How the Snapdragon 8 Elite Makes Tablets a Truly Essential Gadget

Tablets are getting faster every year, and the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor is playing a key role in this progress. This chipset, borrowed from flagship smartphones, is now featured in premium tablets from various brands. It promises not just increased performance but also improved power efficiency and next-generation AI capabilities. Is this processor truly a game-changer for tablets? From productivity to gaming, we explore what makes the Snapdragon 8 Elite special and why it could become the defining platform for high-end devices.

Processor architecture and performance

The Snapdragon 8 Elite represents a significant evolution over its predecessors . The chipset is built on TSMC’s 3-nanometer process technology using Qualcomm’s proprietary Oryon CPU architecture, delivering a significant boost in computing power. Compared to the previous generation, CPU performance has increased by up to 45 percent while simultaneously reducing power consumption.

This new architecture isn’t just designed to deliver peak performance. It’s also engineered to enable tablets to handle intensive tasks like video editing and demanding games. For users, this means apps and services run faster and more responsively across all usage scenarios.

Is it possible to play on a tablet?

One of the most impressive advancements of the Elite platform is the Adreno GPU . With a performance boost of approximately 40 percent and improved power efficiency, it brings console-quality graphics to mobile devices. Games that previously struggled to run on tablets now run with higher detail, smoother frame rates, and improved hardware ray tracing support. This is a true breakthrough for tablets used as portable gaming systems.

For Android tablets, it’s not just about benchmark numbers. What matters is that users get a better experience playing high-quality games. Fans of esports titles like COD Mobile can now achieve triple-digit frame rates , ensuring smoother gameplay at high graphics settings.

Artificial intelligence on a tablet

Beyond raw performance, the Snapdragon 8 Elite demonstrates impressive AI capabilities. The Hexagon NPU has become significantly more powerful, delivering up to 45 percent faster AI computing per watt compared to previous generations.

In practice, this means more responsive voice assistants, improved real-time translation, intelligent photo processing, and generative AI running directly on the device without a cloud connection. Tablet manufacturers can use these capabilities to create adaptive interfaces and smarter multitasking.

So far, only Apple has been putting a serious emphasis on tablets, but that’s gradually changing. Image: i-ray

Practical application in modern tablets

Tablets like the OnePlus Pad 3 demonstrate how the Snapdragon 8 Elite performs in real-world conditions. Beyond synthetic benchmarks, users experience fast app switching , lightning-fast processing of complex spreadsheets, and creative workflows that don’t slow down under load.

The chipset works perfectly with large amounts of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage , ensuring fast loading times and efficient caching of large files. Combined with the capacious batteries of modern tablets, this ensures consistent performance for many hours of use. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor truly takes premium tablets to the next level, making them a fully-fledged laptop alternative for many tasks.