Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship chips are still under wraps, but leaks suggest the company plans to release two variants: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a higher-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The Pro model is expected to introduce LPDDR6 RAM support, marking a significant leap in memory technology.
According to a recent ITHome report, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could be Qualcomm’s first chip to support LPDDR6 RAM. Earlier rumors assumed the chip would stick with LPDDR5X, but import data has now surfaced for the SM8975-the Pro’s internal code-indicating LPDDR6 compatibility.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is also rumored to feature a 2+3+3 CPU core configuration-likely a set of ”large” cores similar to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This setup would include:
- Two high-performance cores for peak power
- Three balanced cores for sustained workloads
- Three energy-efficient cores to save battery life
On the graphics side, the Pro is said to pack an Adreno 850 GPU along with 18 MB of graphics memory (GMEM), suggesting notable improvements for mobile gaming and graphics-intensive apps.
The standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is expected to share the same CPU architecture but clocked lower and paired with a slightly toned-down Adreno 845 GPU. Crucially, the base model will likely stick with LPDDR5X memory rather than upgrading to LPDDR6.
LPDDR6 represents a major evolution in mobile RAM, promising faster speeds and better power efficiency compared to the current LPDDR5X standard. If Qualcomm rolls this out in the Pro variant, it would mark one of the biggest memory upgrades in flagship smartphones in years. This could give it an edge over competitors like Apple and Samsung, who currently use LPDDR5 or LPDDR5X in their top chips.
While the official announcement is still some months away and specifications could shift, the introduction of LPDDR6 in a Snapdragon chip would set a new performance benchmark for Android flagships. This may also prompt other chipmakers to accelerate their own memory upgrades to remain competitive.