Qualcomm may launch a new high-end chip alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2

Qualcomm may be preparing a two-for-one special for its next flagship launch event. The chipmaker may reveal a new high-end chipset with the model number SM8845 alongside its top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.

This new chip will supposedly sit a notch below the top-of-the-line Elite 2, which has a SM8850 model number. The company is also breaking its usual schedule and moving its big reveal up to September 23, which should give phone makers a head start on their next flagship releases.

A Snapdragon 8 Plus?

This mysterious SM8845 is not a successor to the 8s series. Instead, it’s a more powerful piece of silicon that will sit just below the main Elite 2. Rumours online suggest a possible marketing name of Snapdragon 8 Plus, though nothing is confirmed.

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The performance is expected to be around the level of the original Snapdragon 8 Elite from 2024. It will even use the same all-big-core CPU layout featuring Qualcomm’s custom-developed cores.

But there are upgrades. For one, the SM8845 will be manufactured on a newer process and will borrow some peripheral components directly from the upcoming 8 Elite 2. This combination should deliver a tidy little boost in overall efficiency and capability compared to its predecessor.

As per Digital Chat Station, major brands like Oppo, OnePlus, and Vivo are already lining up to use this new processor. What’s more, the devices it will power are rumoured to feature ludicrous battery sizes. We are talking about capacities potentially hitting a whopping 8,000mAh, made possible by emerging silicon-carbon battery technologies.

The SM8845 seems custom-built to become the go-to silicon for the next generation of ‘flagship killer’ phones. Its arrival makes us wonder if Qualcomm will discontinue the original 8 Elite.