for work or gaming, or just loves having the best tech in their pocket, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 might be the chip of the future you’ve been waiting for.