Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is anticipated to be pricier than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, due to the shift to custom Oryon cores and a transition to TSMC’s 3nm ‘N3E’ process. The move to these advanced technologies signifies a significant investment for Qualcomm, with estimated unit costs potentially reaching up to $240.
Despite the rough estimate, the exact pricing remains uncertain as smartphone OEMs have not yet placed orders for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This delay in orders could be attributed to the high expected price of the new SoC, leading some partners to consider alternatives such as MediaTek’s offerings.
With Qualcomm’s focus on recouping its substantial investments in developing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the final pricing of the chipset will heavily depend on the volume of orders from OEMs. Reports suggest that the SoC could be priced between $220-$240, making it more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is priced around $200.
Notably, Samsung is rumored to introduce its Galaxy S25 series with a MediaTek chipset alongside the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, indicating a strategic shift to reduce chipset expenses. The decision to adopt a dual-chipset launch strategy for flagship smartphones reflects the increasing costs associated with Qualcomm chipsets.
As mass production of Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 devices has not commenced, the exact unit cost of the SoC remains uncertain. The final price will be influenced by the scale of OEM orders and the specific feature set chosen by manufacturers.
