Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could hit 5GHz, possibly even 6GHz

Qualcomm is rumored to be preparing two versions of its next flagship smartphone chip. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could include a standard and a higher-end Pro variant, with a new rumor now claiming the latter will have clock speeds close to a desktop processor. 

A post on Weibo from well-known tipster Fixed Focus Digital claims that early testing of Qualcomm’s upcoming chip has already hit clock speeds of 5GHz. The tipster goes further, suggesting the absolute ceiling could land somewhere between 5.5GHz and 6.0GHz, though they note that 5.5GHz is the more realistic target.

The jump in core speed is said to be made possible by the use of HBP (Heat Pass Block) technology, a thermal solution developed by Samsung for its Exynos 2600 chip. HBP integrates a heatsink directly into the chip package, allowing heat to dissipate more efficiently.

While the post doesn’t explicitly name the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, the details closely match what’s expected from Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship processor.

2nm fabrication also contributes to higher clock speed

For comparison, the current Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 tops out at around 4.61GHz on its performance cores, with slightly higher clocks rumored for select Galaxy-exclusive variants. Crossing the 5GHz threshold would be a notable milestone for mobile chips, even if those speeds are difficult to sustain in everyday use.

Another factor working in Qualcomm’s favor could be a move to TSMC’s newer 2nm N2P manufacturing process. It should naturally deliver improved efficiency alongside higher peak frequencies.

It’s also worth noting that Qualcomm is already comfortable marketing 5GHz-class silicon on the PC side, with chips like the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme. Bringing similar numbers to smartphones seems like the next logical step, even if the thermal realities of phones continue to keep those speeds in check.

For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.

Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories.

(Source)