# Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon 8 Elite: A Major Advancement in Mobile CPU Design
Qualcomm has introduced its newest flagship mobile processor, the **Snapdragon 8 Elite**, which promises considerable enhancements in both performance and efficiency. This latest chip is a direct upgrade from last year’s **Snapdragon 8 Gen 3**, yet it features a variety of new attributes and architectural modifications that distinguish it from its forerunner. A key change is Qualcomm’s simplification of its CPU architecture, departing from the intricate combination of large, medium, and small cores that characterized earlier models. Instead, the Snapdragon 8 Elite adopts a more streamlined method, employing a mix of high-performance cores and performance cores, all rooted in the **Oryon CPU architecture**.
## The Progression of Qualcomm’s CPU Design
The Snapdragon 8 Elite marks a change in Qualcomm’s methodology for mobile chip development. In past generations, Qualcomm utilized a diverse combination of CPU cores—large, medium, and small—to optimize both performance and energy efficiency. Yet with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Qualcomm has streamlined this method.
This new processor includes two **”Prime” cores** reaching clock speeds of up to **4.32 GHz**, ensuring peak performance for demanding applications. The other six cores are designated as **”Performance” cores**, functioning at a slightly reduced peak speed of **3.53 GHz**. Such alterations eliminate the necessity for varied CPU architectures in one chip, relying exclusively on clock speed to sort the high-performance from the lower-performance cores. This streamlined design is anticipated to enhance both performance and efficiency.
## Performance Improvements: CPU and GPU
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is constructed on Qualcomm’s **2nd-generation Oryon CPU architecture**, initially revealed in the **Snapdragon X Elite** processors for Windows PCs earlier this year. Qualcomm asserts that this new CPU will achieve a **45% performance boost** over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, positioning it among the most powerful mobile processors available.
Beyond the CPU, the chip’s **Adreno 830 GPU** also undergoes a substantial upgrade, with Qualcomm promising a **40% performance increase** when compared to the previous generation. This enhancement is expected to elevate gaming performance, graphics rendering, and other GPU-centric tasks on premium smartphones.
## Connectivity and Modem Upgrades
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is equipped with an improved **Snapdragon X80 5G modem**, which can support up to six antennas for enhanced connectivity. Although the theoretical maximum download speed stays at **10 Gbps**, the addition of extra antennas should boost real-world performance, especially in regions with limited 5G coverage. The chip also supports **Wi-Fi 7** and introduces **Bluetooth 6.0**, an upgrade from the Bluetooth 5.4 standard present in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
## Power Efficiency: A Primary Focus
One of the notable qualities of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is its enhanced power efficiency. Qualcomm has stated that the new chip provides **44% greater power efficiency** for the CPU and **40% greater power efficiency** for the GPU. These improvements are largely credited to the shift to **TSMC’s 3 nm manufacturing process**, which is superior to the 4 nm process utilized in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This reduction in power usage should aid in prolonging battery life in smartphones, even as performance escalates.
## AI Features: The Emergence of On-Device Processing
No contemporary chip announcement would be complete without an emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI), and the Snapdragon 8 Elite is no different. Qualcomm has embedded AI capabilities directly into the chip’s **image signal processor (ISP)**, now dubbed the **”AI ISP.”** This AI-enhanced ISP can identify and optimize various components within an image, such as faces, hair, clothing, and even objects in the background. Such abilities enable advanced photo editing functionalities, like background removal, all processed on the device itself without reliance on cloud-based AI services.
The chip’s **Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU)** is also significantly upgraded, providing a **45% gain** in AI processing speed when compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This will facilitate more sophisticated AI-driven features, including real-time language translation, enhanced voice recognition, and improved camera capabilities.
## A Preview into the Future: Oryon CPU Architecture
The CPU architecture of the Snapdragon 8 Elite is grounded in Qualcomm’s **Oryon** design, stemming from the company’s acquisition of **Nuvia** in 2021. Nuvia was a chip-design startup established by **Gerard Williams**, a former architect for Apple CPUs who played a pivotal role in the evolution of Apple Silicon chips. Initially, Nuvia focused on developing server chips, but Qualcomm redirected its ambitions toward consumer technology, specifically mobile and PC processors.
The Oryon architecture is a direct result
