Qualcomm plans dual flagship strategy
Qualcomm is expected to shake up its flagship chipset lineup this year by introducing two high-end processors: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The move signals a more flexible strategy aimed at serving both premium and cost-conscious smartphone manufacturers.
According to recent rumors, the Pro version will sit at the top of the stack, offering support for next-generation LPDDR6 memory and UFS 5.0 storage. The standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, meanwhile, is expected to rely on more established memory technology.
Backward compatibility seen as key advantage
The most notable detail from the latest leak is that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro may remain compatible with older memory and storage standards. This means device makers could choose between LPDDR6, LPDDR5X or even LPDDR5 RAM, along with flexible storage options.
This backward compatibility could be especially important amid ongoing volatility in the DRAM market. Allowing manufacturers to reuse existing components would help control costs while still benefiting from the Pro chip’s performance and efficiency gains.
Xiaomi testing, but likely avoiding LPDDR6
Xiaomi is rumored to be testing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, identified internally by the SM8975 designation. However, industry tipsters suggest that Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship phones may not ship with LPDDR6 memory.
The reasoning appears to be cost-related. LPDDR6 RAM is expected to carry a price premium of roughly 20% compared with LPDDR5X, with early availability reportedly limited to 16GB configurations. For brands trying to protect margins, this makes LPDDR6 a difficult sell in the short term.
Manufacturing costs drive compromise
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is also expected to be expensive due to Qualcomm’s anticipated transition to TSMC’s advanced 2nm N2P manufacturing process. This shift should deliver performance and efficiency gains, but it significantly increases production costs.
As a result, smartphone makers are under pressure to balance cutting-edge features with profitability. The ability to pair the Pro chipset with older RAM and storage standards could provide a crucial financial buffer.
Standard Gen 6 likely to see wider adoption
Given its lower expected cost, the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 may be adopted in higher volumes. Reports suggest it will support LPDDR5 memory only, which is unusual considering even previous-generation flagship chips already support LPDDR5X.
Whether this limitation is accurate or the result of a translation or reporting error remains unclear. Still, it reinforces the idea that Qualcomm is deliberately segmenting its flagship lineup to address different pricing tiers.
Flexible platform for 2026 flagships
If the rumors hold true, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could become a flexible platform that allows manufacturers to fine-tune costs without abandoning flagship performance. While it may still command a premium over the standard Gen 6, its adaptability could make it attractive to brands navigating tight margins in an increasingly competitive Android market.
