Qualcomm’s Latest Snapdragon: The Heavyweight Champion
Qualcomm has just rolled out their brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and while the Xiaomi 17 will be the first to showcase it, the Samsung Galaxy S26 might actually score the real advantages.
Video Innovations That Could Challenge the iPhone
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is equipped with a variety of performance enhancements and intelligent AI. However, the most exciting feature is its debut of the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, potentially putting a dent in the iPhone’s video recording dominance. This codec guarantees high-quality video production with “near-lossless” fidelity and advanced AI camera technology for all you Instagram influencers.
Hang Tight, Everyone
Apparently, we might be left waiting for a while before we can get our hands on this technology.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Anticipating the Heavyweights: Samsung’s Galaxy S26
While the Xiaomi 17 series is poised to be the first devices featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, they won’t include APV. Qualcomm VP Judd Heape disclosed during a Q&A that we likely won’t see devices with APV until January 2026.
What Can We Expect?
Not only the new Xiaomi products will be lacking the APV feature, but also the OnePlus 15 will miss out on this enhancement. Judd believes that the Galaxy S26 will be the initial device to utilize the APV, aligning with Samsung’s release schedule. It makes sense for Samsung to keep this royalty-free codec exclusive to their flagship models. After all, you don’t share your finest brew with just anyone, right?
Qualcomm covered the expenses for my trip to their Snapdragon Tech Summit. They didn’t meddle with GadgetLad’s content, however.
Conclusion: The Waiting Game… Yet Again
At times, it feels akin to waiting for the subway on a drizzly evening—rewarding in the end, but you might need an extra drink to tide you over.
