Qualcomm launches Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 with 100 TOPS AI

Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a higher‑spec Extreme variant at a press event on Thursday, targeting flagship smartphones in 2024. The company said the two chips are “flagships,” with the Extreme version offering modest gains in AI, video capture and gaming.

The launch follows a year of stiff competition from Apple’s A17, Samsung’s Exynos 2400 and MediaTek’s Dimensity 9200. Qualcomm had focused on the 8 Gen 5 in 2023, but the new chips aim to regain the top spot in performance and feature set. The move also reflects the growing demand for 5G‑ready phones that can handle high‑resolution video and intensive AI tasks.

Both chips use Samsung’s 4 nm process. The 8 Elite Gen 6 has an octa‑core CPU with a 3.3 GHz Cortex‑X2 prime core, two 2.5 GHz Cortex‑A710 cores and four 2.0 GHz Cortex‑A510 cores. The Extreme version adds a second X2 core and boosts the GPU to a 12‑core Adreno 780. The AI engine can now perform 100 trillion operations per second, a 30 % jump over Gen 5. Video support includes 8 K at 60 fps HDR10+ and 4 K at 240 fps for gaming. The 5G modem is the Snapdragon X70, offering higher peak download speeds than previous models.

Phone makers are expected to reveal new devices by Q3, with early leaks pointing to a flagship from OnePlus or Xiaomi using the Extreme model. Qualcomm plans to supply the chips to multiple partners, potentially reshaping the flagship market. The announcement signals the company’s intent to regain leadership in high‑end performance after losing ground to rivals in recent years.