Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip cancelled? Qualcomm tipped to be working on another chipset
Now, only the base model SM8850 remains, strongly implying that the TSMC-built 3nm chip is the sole survivor. While Qualcomm hasn't explained the decision, the leak clearly indicates that the company has quietly dropped Samsung from the manufacturing equation, at least for this flagship chip.The move suggests that all major Android phones launching in late 2025 and beyond will feature the TSMC version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. It's a blow to Samsung, which had hoped to flex its 2nm muscle and regain some ground in the chipmaking race. Whether the decision came down to production challenges, performance concerns, or simple strategic realignment, we can only speculate for now.In related news, the same source reveals that the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 prototype, which developers and OEMs use for early testing, has seen a sharp price increase. It now costs $15,000, suggesting limited availability and high demand. That's a significant bump, and could be Qualcomm's way of keeping the chip exclusive to top-tier partners during the early phase.Also worth noting is that Qualcomm's SM8845 chip—likely to be branded as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 5—is currently undergoing a specification shake-up. Details remain vague, but this chip is expected to serve as a more cost-effective flagship option, possibly targeting upper-mid-range handsets with performance just shy of the Elite series.While a Samsung-built 2nm Snapdragon would've been a headline-grabber, it seems the story has taken a different turn. For now, TSMC's 3nm tech holds the crown as the platform of choice for Qualcomm's flagship ambitions. Samsung may yet have a 2nm moment in the future, but this leak suggests it won't be with the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Samsung Elec Q2 profit likely to drop 39% on weak AI chip sales
Samsung's Q2 profit seen at 6.3 trln won, down from 10.4 trln won prior year Supply of advanced AI chips to Nvidia fell behind targeted schedule, analysts say Uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy remains risk SEOUL, July 7 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics is expected to forecast a 39% plunge in second-quarter operating profit on Tuesday, weighed down by delays in supplying advanced memory chips to artificial intelligence chip leader Nvidia. The world's biggest maker of memory chips is projected to report an April-June operating profit of 6.3 trillion won ($4.62 billion), its lowest income in six quarters and fourth consecutive quarterly decline, according to LSEG SmartEStimate. The prolonged weakness in its financial performance has deepened investor concerns over the South Korean tech giant's ability to catch up with smaller rivals in developing high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in artificial intelligence data centres. Its key rivals, SK Hynix and Micron, have benefited from robust demand for memory chips needed for AI, but Samsung's gains have been subdued as it relies on the China market, where sales of advanced chips have been restricted by the U.S. Its efforts to get the latest version of its HBM chips to Nvidia certified by Nvidia are also moving slowly, analysts said. "HBM revenue likely remained flat in the second quarter, as China sales restrictions persist and Samsung has yet to begin supplying its HBM3E 12-high chips to Nvidia," said Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities. He said Samsung's shipments of the new chip to Nvidia are unlikely to be significant this year. Samsung, which expected in March that meaningful progress over its HBM chip could come as early as June, declined to comment on whether its HBM 3E 12-layer chips had passed Nvidia's qualification process. The company, however, has started supplying the chip to AMD, the U.S. firm said in June. Samsung's smartphone sales are likely to remain solid, helped by demand for stock ahead of potential U.S. tariffs on imported smartphones, analysts said. Many of its key businesses including chips, smartphones and home appliances continue to face business uncertainty from various U.S. trade policies including President Donald Trump's proposal for a 25% tariff on non-US-made-smartphones and the July 9 deadline for "reciprocal" tariffs against many of its trading partners. The U.S. is also considering revoking authorisations granted to global chipmakers including Samsung, making it more difficult for them to receive U.S. technology at their plants in China. Shares in Samsung, the worst performing stock among major memory chipmakers this year, have climbed about 19% this year, underperforming a 27.3% rise in the benchmark KOSPI. ($1 = 1,363.3600 won) (Reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Sonali Paul)
Economic Times
6 hours ago
- Economic Times
Digital rules? Not EU's way
Digital Rules? Not EU's Way Madrid: In 2024, Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) released a draft ex-ante digital competition law, following the lead of the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA). But does India need a new law that is an inspiration from a dubious DMA or is existing competition law enough?India's Competition Act 2002-especially in the wake of significant amendments made in 2023-offers a flexible and comprehensive framework to address anticompetitive conduct in the digital economy. It also includes sections that cover such core digital concerns as deep discounting, bundling, self-preferencing, exclusive tie-ups and the misuse of data by dominant platforms- without automatically prejudging whether such conduct is anti-competitive. CCI has also demonstrated that it can apply these provisions, as it did when it imposed penalties on Google for anticompetitive conduct in the Android ecosystem and Play Store policies. More recently, Meta and WhatsApp were fined for unfair data-sharing conditions imposed on users. CCI's scrutiny of MakeMyTrip, Flipkart and Uber demonstrates its ability to engage with platform-specific issues under existing legal mandate. While some jurisdictions have opted for 'ex-ante' digital competition laws-such as DMA-India would be wise to avoid this path. Ex-ante regimes often rely on absolute prohibitions and structural presumptions, which may inadvertently suppress innovative or pro-competitive conduct because it involves scale or the blueprint for many ex-ante digital competition rules, has been criticised by competition experts like OECD's Frederic Jenny for rigidity and potential to hinder innovation in fast-moving markets. Indeed, DMA has produced dubious outcomes in the has taken note. The draft Digital Competition Bill (DCB) 2024 proposed ex-ante obligations for 'systemically significant digital enterprises', drawing inspiration from foreign frameworks like DMA. But it was met with concern from industry and legal experts, who warned that such sweeping, pre-emptive rules risked stifling innovation and overregulating a still-developing digital economy. That proposal was put on the backburner, a prudent pause that underscores the need to pursue a tailored, evidence-based approach rather than adopt a one-size-fits-all regulatory model. Indeed, India's experience offers an alternative. In the landmark v. Google case, CCI displayed regulatory restraint, carefully weighing the need to preserve innovation. That decision reflected a more sophisticated understanding of digital markets, where conduct must be judged in context, rather than employing broad regulatory prohibitions that ignore efficiencies and procompetitive benefits. Furthermore, CCI has shown flexibility in defining relevant markets in digital cases, such as in Snapdeal and Meru v. Uber, where evolving business models required novel interpretations. Despite effectiveness of this legal framework, enforcement delays remain a significant concern. In CCI v. SAIL case, the Supreme Court highlighted the need for time-bound proceedings to ensure meaningful remedies and deterrence. The ability to enforce the law swiftly and decisively is what will ultimately determine the regime's than replicating foreign models, India should prioritise improving how its current system functions. This means faster case resolution, better resources for CCI and development of sector-specific guidelines that retain flexibility while offering clarity. Moreover, continuous training and upskilling of enforcement personnel are essential. That's why the proposed Digital Markets and Data Unit within CCI is a welcome development, as it promises to bring much-needed technical expertise and sector-specific knowledge to bear on increasingly complex pace of technological change in the digital economy exceeds the ability of prescriptive rules to remain relevant. A principles-based, evidence-driven regulatory approach-such as the one embodied in the Competition Act-is far better suited to this 2023 amendments bolstered this framework by introducing a deal value threshold for merger scrutiny, a voluntary settlement and commitment mechanism, and significantly higher penalties. Together, these amendments serve to equip CCI with modern tools to regulate proactively without becoming focus should now shift to building institutional capacity, streamlining procedures and ensuring timely enforcement. These improvements will ensure that Indian markets remain healthy, efficient and a global climate of regulatory overreach, India's approach should continue to remain principled and pragmatic: grounded in a refusal to legislate prematurely and a commitment to strengthen an already sound framework rooted in economic analysis that has served it well across sectors as varied as telecom, cement, pharmaceuticals and aviation. It should be no different for digital markets. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Inside TechM CEO's 'baptism by fire' and the blaze he still needs to douse Can this cola maker get back bubble valuation pricked by Ambani? Delhivery survived the Meesho curveball. Can it keep on delivering profits? Why the RBI's stability report must go beyond rituals and routines Are Sebi's MII evaluations driving real change or just more paperwork? From takeovers to a makeover: Are cement stocks ready for re-rating? 8 cement stocks with upside potential from 6 to 42% Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and return potential of more than 29% in 1 year For long-term investors with ability to ignore short-term volatility: 6 mid-caps from different sectors with upside potential of up to 39%
Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Pioneer VREC-H520DC dashcam review: A worthy investment or just an expensive toy?
The Pioneer VREC-H520DC dashcam gets a clear HD display to preview recordings. Check Offers A recent survey of 3,000 car owners across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore found that nearly 48 per cent consider front and rear dashcams the most important feature new cars should come equipped with, ranked even above six airbags or Bharat NCAP ratings. The shift is tied to growing concerns about road rage, accidents, and insurance disputes, situations where video evidence can make a real difference. To address this growing interest, Pioneer introduced a range of dashcams in India in 2024, with prices starting at ₹ 5,399 and topping out at ₹ 23,499. One of the higher-end models in this lineup is the Pioneer VREC-H520DC, a dual-channel setup officially priced at ₹ 18,499. It offers features like a 2K QHD, 5 MP front camera with Sony's Starvis 2 sensor, a 1080p rear camera, GPS tracking, Wi-Fi connectivity and parking surveillance. On paper, it sounds well-equipped, but how does it perform in real-world conditions? Here's what we found. Pioneer VREC-H520DC: Design and build Inside the box, the H520DC includes the front and rear cameras, a micro-USB cable to connect them, a USB-C power cable, a 12V adapter, and two electrostatic mounting sheets. While installation is fairly straightforward, it's a bit disappointing that cable management clips aren't included, considering the price. The main unit resembles a compact digital camera and feels solidly built, while the rear unit is smaller and easier to hide, but doesn't match the front in terms of material quality. A 3-inch screen on the back of the front camera is bright and usable in all lighting. The front lens offers a 143-degree field of view and uses the Sony IMX675 Starvis 2 sensor. There are six buttons in total: four below the screen for navigation, and two on the side for power and switching channels. The Pioneer VREC-H520DC supports microSD cards of upto 512 gb. The front camera mount is adjustable in both rotation and tilt, but the rear mount only allows tilt adjustment once fixed in place. Fortunately, the electrostatic sheets can be repositioned easily for minor alignment corrections. Pioneer VREC-H520DC: App and user experience The camera pairs with Pioneer's 'ZenVue' app, available on Android and iOS. Once connected via Wi-Fi, users can view footage, switch channels, and transfer files. While pairing was seamless with Android during testing, we did face connection issues with an iOS device. The app itself is minimal and easy to navigate, but we did encounter a bug early on. After a firmware update, the on-screen text on the camera disappeared, and the menus were still functional but completely blank. A factory reset fixed the issue, but it's worth noting for users who may not be familiar with the settings layout. We were only able to fix the glitch because we had luckily remembered where the reset option was in the menu. After setup, the interface is generally straightforward, both on the app and the camera. Features like loop recording, parking mode (which requires a separate hardwire kit), and emergency event recording are available. ADAS alerts are also included. There's an option to turn off the sound alerts or entirely disable the feature if it becomes a distraction. Pioneer VREC-H520DC: Performance and video quality Like many dashcams, the unit warms up slightly in use due to its bright display and Wi-Fi chip, but not to an alarming level. Daytime video quality is quite sharp, and license plates are clearly visible from about two car lengths. Night performance is decent, too, with the Sony sensor doing a good job in low-light traffic. However, smaller plates on two-wheelers or autorickshaws can still be hard to read, especially in motion. The 1080p rear camera is sufficient for basic rear coverage during the day, though it doesn't hold up well in low light to be able to recognise plates while on the move. Still, thanks to the wide-angle lenses, coverage is broad enough to capture most relevant activity around the vehicle. The rear unit is small and easy to conceal. Motion sensing for automatic emergency recordings works reliably, and the sensitivity can be adjusted to suit different driving conditions. GPS data, including location and speed, is consistently recorded in the video files, which can be useful for insurance claims or reviewing incidents. Additionally, there is also a hotkey to start and stop recording the audio in case of emergencies. One of the four navigation buttons is mapped to the mute/unmute switch, which can prove useful when someone comes up to your window to have a chat. Whether it is a road rage scenario or a cop situation, you can always be rolling the tapes. Furthermore, the screen turns off the display, which makes it non-obnoxious is such situations. As for ADAS alerts, they didn't have much practical impact on typical city traffic. The only frequent alert was a vague 'front vehicle motion detected' message accompanied by a chime. Since looking at the camera while driving isn't feasible, these alerts don't add much to the experience and may be better left disabled. The image quality of the Pioneer VREC-H520DC is decent to serve the purpose which it is built for. Pioneer VREC-H520DC: Verdict The Pioneer VREC-H520DC delivers on its core purpose, which is capturing clear, reliable footage during both day and night. Its dual-channel setup, intuitive interface, and dependable build give it an edge over generic budget models. However, it's not without flaws, software bugs, limited ADAS utility and a few missing installation aids slightly undercut the experience. While the official ₹ 18,499 price tag is not very affordable, it can be considered for the price at which it is available on e-commerce platforms around the ₹ 13,000 mark. It is a capable option for users mainly interested in good-quality dashcam footage and basic parking surveillance. However, if your main goal is to add meaningful ADAS functions to an older vehicle, this model might fall short of expectations. Overall, the H520DC is a solid offering, being good at its primary function of recording accidental events and proof-keeping. First Published Date: 05 Jul 2025, 08:44 AM IST
