When Qualcomm released the X series of processors, its most recent series of ARM processors for Windows laptops, our entire Digit team got excited as we believed we had finally found something that is close to Apple Silicon.

The original Snapdragon 8 Elite has 2 x Oryon Prime CPU at up to 4.32GHz, 6 x Oryon Performance CPUs at up to 3.53GHz. The 7-Core version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite has 2 x Oryon Prime CPU at up to 4.32GHz, but instead of 6 Performance cores, this has 5 x Oryon Performance CPUs at up to 3.53GHz.

Qualcomm has quietly announced a variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite that could actually be perfect for foldable phones.

The lower-tier offering comes as Qualcomm is rumored to be working on midrange and overclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite variants.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will power most of the flagship Android smartphones and foldables this year. The foldable version of the chip features a 7-core CPU cluster that reduces power consumption and heat generation.

Qualcomm introduced its Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile chipset in October last year, and the octa-core processor currently powers flagship devices from brands like Realme and OnePlus. Recently, the company quietly launched a new variant of the Snapdragon 8 Elite featuring seven cores.