Qualcomm Gen 6 Snapdragon Phones: Full List of Flagship Devices and Features
Introduction
Qualcomm has unveiled its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 processors, promising a leap in AI performance for premium Android smartphones. These chips will power a range of devices launching throughout 2024 and into 2025, and manufacturers have already confirmed which models will carry the new silicon.
Previous generation and the AI era
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 powered devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. With the Gen 6 family Qualcomm emphasizes the so‑called agentic AI era, meaning the chips can run large language models locally, power advanced computational photography, and enable real‑time translation and voice assistants without a data connection.
Honor Magic 9 Pro Max
The upcoming Honor Magic 9 Pro Max is slated to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Honor is likely to leverage the extra AI horsepower to boost its Arri‑branded video capabilities, delivering cinema‑grade recording in a flagship hand‑set.
iQoo 16 and iQoo Pad Ultra
Vivo’s performance‑focused iQoo sub‑brand will launch the iQoo 16 smartphone and the iQoo Pad Ultra tablet on 29 September. While the exact configuration has not been disclosed, the tablet is expected to adopt the Extreme variant, whereas the phone may ship with the standard Elite Gen 6.
Motorola Signature 27
Motorola’s next flagship, the Signature 27, will be the first device to showcase the full‑fat Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The phone is positioned as a premium contender with advanced AI features that will roll out before the end of the year.
OnePlus 16
The OnePlus 16 will be the first OnePlus flagship that does not launch in Western markets. It will be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, offering strong performance though not the absolute top tier of the Extreme chip.
RedMagic 12 Pro
Nubia’s gaming brand RedMagic confirms that the RedMagic 12 Pro will run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 when it arrives in early November, keeping the device at the cutting edge of mobile gaming performance.
Xiaomi 18 Pro series
Xiaomi splits its new silicon across the Xiaomi 18 Pro lineup. The standard Xiaomi 18 Pro will receive the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The series launched in China today.
Other upcoming devices
Qualcomm also indicated that future phones from Vivo and the budget Redmi line from Xiaomi will incorporate the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, though specific models have not yet been announced.
What the new chips mean for consumers
The Elite and Extreme variants bring faster CPU cores, improved GPU performance, and dedicated AI accelerators that can handle on‑device large language models and real‑time image enhancement. Users can expect smoother multitasking, higher frame‑rate gaming, and more sophisticated camera processing without relying on cloud services.
Market impact and future outlook
By equipping flagship devices from brands like Honor, Motorola, and Xiaomi with the Extreme variant, Qualcomm aims to set a new performance baseline for AI‑centric Android phones. As more manufacturers adopt the Gen 6 silicon, developers will have a consistent platform to build on‑device AI apps, which could accelerate the shift away from cloud‑only solutions.
