The chipmaker insists it has not skipped a few generations, even if the label makes it look like it. According to Qualcomm, the “Gen 5” bit marks the fifth generation of its premium 8-series platforms since the company rebooted its naming scheme with single digits and shiny logos. It claims the new branding is supposed to simplify things for consumers while underlining the platform’s top-dog status.

Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite tier last year, pitching it as the pinnacle of the 8-series lineup with its custom Oryon CPU architecture. This year’s update is supposed to double down on that performance and efficiency pitch.

In Qualcomm’s press release which does look like it has been written by AI: “Gen 5 isn’t just a number. It’s a signal that this platform leads the family forward.”

The “Elite” badge, the company says, is reserved for its most “industry-leading” kit, the stuff it reckons pushes boundaries in speed, power and innovation. It is a way to slap a fancier sticker on the packaging while trying to distance the part from earlier Snapdragon chips that were dubbed called “8 Gen 3” or similar.

Qualcomm claims the naming is based on performance capabilities, timing and portfolio fit, and says upcoming platforms lower down the food chain will also pick up the Gen 5 numbering.

The company is pushing the line that Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is a “defining moment” in the premium-tier evolution.