Qualcomm could be delivering more than expected this fall. According to a new leak, the company might be bringing back the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, despite having already shifted to a new naming strategy with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

That’s not to say Qualcomm is changing its naming strategy again. Rather, the 8 Gen 5 will be its own distinct product, carrying the model code SM8845, while the 8 Elite 2 is known internally as SM8850. This suggests that both the “Gen” and “Elite” branding might coexist for the first time.

That already makes two flagship-level chips. But things might not stop there. Qualcomm is also rumored to be continuing its 8s series with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 5.

A confusing return to dual branding?

It could be a confusing return to the older naming style. Qualcomm dropped the “Gen” format (as in Snapdragon 8 Gen 3) for this year’s flagship, simply calling it the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Now, with “Gen 5” back in the picture, users and manufacturers may have to navigate overlapping labels.

Still, there may be a reason for this. The SM8845 chip, previously rumored under several names, Snapdragon 8s Elite, or 8 Plus, is expected to offer near-flagship performance. That would place it just below the true top-tier SM8850 chip. 

Introducing both as distinct products might help Qualcomm segment its premium lineup more clearly, especially with growing competition from MediaTek and in-house silicon from Samsung and Google.

The full picture should become clearer at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit, which is set to take place from September 23rd to 25th. That’s when the company is expected to announce its next-gen Snapdragon X laptop chips and whatever its latest mobile flagship ends up being called, Gen, Elite, or both.

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