The upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and Dimensity 9500 chipsets are expected to arrive with minimal price increases, offering a breath of fresh air for both smartphone makers and consumers.
Despite leveraging TSMC’s improved 3nm N3P node-which provides enhanced performance and power efficiency over the previous N3E variant-Qualcomm and MediaTek appear to be keeping costs in check.
According to well-known tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the price hike for these next-gen chips will be modest, allowing Chinese manufacturers to keep flagship pricing within a competitive 3,999 RMB to 4,499 RMB range (roughly $560–$630). For instance, the Xiaomi 15, equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, already hits that price point.
This move not only protects OEM profit margins but also keeps flagship phones within reach for consumers-a rare alignment of interests. However, there’s a twist. LPDDR5X RAM is reportedly going up in price by about 5%, which could indirectly push phone prices higher despite stable chipset costs.
Memory has become an increasingly vital part of a phone’s performance identity, and the rising cost may force some vendors to make tough decisions. Still, with companies like Samsung and SK hynix ready to ramp up LPDDR5X production, the impact could be short-lived. Moreover, LPDDR6 RAM is on the horizon, with Samsung aiming for a faster rollout starting in late 2026.
While the chip prices may not jump significantly, this new generation of devices might still experience pricing turbulence-but this time, it’s not the processor calling the shots. Stay tuned as the market adapts to this shifting equation.