The new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 It comes with more power... and a higher bill. Industry sources estimate its cost between 240 and $ 280 per unit, a leap that not only reflects technical progress, but also the reality of the advanced manufacturing market.
Part of that rise originates from the node TSMC's 3nm N3P, for which Qualcomm would have paid around 24% more. The result is translated into Better efficiency, faster CPU, and AI boost, but also in high-end mobile phones that could aim for prices above the € 1.200 in many cases.
Price and manufacturing: the keys to the cost increase
In addition to the TSMC node, the commitment to the Oryon cores from Qualcomm and a more capable GPU. Internal figures speak of an increase of up to 15% in CPU and clear improvements in AI and graphics workloads, supporting this chip's positioning at the pinnacle of mobile performance.
Although each brand has its own conditions (volume, royalties and deadlines), the pattern is clear: there will be fewer “flagship killers” and more devices premium liquors with rising prices to absorb the cost of silicon.
Dual source with Samsung: 2nm testing and probable schedule
In parallel, Samsung Foundry is working on a 2nm variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (SF2) with GAA technologyAccording to industrial reports, they would have been sent samples to Qualcomm for its validation, a movement that, if successful, would open the door to dual sourcing and a lower dependence on TSMC.
These tests are aimed at phones of high-end products planned for 2026Among the scenarios considered is the following: Galaxy z flip 8 as a possible candidate to launch that version, while the Galaxy S26 family would remain, to begin with, in the 3nm iteration which is already in production at TSMC.
The final decision will depend on the thermal efficiency, performance and factory yieldsIf the numbers support it, the double supply could stabilize prices and availability, while introducing real competition into cutting-edge processes.
Brands and launches: who's putting it together
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has already started appearing in commercial models such as the Xiaomi 17, and is expected in upcoming releases such as OnePlus 15Chip expansion in the high-end segment is progressing at a good pace.
Also HONOR has confirmed its Magic 8 series with this processor, with presentation in China on October 15The brand wants to compete head-to-head with its direct rivals by taking advantage of improvements in computing and efficiency.
The first performance clues of the HONOR Magic 8 Pro They show scores around 3.563 points (single) and 7.632 (multi) on Geekbench, with versions of 12 and 16 GB of RAM and Android 16/MagicOS 9; data aligned with what can be expected from the new silicon.
In parallel, some manufacturers are exploring differentiation with high-capacity batteries and aggressive fast charges: there is talk of cells of up to 7.200 mAh along with this SoC, a combination designed to sustain demanding sessions without sacrificing performance.
Price and performance competition
On the other side of the ring, MediaTek's Dimensity 9500 sits between 180 and $ 200 per unit, clearly below the ceiling of up to $280 that is being considered for the Qualcomm chip - compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite 2—, despite also being manufactured using an advanced 3nm process.
Part of the difference is due to design choices: Qualcomm has invested in custom Oryon cores, while MediaTek relies on standard ARM configurations to cut costs. Early comparisons point to advantages for the Snapdragon in efficiency per watt and thermal stability, although the final behavior will always depend on the design of the phone.
What to expect for the user
With a more expensive and ambitious SoCIt's logical to see fewer aggressively priced phones and more premium, high-end offerings. The technical leap has a direct impact on the retail price, but also on the daily experience under sustained load.
Improvements in sustained performance, AI and thermal management should be felt in gaming, video editing, or productivity tasks. Still, the prices of each model will be determined by supply, volume and royalty agreements that each manufacturer negotiates with Qualcomm.
The picture is clear: the bar for high-end Android is raised at a cost commensurate with its ambition; 2nm trials with Samsung could open new routes of capacity and price, while the first brands to adopt it mark the passage of a generation that focuses on power, efficiency and dual supply.
