Flagship Smartphones Could Become Much More Expensive Due to Qualcomm’s New Chip

Flagship smartphones could become significantly more expensive next year as chipmakers continue pushing the limits of mobile processor technology. According to a new report from Wccftech, Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro processor may cost smartphone manufacturers as much as $300 per unit — the highest price ever recorded for a flagship mobile chip. The information comes from well-known industry insider Abhishek Yadav, who claimed that Qualcomm plans to position the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro exclusively for ultra-premium devices. The soaring cost of the processor will likely force smartphone brands to raise retail prices once again. Chip Prices Continue to Climb The report highlights how dramatically flagship processor prices have increased in recent years. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 reportedly cost manufacturers between $240 and $280 per chip, while the earlier Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, released in 2021 and 2022, sold for roughly $130.