Qualcomm is one of the ‘go-to’ names which comes in everyone’s minds when you talk of processors and mobile devices’ performance. In this blog, we bring a hot take on two of the very best Snapdragon processors. Both of them are from the same chipset generation and have a neck-to-neck battle. Yes, we are talking about the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 comparison. Qualcomm has had a legacy as one of the most admired, most reliable, and most high-performing chipset makers in the mobile phone industry. So, to get deeper insights into this legacy and compare the best Snapdragon processors, let us dive into this comparison blog.
Also Read: iQOO 15 Vs OnePlus 15: Price, Specs, All Details!
A Look At Qualcomm’s Year: Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Makes IT Among Solid Launches
Just as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 launched, it made its entry into the best mobile phone processors. This processor has brought in some solid specs like 4 million AnTuTu scores, solid GPU levels, and an interesting price segment, as it will come majorly in phones around the 30-40K range in the Indian market.
Qualcomm has launched four major processors in recent times: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. All these processors have targeted different price segments, while 8 Gen 5, 8s Gen 4 come in mid-range flagships, Elite Gen 5 has covered the premium flagship zone, and the 7 Gen 4 comes in the budget segment.
Here are some main highlights of these chipsets. Main highlights of each:
- Snapdragon 7 Gen 4: 2.8GHz, 4nm, 27% CPU and 30% GPU boost, Wi-Fi 7, AI on-device.
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 & 8 Gen 5: Mid-range flagship processors, built for enhanced gaming, offer around 3.5 to 3.8GHz, and solid connectivity.
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: The best and most premium flagship, top performance, advanced camera features.
Also Read: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs Apple A19: Which Is Faster?
And now, it’s time that we compare two of the best snapdragon chips right away.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Key Differences Explained
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Basic Nature | Basic, meant for standard flagships. | Elite, meant for premium flagships. |
| Manufacturing | 3nm | 3nm |
| Cache [L2] | 4MB | 12MB |
| GPU | Adreno 840 | Adreno 840 |
| Target devices | Phones costing around 40000 price segment in India. | Phones costing around 70000 to 100000 in India. |
| Gaming Powers | Advanced, meant for raw gaming, and has great graphics. | Highly advanced, meant for premium-level mobile games with heavy graphics. |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Comparisons
Here are the top comparisons between Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5:
No. of Cores
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Winner |
| 8 | 8 | Draw |
Top CPU Clock Speed
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Winner |
| Up to 4.6 GHz. | Up to 3.8GHz. | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. |
Geekbench Scores
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Winner |
| Single-core: 3600 | Multi-core: 11200 | Single-core: 3000 | Multi-core: 10000 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. |
AnTuTu Scores
| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Winner |
| Around 4.5M | Around 3.4M to 4M | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. |
Gaming Comparison
| Benchmark | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 | Winner |
| Memory Frequency | Up to 5000MHz | Up to 4800MHz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 7100 | 4,950 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay (RT) | 12,400 | 8,800 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| FPS Support (Native) | Up to 165 FPS | Up to 165 FPS | Tie |
| Max Refresh Rate | Supports up to 2K at 144Hz | Supports up to 1.5K 165Hz | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Ray Tracing Support | Hardware-accelerated (Gen 3) | Hardware-accelerated (Standard) | Tie |
| Gaming Stability | Around 40 percent | Around 60 percent | Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 |
Also Read: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Launch Story: Meet The Best Qualcomm Processor
By far, in all the comparisons and benchmarks, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is better than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5.
However, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is the first choice for many, as it has almost the same benchmarks and performance as Elite Gen 5, and comes at a way more affordable price than it.
But how? Well, it is because of the devices from which it is coming. Let us have a look at the devices of both these processors as well.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Devices
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is available in the OnePlus 15R, and no other upcoming devices have been confirmed with this processor.
Talking about Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, it is available in phones like Nubia RedMagic 11 Pro, OnePlus 15, iQOO 15, Realme GT 8 Pro, and more.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Which Processor Should You Choose?
When it comes to processors, the choices become difficult, especially when it’s about two processors from the same brand. Same number of cores, same GPU, same manufacturing, and it feels like they are almost identical. But still, here is a clear idea for you, if you have a choice to make.
| Choose Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 If | Choose Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 If |
| You want the fastest processor among mid-range processors. | You want the most premium-level processor |
| You are looking to buy a phone around the 40K or 50K price segment. | Your budget is higher, and you can afford premium flagship phones. |
| Basic-level gaming is enough for you. | Pro-level gaming is what you want. |
| You seek smooth multitasking without any lag. | You want higher and advanced multitasking phones. |
| You want good graphics and FPS. | You seek the best FPS and graphics settings. |
Also Read: Realme GT 8 Pro Vs iQOO 15: Which Phone Should You Buy?
End Note
That’s it from our side in this conversation on Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. According to our research, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 definitely has an upper hand. But what makes Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 interesting is that with almost similar specs, it will be coming inside way cheaper phones, making it a good mid-range winner.
Both processors are rock-solid choices for performance. So, take your processor notes sorted up, and make your choice between these two, considering your budget and also the phone preferences that you have in your mind. Keep coming for more such informative articles and comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5: Which is better?
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 beats Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 in terms of performance and gaming specs. But in terms of versatility, power efficiency, and price tag, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is better.
What is the AnTuTu score of Snapdragon 8 Gen 5?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 reportedly hits the top AnTuTu scores of up to 4 million.
Which Phones have Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5?
iQOO 15 Ultra, iQOO 15, OnePlus 15, Realme GT 8 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, Nubia RedMagic 11, etc.
When was Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 launched?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 was officially announced on 26 November 2025.
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