- Qualcomm may be working on a lighter version of the Snapdragon 888 chipset.
- The new chip may not have an integrated 5G modem.
- This could enable smartphone makers to release cheaper flagship phones.
Qualcomm currently has two flagship chips in the market, without the older Snapdragons that previously had propelled flagships. Between the Snapdragon 888, the top-of-the-line processor and the Snapdragon 870, the overclocked Snapdragon 865 Plus, Qualcomm already caters for various premium price bands. It looks like the chipmaker is preparing another flagship SoC that could make ultra-premium phones more affordable.
According to tipster Roland Quandt, Qualcomm is developing a lower version of the Snapdragon 888. The chipset allegedly has the model number SM8325, which looks like the Snapdragon 888’s model name SM8350.
Quandt believes that the new chip may not have an integrated 5G modem, but Qualcomm can always offer support for an external modem as with the Snapdragon 870.
Integrated 5G modems tend to increase the cost of a chipset, so if not added, manufacturers can keep the price of flagship phones at bay.
Load pollQuandt does not reveal more details about the new Snapdragon 888 processor. It will most likely be manufactured with a 5nm process like its older sibling, but we do not know for sure.
Nevertheless, Qualcomm can have a winner on hand, and also customers can expect to pay less for premium phones if the chip does indeed hit the market.