Flagship smartphones powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 or MediaTek Dimensity 9500 might not see a big jump in price, according to a tipster. Qualcomm is expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip in September 2025, with phones featuring the processor likely hitting shelves before the end of the year.
A post by reliable Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station suggests that both the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 and Dimensity 9500 will retain similar pricing to their predecessors. This means smartphone makers could launch new flagship models without increasing retail prices, despite using next-gen chipsets.
Memory Prices on the Rise
The tipster also noted that prices for LPDDR5x memory have risen by about 5% recently, and this trend may continue into Q3 and Q4 of 2025. This could potentially affect overall smartphone pricing, even if chipset costs remain stable.
Flagship Pricing Predictions
According to the tip, phones featuring the Snapdragon (SM8850) or Dimensity 9500 (D9500) could launch around the same price as last year’s flagships, such as the iQOO 13. Expected price range:
- CNY 3,999 – 4,299 (approximately ₹48,000 to ₹52,650)
This contradicts earlier reports that manufacturers might avoid the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 due to expected cost increases.
Snapdragon 8 Elite to Remain an Option
Meanwhile, Snapdragon 8 Elite (the predecessor) is expected to remain on the market even after its successor’s debut. This would allow smartphone brands to launch affordable models with flagship-level performance, according to MyDrivers.
One example is the Redmi K90, rumored to feature the current Elite chip and priced under $350 (around ₹31,000). However, cost-cutting in other areas like camera and display quality is likely to keep the price down.
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