Qualcomm announced its next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. It will launch this September. Xiaomi will be the first brand to launch a phone using it
The announcement came during Qualcomm’s latest earnings call, and while the focus was mostly on the company’s performance, this little nugget stood out. CEO Cristiano Amon didn’t give too much away, but he did say that Xiaomi will lead the launch of the new chip, keeping up a streak of early access that’s become something of a tradition between the two tech giants.
Xiaomi will be the first OEM to launch with our next Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.
A Smarter, Faster Chip Designed for AI
Qualcomm has not shared all specs. The new chip will offer more than just speed. The main focus is on edge AI. This means smarter features run on your phone. They won’t need the cloud.
We can expect good battery life. Performance should be smooth. More AI features will be built in. Think live translation. Photo editing will be advanced. Voice tools will work in real-time. These features will be fast and offline.
Over 124 phones use the current Snapdragon 8 Elite. The next chip should appear in even more devices.
Xiaomi and Qualcomm: A Quiet Power Duo
Xiaomi is launching first because of its strong ties. The brand often gets new Qualcomm chips first. Its Xiaomi 15 Ultra uses the current Snapdragon 8 Elite. That phone shows great performance. It also has good AI features and battery life.
This new launch will boost their partnership. This is true for markets like China and India. Xiaomi is growing quickly there.
Qualcomm chipset September launch: What Might the New Chip Bring?
While Qualcomm is saving the juicy details for its September launch, some things are likely:
- More powerful on-device AI, thanks to a next-gen neural engine
- Smarter battery use, especially during demanding tasks like gaming or 4K video
- Improved thermal control, so phones stay cool even under pressure
- Support for Wi-Fi 7 and faster memory speeds
- Possibly a new name: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
If past years are anything to go by, the chip could appear in Samsung’s next Galaxy phones early next year, but Xiaomi will get the head start.
We’re going to announce our new chip at the end of September, and we are already working with several OEMs for [the] launch of new devices based on a tremendous interest in it. And what you are seeing is really people getting ready for [the] launch of new devices.
-Cristiano Amon
This new chip could mark a big step forward for smartphones. With AI becoming a bigger part of how we use our phones, from cameras to apps to smart replies, Qualcomm wants its chips to be the foundation for those features. Qualcomm chipset September launch: with Xiaomi releasing it first, we’re likely to see more Android phones using this chip by the end of 2025.
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