On November 28, famous technology enthusiast Erencan Yılmaz found some traces in the code of the Xiaomi HyperOS 2 system that Qualcomm’s second-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will use the SM8650AB1 model, which, with improvements and advancements by Qualcomm, develops into a flagship chip for next generations to be used in 2024 smartphones, titled SM8850.
Highlights of the Discovery
- The model of this chip, SM8850, justifies its positioning within Qualcomm’s premium chipset ladder.
- Qualcomm is already working on the second-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite, even before the full market launch of the first-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite chips.
Potential Specifications
With few concrete details available, very preliminary insights indicate some very impressive performance:
- 2P+6E Configuration: This maintained the high-performance and power-efficient CPU cluster arrangement in the predecessor.
- Performance Cores: These are expected to reach up to 5.0 GHz and deliver industry-leading computational power.
- Efficiency Cores: Aim for clock speeds of 4.0 GHz, higher than that of the chips in their predecessor lineup.
- Manufacturing Process The chip may apply TSMC’s Advanced 3nm N3P Process, making the chip use power more effectively and generate better performance.
There’s also speculation regarding the use of Samsung’s SF2 (2nm GAA) process, pending yield improvements.
Implications and Industry Impact
- Integration by Xiaomi: The traces of the SM8850 discovered in Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 show how tight the collaboration between the company and Qualcomm is, and that might imply the future Xiaomi devices will be among the first to sport this advanced chip.
- Next-Generation Flagship Features: With unparalleled clock speeds and advanced fabrication processes, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 will be capable of delivering uncompromising performance in ultra-premium smartphones.
- Competition in the Market The aggressive R&D schedule shows that Qualcomm aims to have a leading position with the latest advancements over other rivals such as MediaTek or even Apple.
Looking Forward
Although Qualcomm has not yet revealed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, this leak certainly shows there may be some interesting times ahead. With Xiaomi partnering with Qualcomm, its Xiaomi 16 series or even future flagship phones may just pack this chip. Until then, one has to wait for further details until Qualcomm makes developments with this processor.
Wow that’s amazing 🤩