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The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the faster, higher-tier platform in the benchmark results available for comparison. Qualcomm lists it with a 3 nm process and CPU speeds up to 4.74 GHz, while the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a 4 nm platform with a prime core up to 3.2 GHz. The 8s Gen 4 still supports modern features such as Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and advanced gaming capabilities. Which chip makes the better phone depends on the handset’s cooling, configuration, price, and other hardware—not just its processor.

Key differences at a glance

Specification Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Process technology 4 nm 3 nm
Maximum listed CPU speed Up to 3.2 GHz Up to 4.74 GHz; Qualcomm also lists a 4.6 GHz version
CPU platform Kryo CPU; prime core up to 3.2 GHz and performance cores up to 3.0 GHz Third-generation Oryon CPU
Modem identification in Qualcomm’s lineup Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF system X85 5G Modem-RF system
Notable listed connectivity Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 Check the individual phone’s specifications for supported features and bands

Sources: Qualcomm’s 8 Series lineup, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 product brief, and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 product brief.

These are platform specifications, not a promise that every phone uses every capability or runs at the headline CPU speed. Qualcomm says the Elite Gen 5’s maximum speed varies by version and advises checking OEM specifications for a device’s CPU speed. Radio support and regional bands also depend on the particular handset.

Benchmark comparison

NanoReview’s comparison page reports higher results for the Elite Gen 5 across the listed CPU, overall, and graphics benchmarks. The figures below are its published pooled results, accessed October 5, 2026; they are not a controlled test of both chips in the same phone.

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#1 Best Overall
vivo X300 Ultra 5G Unlocked Smartphone|China Version|16GB+512G | Full GOOG Service| Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5| 200MP Z EISS Main Camera| 6.82" 144Hz 2K AMOLED Display| 6600mAh Battery+100W Fast Charge
  • Full GOOG Service: Same User experience as the local mobile version. It's manufactured by vivo China Headquarter Factory. We will help you to install full set of GOOG APPs. The frequencies supported cover main network bands. The package contains compatible charger with local standard. Needless to worry about the GOOG Service, language, charging and network compatibility. Since this is a China Version mobile phone, please note some contents might still be Chinese and may not be changed.
  • PROFESSIONAL V-SLR CAMERA SYSTEM — 3+2 Z EISS Master Lens Array with dual 200MP sensors (1/1.12″ S ONY LYTIA 901 main + 200MP 85mm gimbal-stabilized telephoto) and a 50MP ultrawide. Covering 14mm to 400mm full focal range with CIPA 7.0-level stabilization. This is the original Chinese version – fully unlocked and ready for global use. Every shot delivers Z EISS natural color science.
  • IMMERSIVE 2K DISPLAY — 6.82-inch 2K Z EISS Master Color AMOLED flat display with 1-144Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate. Peak brightness 4500nits for outdoor visibility, supports Dolby Vision, HDR 10+, and Netflix HDR. 2160Hz PWM dimming + full-range DC dimming for eye protection – perfect for gaming and streaming.
  • FLAGSHIP PERFORMANCE — Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (TSMC 3nm, up to 4.6GHz). Ice Vein Fluid VC cooling system. Runs Funtouch OS (Chinese version) with full GOOG Play Services pre-installed, so you get a clean Android 16 experience with all US apps working seamlessly.
  • ALL-DAY BATTERY — 6600mAh battery. 100W wired FlashCharge (0-100% in ~30 min) + 50W wireless FlashCharge. Includes C-to-C charger. IP68/IP69 dust/water resistance. The Chinese version retains the original high-capacity battery and fast charging protocol – no regional downgrade.
Benchmark Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
AnTuTu 11 total 2,314,417 3,950,082
Geekbench 6 single-core 2,072 3,639
Geekbench 6 multi-core 6,649 11,047
3DMark Steel Nomad Light 1,688; 83% listed stability 2,737; 67% listed stability
3DMark Solar Bay 7,641 12,156
3DMark Wild Life Extreme 3,705 6,490

Source: NanoReview’s direct comparison. The page reports 457 AnTuTu 11 samples and 50 Geekbench 6 tests for the 8s Gen 4, compared with 283 and 79, respectively, for the Elite Gen 5. Tested-device pools differ and can change, so treat the scores as a snapshot rather than a prediction for a specific phone. A benchmark result also does not establish sustained performance during long gaming or other workloads.

What the scores mean—and what they do not

Elite Gen 5 leads in the published pool

The Elite Gen 5’s higher listed scores indicate a substantial performance advantage in NanoReview’s compared results, including both CPU and graphics tests. They are useful for understanding the platforms’ relative positioning, but phone cooling, power limits, and software profiles affect how a device performs over time.

Qualcomm’s percentage gains use a different baseline

Qualcomm announced the Elite Gen 5 on September 24, 2025, claiming CPU, GPU, and NPU gains of 20%, 23%, and 37%, respectively. Those percentages compare it with the preceding Snapdragon 8 Elite generation—not with the 8s Gen 4. They are manufacturer comparisons, not independent head-to-head test results. See Qualcomm’s announcement.

Rank #2
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  • USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZPC0AG
  • Dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM or eSIM + eSIM) (NO MICRO SD) 5G SA: n1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/66(70M)/77/78/71/2/48/265G NSA: n1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/66(70M)/77/78/71 4G LTE TDD: 38/40/41/42/484G LTE FDD: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/18/19/20/26/28/66(70M)/71 3G: WCDMA:1/2/4/5/8/19 2G: GSM: Quad Band Wireless Networks -- Bluetooth 5.4Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
  • 6.9" eye-care AMOLED display*The screen size of POCO F8 Ultra is about 6.85 inches in the full rectangle when measured diagonally. Actual viewable area is less due to the curved corner design and measurements between individual products may vary.Resolution: 2608*1200Contrast ratio: 5,000,000:1Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz*Refresh rate can be adjusted to up to 120Hz for supported apps.Peak brightness: 3500 nits covering 25% display areaHBM brightness: 2000 nitsTypical brightness: 600 nitsMinimum brightness:
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform3nm manufacturing processOcta-core CPU2 x Prime Core, up to 4.6GHz6 x Performance Core, up to 3.6GHzAdreno GPUQualcomm AI engine
  • Symmetrical stereo speakers with an independent subwoofer | 3-Mic arrayHi-Res & Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, Dolby Atmos, Sound by BoseSupports audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, AAC, OGG, WAV, AMR, AWB, APE Proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Electronic compass | Gyroscope | IR blaster | Flicker sensor | X-axis linear vibration motor |Color Temperature Sensor

Features beyond raw performance

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

Qualcomm’s product brief lists a Kryo CPU with a prime core up to 3.2 GHz and performance cores up to 3.0 GHz, Wi-Fi 7 with a peak speed listed up to 5.8 Gbps, Bluetooth 6.0, and UFS 4.0 storage support. The platform also includes gaming features. These are supported platform capabilities; the manufacturer’s phone design determines which features are implemented and available.

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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Qualcomm describes the Elite Gen 5 as using a third-generation Oryon CPU, an Adreno GPU, and a Hexagon NPU. Its product materials also describe APV video capability and triple 20-bit ISPs. These specifications describe platform capabilities; they do not by themselves establish the camera, video, or AI experience of a particular phone. For details, see Qualcomm’s Elite Gen 5 product page and 8s Gen 4 product page.

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Which processor should you choose?

Choose an Elite Gen 5 phone if peak performance is your priority

The available pooled benchmark results favor the Elite Gen 5, making it the stronger choice on paper for demanding CPU and graphics workloads. That does not guarantee a particular handset will sustain its peak performance: cooling and power management vary by model.

Rank #3
XIAOMI Poco F8 Ultra 5G Ai (Compatible with Tmobile Mint Tello & Global) (512GB + 16GB) Ai 2K 6.9" Bose Sound 50MP Gamers Phone NFC Dual sim Unlocked Model 25102PCBEG (Blue Demin)
  • USA MARKET ONLY WORK ON TMOBILE MINT TELLO OR ANY UNDER TMOBILE NETWORK PHONE NEEDS A SIM CARD ALREADY ACTIVATED ,OUTSIDE USA WORKS ANY GSM CARRIER SIM GSM FCC ID: 2AFZZPC0AG
  • Dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM or eSIM + eSIM) (NO MICRO SD) 5G SA: n1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/66(70M)/77/78/71/2/48/265G NSA: n1/3/5/7/8/20/28/38/40/41/66(70M)/77/78/71 4G LTE TDD: 38/40/41/42/484G LTE FDD: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/18/19/20/26/28/66(70M)/71 3G: WCDMA:1/2/4/5/8/19 2G: GSM: Quad Band Wireless Networks -- Bluetooth 5.4Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax
  • 6.9" eye-care AMOLED display*The screen size of POCO F8 Ultra is about 6.85 inches in the full rectangle when measured diagonally. Actual viewable area is less due to the curved corner design and measurements between individual products may vary.Resolution: 2608*1200Contrast ratio: 5,000,000:1Refresh rate: Up to 120Hz*Refresh rate can be adjusted to up to 120Hz for supported apps.Peak brightness: 3500 nits covering 25% display areaHBM brightness: 2000 nitsTypical brightness: 600 nitsMinimum brightness:
  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform3nm manufacturing processOcta-core CPU2 x Prime Core, up to 4.6GHz6 x Performance Core, up to 3.6GHzAdreno GPUQualcomm AI engine
  • Symmetrical stereo speakers with an independent subwoofer | 3-Mic arrayHi-Res & Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification, Dolby Atmos, Sound by BoseSupports audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, AAC, OGG, WAV, AMR, AWB, APE Proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Electronic compass | Gyroscope | IR blaster | Flicker sensor | X-axis linear vibration motor |Color Temperature Sensor

Consider an 8s Gen 4 phone for a premium feature set

The 8s Gen 4 supports current high-end platform features, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, while sitting below Qualcomm’s top-tier Elite Gen 5 in the published benchmark comparison. Whether an 8s Gen 4 device is the better purchase depends on its price and complete specifications, not its chipset name alone.

Compare the actual phones before buying

  • Confirm the exact chipset in the phone model and regional variant you intend to buy.
  • Look for sustained-performance testing under long gaming or other demanding workloads, along with information about cooling and performance modes.
  • Compare street price, display, camera hardware, battery capacity and tested endurance, storage and memory configuration, and software update policy.
  • Check the handset maker’s specifications for supported modem bands and connectivity features in your region.

Qualcomm’s September 24, 2025 announcement named Honor, iQOO, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, POCO, realme, REDMI, RedMagic, ROG, Samsung, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE among OEMs expected to feature the Elite Gen 5 in flagship devices. That announcement establishes expected participation at the time; it does not confirm a particular current model or local availability. Verify the exact phone’s specifications before relying on its chipset listing.

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Battery life and real-world performance

The sources cited here do not establish an independently verified, direct battery-life comparison between the two platforms. Nor can benchmark scores alone predict how long a phone will last or how well it performs during extended use. Those outcomes depend on the complete device, including its battery, display, cooling, software, and power settings.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.