⚙️ Qualcomm’s two new 2nm chips to power top Android phones in late 2026 and 2027
📆 First phones launched in China from Xiaomi and Honor
🇺🇸 Motorola Signature 27 will be the first in the US to launch in 2026, followed by the Samsung Galaxy S27 series, likely in 2027
⚙️ 5GHz 8-core Oryon CPU sees up to a 13% performance boost, 37% better efficiency
🎮 The GPU sees up to a 44% gaming uptick, plus AI upscaling and frame generation on the Extreme
📹 Extreme chip adds 8K60 video and runs 30B+ parameter AI models on-device
Qualcomm launched two flagship chips at its Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii this year, giving Android phone makers a choice for the first time, and most are going “Extreme.”
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 are both built on a 2nm process, and Android phone makers wasted no time announcing support for the new chipsets.
The Shortcut was on the ground in Hawaii seeing two of these devices in person – the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and Motorola Signature 27, specifically – and we noticed one thing. Almost every new Snapdragon-powered phone on our list so far uses the higher-end Extreme chipset. Only one phone of the seven opted for the standard Gen 6 version.
We’ve created a list tracking every confirmed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phone, plus we’ve outlined the rumored phones we expect in 2027.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phones list
Confirmed – Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6:
Motorola Signature 27
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
Honor Magic9 Pro Max
iQOO 16
OnePlus 16
RedMagic 12 Pro+
Confirmed – Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6:
Xiaomi 18 Pro
Rumored and expected:
Samsung Galaxy S27, S27+, S27 Pro and S27 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 9 and Z Flip 9
Oppo Find X10 Ultra
Realme GT 9 Pro
Asus ROG Phone 11
Unnamed Redmi, vivo and Oppo flagships (all named as Qualcomm partners)
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 specs
Both new Snapdragon chips share the same 5GHz CPU, modem and memory support. The Extreme version earns its over-the-top name in three areas by having a stronger GPU, a faster NPU and better video capture.
Shared specs (both chips):
Process: 2nm
CPU: 8-core Oryon – two Prime cores up to 5GHz, six Performance cores up to 4GHz
Cache: 16MB Oryon Flex Cache
Modem: Snapdragon X105 5G, 3GPP Release 19
Wi-Fi: FastConnect 8800 with Wi-Fi 8, 11.6Gbps peak
Memory: LPDDR5X and LPDDR6 up to 5,300MHz, up to 24GB
CPU efficiency: 37% better than Gen 5
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (vs. Gen 5):
CPU: 10% faster
GPU: 35% faster, 40% more efficient
NPU: 14% faster
Video: 8K30, 4K120 slow-mo
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (vs. Gen 5):
CPU: 13% faster
GPU: 44% faster, adds Adreno Matrix Cores and Adreno Neural Fusion (AI upscaling and frame generation for games)
GPU memory: 18MB Adreno High Performance Memory
NPU: 35% faster, 33% better performance-per-watt
Video: 8K60, 4K240 slow-mo, H.266 (VVC) and Advanced Professional Video codec
On-device AI: Runs 30B+ parameter Mixture of Experts models
Confirmed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phones
Seven Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phones are confirmed so far, from six different Android smartphone manufacturers. We’re starting with Motorola, which appeared at Snapdragon Summit and is likely to be the first company to launch a Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 phone in the United States.
Motorola Signature 27
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 – Motorola’s first phone on Qualcomm’s top chip tier
Release date: Announced at Snapdragon Summit; release date not set
Availability: Coming to markets worldwide before the end of 2026
Standout specs: 50MP Sony Lytia 910 main camera, 200MP telephoto, Bang & Olufsen speakers, Android 17 with seven years of OS updates
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Release date: Launched in China on September 23
Price: Xiaomi 18 Pro series starts at CNY 5,999 (about $900)
Availability: Xiaomi says the Pro models are going global this time; timing not announced
Standout specs: 6.9-inch display, 2.9-inch rear screen, 8,500mAh battery, dual 200MP cameras (main and 3.2x telephoto), privacy display
Xiaomi 18 Pro
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 – the only confirmed phone on the standard chip so far
Release date: Launched in China on September 23
Availability: Confirmed for a launch outside China
Standout specs: 6.4-inch display, 2.7-inch rear screen, 7,000mAh battery, same dual 200MP cameras as the Pro Max
Honor Magic 9 Pro Max
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Release date: Launched in China on September 28, pre-orders open
Price: Starts at CNY 6,499
Availability: Not announced
Standout specs: 6.8-inch OLED at 10,000 nits peak, 8,800mAh battery, 100W wired and 80W wireless charging, 200MP main and 200MP telephoto
iQOO 16
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Release date: Launches in China on September 29
Standout specs: 6.85-inch 2K 165Hz display, 8,400mAh battery, 100W wired and 50W wireless charging, IP68/IP69
Also coming: iQOO Pad Ultra tablet with the same chip
OnePlus 16
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Release date: Launches in China on October 12
Availability: No US launch; OnePlus exited the US market
Standout specs: 185Hz display, 200MP main camera, 50MP 3x telephoto, dedicated gaming touch and Wi-Fi chips
RedMagic 12 Pro+
Chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Release date: Launches in China on October 15
Availability: RedMagic usually sells globally, including the US, weeks after China – not yet confirmed
Standout specs: 0.96mm bezels, under-display selfie camera, new cooling system
Rumored Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phones
Samsung wasn’t at Snapdragon Summit this year, but it’s almost a given that the Korean electronics giant will have the latest Snapdragon chipset at the heart of its next smartphones in early 2027. Samsung likes to host its own events and tweak Qualcomm chips to its liking, so expect a “Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 for Galaxy” or something similar in the coming months.
Samsung Galaxy S27 series
Expected chip: The high-end “Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 for Galaxy” in the top-end S27 Pro and S27 Ultra worldwide, while a normal Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 may be found in the S27 and S27 Plus in the US
Expected launch: Early 2027, based on Samsung’s usual Unpacked timing
Confidence: High – Samsung reportedly validated LPDDR6 memory on the Extreme chip
Why it matters: This is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phone most US readers of The Shortcut on Substack will actually get
Oppo Find X10 Ultra
Expected chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 (leaked under its pre-launch name, “Gen 6 Pro”)
Expected launch: Q1 2027, with availability in China first
Confidence: Medium – the Find X10 and X10 Pro reportedly stick with MediaTek
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 9 and Z Flip 9
Expected chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (it’s too early for me to tell if it’ll be the Extreme or the regular version)
Expected launch: Late Summer 2027 (likely the end of July)
Confidence: High – based on Samsung’s foldable history, no leaks yet
Realme GT 9 Pro and Asus ROG Phone 11
Expected chip: Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Expected launch: Late 2026 (Realme) and early 2027 (Asus)
Confidence: Low to medium – both brands shipped every recent Qualcomm flagship chip, but neither one has confirmed the news we’re waiting to hear. That said, Asus loves to tout ROG as the ultimate gaming phone, so the Extreme chip seems like a lock to me.
Redmi, vivo and Oppo
Expected chip: Qualcomm listed all three phone brands as “launch partners,” so there’s at least some evidence they’re working on next-gen devices
Confidence: High, but no specific smartphones have been confirmed
The Shortcut will continue to update this list just like we did our original Snapdragon 8 Elite phones list started two years ago.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 vs. Elite Extreme Gen 6: which phones get which
Android phone makers are overwhelmingly choosing the Extreme chip so far. Six of the seven confirmed phones use the Extreme chip, and I expect this trend to continue.
Extreme Gen 6 is designed for: Ultra and Pro Max flagships, gaming phones and camera-first phones that want to tout the new 8K60 video perk
Standard Gen 6 is designed for: Cheaper “Pro” and base flagships where brands want to save on cost (and differentiate a bit with their Ultra and Pro variants)
Same CPU speed: Both hit 5GHz, so app speed should feel nearly identical in everyday use
The big difference: Gaming (44% vs. 35% GPU gains), on-device AI and video recording
The Shortcut’s take: Expect the standard Gen 6 to show up more in early 2027 as base models like the regular Galaxy S27 and cheaper Chinese flagships launch.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 FAQ
What will the first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phone be? The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, which officially launched in China on September 23, just one day after Qualcomm’s big announcement at Snapdragon Summit.
When can I buy a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phone in the US? Later this year, according to Motorola, which revealed to The Shortcut that its Motorola Signature 27 phone will be in stores by the end of 2026. Further out, the Galaxy S27 series is expected to be revealed in early 2027.
Settle this: is it Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme or Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6? Qualcomm’s official name is Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. I know – we’re getting used to the naming convention, too! It’s a mouthful.
Will the Galaxy S27 use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6? Reports suggest the Extreme Gen 6 will power the rumored S27 Pro and Ultra globally, with the S27 and S27+ getting Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 in the US and China. However things turn out, expect Samsung to label its version of Qualcomm’s chip as “for Galaxy” with minor tweaks.
Will the Google Pixel 11 or Apple iPhone 18 use it? I always get asked this question. No. Google uses its own Tensor chips, and Apple uses its own A-series chips.
Is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 faster than the regular Gen 6? Yes, mainly in graphics, AI and video. Both chips have the same groundbreaking 5GHz CPU clock speeds.