Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Chipset Expected to Drive Up Prices of Top Android Phones in 2025

Qualcomm's Senior Vice President, Chris Patrick, Hints at Price Increase for Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Chipset in Pursuit of Exceptional Performance Levels.

If you were already finding the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, OnePlus 11, and other leading Android phones expensive, brace yourself for some unwelcome news – it appears that the price tags on top Android phones are destined to climb even higher in 2025.

The reason for singling out 2025 is due to the anticipated release of most phones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, which is likely to be unveiled late next year. Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President, Chris Patrick, has indicated (as reported by SamMobile) that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to come with a higher price, driven by Qualcomm’s ambition to deliver a chipset offering “astonishing levels of performance.”

While the precise extent of this price hike remains unknown, there is a distinct possibility that it will be transferred to consumers.

This news is particularly significant because, based on historical trends, a substantial number of phones are likely to adopt the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This list may encompass the Samsung Galaxy S25 series (in some regions), the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the OnePlus 13, the Xiaomi 15 lineup, and numerous others.

Nevertheless, certain exceptions are expected, including the Google Pixel 10 series (if Google’s 2025 phone adopts that name), which will probably employ a custom Tensor chipset. Additionally, the iPhone 17 series, equipped with Apple’s 2025 mobile chipset, will not use Qualcomm’s offering.

It’s worth noting that some regions might receive Samsung Galaxy S25 models featuring Exynos chipsets instead. Samsung frequently deploys a combination of Snapdragon and Exynos chipsets, and the balance may tilt further in favor of Exynos if the cost of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 becomes significantly higher.