Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 8 Elite Chipset With 7 Cores

Built on a 3-nanometer fabrication process, it includes Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF system.

It includes two Prime cores clocked at up to 4.32 GHz and five Performance cores running at up to 3.53 GHz.

Source : Qualcomm

Qualcomm introduced its Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile chipset in October last year, and the octa-core processor currently powers flagship devices from brands like Realme and OnePlus. Recently, the company quietly launched a new variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite featuring seven cores. This updated version retains the same clock speeds as the original but comes with a 2+5 configuration of Prime and Performance cores.

Smartphone manufacturers are expected to integrate this seven-core Snapdragon 8 Elite into their upcoming devices in the near future.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Variant Features One Less Performance Core

The updated version, listed on Qualcomm’s website with the part number SM8750-3-AB, includes two Prime cores clocked at up to 4.32 GHz and five Performance cores running at up to 3.53 GHz, resulting in one fewer Performance core than the original model. The earlier Snapdragon 8 Elite variant (SM8750-AB) featured a total of eight cores, comprising two Prime cores at 4.32 GHz and six Performance cores at 3.53 GHz.

Aside from the core configuration, the new chipset shares the same specifications as its predecessor. Built on a 3-nanometer fabrication process, it includes Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF system. This suggests that the seven-core variant might be a binned version of the original Snapdragon 8 Elite.

The new chipset is expected to be priced lower than the octa-core model, making it a cost-effective choice for brands looking to power lower-volume flagship smartphones. However, Qualcomm has not yet disclosed which OEMs will be the first to adopt this new version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

In related news, Qualcomm is reportedly developing a Snapdragon 8s Elite chipset as the successor to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 from last year. According to recent reports, this upcoming processor is expected to be a slightly scaled-down version of the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship SoC.