Qualcomm's new budget chips bring 90fps gaming and Wi-Fi 7 to cheaper phones
Qualcomm has announced two new chips aimed squarely at affordable Android phones: the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, both built on a 4nm process. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is the bigger surprise — it's the first chip in that entry-level line to support 90fps gaming. Phones running these processors are expected in the second half of 2026, with Honor, Redmi, OPPO, Realme, and vivo confirmed as launch partners, per Android Headlines.
The specs
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 targets the mid-range. Its eight-core design clocks up to 2.6GHz and delivers a 21% GPU boost and 8% efficiency gain over the previous generation. It adds Wi-Fi 7 (up to 5.8 Gbps) and Bluetooth 6.0 — both firsts for the 6 series — along with support for 200MP cameras, 100x AI zoom, and 4K video.
Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 brings Wi-Fi 7 and 200MP camera support to mid-range phones.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is the more striking jump. Its Adreno GPU is 77% faster than its predecessor, enabling 90fps gaming for the first time in the 4 series, plus FHD+ displays at up to 144Hz. It also gains Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) support, meaning you can run two 5G connections simultaneously — a first for the Snapdragon 4 line. Camera support reaches 200MP here too.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is the first in its line to support 90fps gaming and dual 5G SIMs.
Both chips include Qualcomm's new Smooth Motion UI technology, a hardware-software combination designed to cut lag. Qualcomm claims it reduces screen stutter by 18–25% and speeds up app launches by 20% on the 6 Gen 5 and 43% on the 4 Gen 5, notes 9to5Google. Those figures come directly from Qualcomm; independent benchmarks won't be available until retail devices ship.
What this means for buyers
No pricing or US/UK availability dates have been disclosed. Based on the 4nm cost structure, phones in the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 tier could realistically land in the £150–200 / $180–240 range, with Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 devices sitting higher. Samsung, Google, and Motorola have not been named as partners, so early devices will likely come from Chinese brands.
The 77% GPU improvement in the 4 Gen 5 is significant — it closes the gap with chips previously found only in mid-range phones. If you're due an upgrade and shopping at the budget end, the second half of 2026 looks like a better time to buy than now.
Source: Qualcomm