Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 may be priced at US$220 to US$240

Don McGuire, Qualcomm’s Chief Marketing Officer, announced at the MWC 2024 in Barcelona that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be released in October 2024. It is rumored that this generation will incorporate custom Oryon cores infused with NUVIA technology, and will likely be manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process.

Recently, some netizens revealed that no OEM manufacturers have yet mass-produced models equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. The unit cost of the new flagship SoC remains unclear, estimated to be between $220 and $240, with final pricing depending on the order volume and selected feature set. As early as last year, Qualcomm hinted that the pricing for the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8 might be higher than its predecessor, due to the need to balance cost, power consumption, and performance, which comes at a premium.

Historically, Qualcomm has not provided an exact procurement price to all customers, which is influenced by the order quantity. This year, partners may be compelled to pay higher prices. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, released last year, was priced around $200. While the increase for the fourth generation appears modest, it becomes a significant expense when orders reach millions. One reason Samsung insists on a dual-platform strategy for its flagship smartphones is the continuous price hikes of Qualcomm’s SoCs.

Recent reports suggest that Samsung is testing MediaTek SoCs for the Galaxy S25 series, fueling speculation that Qualcomm’s pricing issues are driving Samsung to seek alternatives. The originally planned Exynos 2500’s yield rate was “below expectations,” forcing Samsung to abandon it, possibly considering the integration of Dimensity 9400 alongside the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in the Galaxy S25 series.