Qualcomm is gearing up to unveil its next flagship application processor (AP), the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, at the upcoming Snapdragon Summit in late October. This highly anticipated chipset is expected to power a wide range of Android flagship models in the coming year, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ in the U.S., as well as the Galaxy S25 Ultra globally.
Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that mass production of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will commence in the second half of this year. While tech enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the launch of this powerful new chipset, there may be some concerns regarding its potential impact on pricing.
Kuo suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could cost between 25% and 30% more than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is currently priced at $190-$200. With an estimated price range of $237.50 to $260, consumers may see a noticeable increase in the cost of devices powered by this cutting-edge technology.
The higher price tag can be attributed to Qualcomm’s decision to manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 using TSMC’s advanced 3nm process node, specifically the second-generation N3E node also utilized for Apple’s A18 Pro chip. This state-of-the-art manufacturing process comes with a premium cost that could potentially impact retail pricing for smartphones featuring this chipset.
Despite potential price concerns, demand for AI-driven flagship phones continues to rise, driving interest in next-generation chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Kuo anticipates a high single-digit growth rate for these chips compared to their predecessors, highlighting the increasing importance of AI capabilities in modern smartphones.
Rumored specifications for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 include a configuration with two big Phoenix CPU cores and six medium Phoenix CPU cores. Unlike previous iterations, this chipset is expected to forego low-power efficiency CPU cores, focusing on performance and power efficiency.
As Qualcomm prepares to launch its latest flagship AP, competition from rivals like MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400 AP will also play a role in shaping the market for high-performance mobile processors. Stay tuned for more updates on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and its impact on future smartphone releases.
