Qualcomm has just unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, and I think it's quite interesting. After releasing the powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, they're now offering something that's a bit more accessible without sacrificing too much performance. It’s not an S-series model like the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, adding a layer of intrigue to Qualcomm's branding strategy.

What really caught my attention is that Qualcomm is comparing it to the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, claiming better performance and efficiency. It seems like they're trying to position it as a solid upgrade for those who aren't necessarily looking for the absolute top-of-the-line chip.

Under the Hood: What Makes It Tick?

The good news is that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 boasts Qualcomm’s custom Oryon CPU cores, which are the same as those found in the Elite models. That means we're not seeing any Arm Cortex cores here. While Qualcomm isn't explicitly stating it's the exact same third-gen design as the 8 Elite Gen 5, the presence of matrix acceleration support hints that it might be the latest iteration of the Oryon design.

The CPU layout is also familiar, featuring two prime cores and six performance cores. While the peak clock speed is slightly lower than the Elite version (3.8 GHz vs. 4.6 GHz), it still sounds like it'll be incredibly snappy. It makes me wonder if these are chips that didn't quite reach those extreme clock speeds during manufacturing.

When it comes to graphics, it has a modern Adreno 8XX GPU with all the latest features like ray tracing and Snapdragon Game Super Resolution. I am curious to see how it will perform in real life.

Of course, there are some trade-offs. It has a slightly slower X80 modem and, based on Qualcomm's metrics, the GPU won't be as fast as the 8 Elite Gen 5. However, for most users, I don't think they'll notice the difference.

Despite these differences, the new chip still packs key features like the Hexagon NPU from the original Snapdragon 8 Elite and the same 20-bit Triple AI ISP found in the 8 Elite Gen 5. Plus, it supports the latest connectivity standards like Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

While Qualcomm seems to be positioning the 8 Gen 5 as a successor to the 8 Gen 3, they're being a bit careful by not comparing it directly to the 8 Elite. Let's be honest, it's not quite as fast as the latest flagship.

However, there's definitely reason to be optimistic. The 8 Gen 5 offers performance that's not too far off from last year's top-of-the-line chip. The CPU and NPU capabilities are pretty similar, and while the GPU is a bit slower, it should still be more than capable for today's games and apps. I think most people will be happy with its real-world performance.

In essence, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is a really interesting chip. It doesn't quite reach the "Elite" level in terms of raw performance, but it still outpaces the older 8 Gen 3 and offers comparable CPU and AI performance to last year's 8 Elite. It seems like a pretty good deal.

Plus, I'm hoping that its more conservative approach to graphics will help it avoid some of the overheating issues we've seen with other flagships. Of course, we'll need to wait for proper testing to confirm this.

But, most importantly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 should be more affordable. I'm expecting to see it in phones priced around $799 or even a bit less. Given how expensive the Elite line has become, this is definitely good news for consumers.

With its top-tier features, AI capabilities, and solid camera support, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is blurring the lines with the Elite series. I think phones powered by this chip will definitely be worth considering. I'll be keeping an eye out for the first devices to hit the market.