# Qualcomm splits flagship chip into two tiers

> The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 comes in standard and Extreme versions, with the latter offering 50 percent more shared memory and better video capture.
- Title: Qualcomm splits flagship chip into two tiers · Engadget
- Summary: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 comes in standard and Extreme versions, with the latter offering 50 percent more shared memory and better video capture…
- Keywords: qualcomm, snapdragon 8 elite gen 6, snapdragon 8 elite extreme gen 6, mobile processors, smartphone chips, artificial intelligence, 5g connectivity, technology, splits, flagship, chip, two
- Source: Engadget — https://engadget.com/2265628/qualcomm-is-making-not-one-but-two-versions-of-its-flagship-snapdragon-8-elite-gen-6-chip
- Author: Sam Rutherford
- Published: 2026-09-22T20:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: qualcomm, snapdragon 8 elite gen 6, snapdragon 8 elite extreme gen 6, mobile processors, smartphone chips, artificial intelligence, 5g connectivity, technology
## Qualcomm launches two flagship chips
Qualcomm is preparing its next generation mobile processor in two versions: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, following the completion of major smartphone releases.
## Standard Gen 6 specs and performance
Based on a two nanometre process, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 features an eight-core Oryon CPU with prime cores reaching five gigahertz, sixteen megabytes of Flex Cache, and an Adreno GPU thirty-five percent faster than the previous generation.
## Camera and connectivity features
The chip's Spectra image signal processor supports eight K video capture at up to thirty frames per second, single image capture at up to three hundred twenty megapixels, and triple cameras at up to sixty-four megapixels with zero shutter lag.
## Extreme variant adds AI and video power
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 runs AI models with more than thirty billion parameters, supports APV and VVC video codecs, includes eighteen megabytes of high performance memory, and records eight K video at sixty frames per second.

> 50 percent more shared memory
## Motorola commits to new processor
Motorola has already committed to using the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 in its upcoming Signature twenty-seven phone, with the chip expected to become the go-to processor for next year's premium mobile devices.
## Key takeaway

Qualcomm is releasing two versions of its next flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with the Extreme variant offering enhanced AI and video capabilities.