AI, Long Battery Life, Android Support: What Can We Expect From Flagship Phones In 2025

Last Updated:October 24, 2024, 11:28 IST

Flagship Android phones will get more AI features and power thanks to the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with long OS support.

The new Qualcomm chipset promises more features and AI for premium phones

The new Qualcomm flagship chipset has been unveiled this week, and soon we will see it powering a range of high-end smartphones. Realme GT 7 Pro is going to be the first in India to bring the new hardware, while Xiaomi 15 might take the laurel globally. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset promises top-end performance, which we are excited to test in the coming months. And AI is going to play a big part for the hardware as more brands look to entice buyers with the advanced features in their palms.

But what else can we expect to see from the new range of flagship smartphones later this year and in 2025? Here are some of the key upgrades coming to the premium phones over the next 12 months.

iPhone-Level Performance?

Qualcomm is using the TSMC 3nm process to make the new Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is the same as the A18 Pro SoC that Apple has used on the new iPhone 16 Pro models. Will that translate on the performance level as well? The early signs are promising, especially with the benchmark scores flaunted by Qualcomm but more detailed tests are needed to compare the improvements. We will get the chance soon with the Realme GT 7 Pro, OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13 smartphones launching next month.

The All-Round AI Focus

The last-gen Snapdragon chip was a gateway into the world of AI on handheld devices, now Qualcomm is going full throttle. The new hexagon NPU promises better performance for LLMs and provides on-device data processing which keeps users secure. Even the camera will get AI boost with features like object erasing, skin enhancements and auto-adjust lighting in visuals. We have mostly seen them offered by Google on the Pixels, now more brands can offer it by default.

Pixel-Like OS Support

Samsung and Google have tried to match Apple with their promise of long OS support for their devices. Qualcomm is now giving more brands to join the ranks, which means a phone running on Android 15 out of the box can run up to the Android 23 version, allowing people to use one phone for a long time. We have mostly seen Android phones slow down after 3-4 years but Qualcomm’s big claim suggests things are about to change for good.

More Support For The Display

And yes, displays on the new flagship phones will be well equipped to support QHD + resolution and up to 240Hz refresh rate. There is enough power in the tank for the phones to be connected to an external display that supports 8K quality which makes Android phones a reliable PC-dock machine.

More Power But Long Battery

With all this power under the hood, will the phones suffer on the battery front? Absolutely not. Qualcomm says the power efficiency levels of the CPU and GPU on the Snapdragon 8 Elite have improved by 40 percent which means less load on the device, lower chances of heating and longer battery life assured.

Delhi, India

News tech AI, Long Battery Life, Android Support: What Can We Expect From Flagship Phones In 2025