Surging costs for top-tier smartphone silicon are forcing manufacturers into a tight spot: either hike device prices or eat into their profit margins. Now, fresh leaks suggest Qualcomm’s next-gen flagship processors could carry a steep price tag, potentially making the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra even more expensive than its predecessors.

According to prolific leaker Digital Chat Station, Qualcomm may be adopting a dual-release strategy for its next generation. The lineup is rumored to include the SM8950 (likely the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6) and a beefier SM8975 (dubbed the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro). Both chips are expected to be built on TSMC’s second-generation 2nm process (N2P), promising leaps in both performance and power efficiency.

There is speculation that the Galaxy S27 Ultra will utilize the high-end "Pro" variant. Depending on Samsung’s supply chain strategy at the time, this specific chip might be fabricated using Samsung Foundry’s own second-gen 2nm node (SF2P).

Under the hood, leaks point to an octa-core CPU architecture with a 2+3+3 core layout for both models. However, the standard version is said to be limited to LPDDR5X memory, a smaller cache, and a pared-down Adreno GPU. In contrast, the Pro model will likely boast support for next-gen LPDDR6 RAM, a larger cache, and the fully unlocked GPU, delivering significantly higher throughput.

That extra power, however, comes at a premium. To keep base model prices competitive, manufacturers might reserve the "Pro" silicon exclusively for "Ultra" tier devices. This segmentation means future flagships like the Galaxy S27 Ultra are likely to see their price tags climb. This inflation is reportedly driven by two key factors: the skyrocketing costs of advanced semiconductor manufacturing and ongoing instability in the RAM supply chain.

Beyond the silicon, the Galaxy S27 series is also tipped to feature major imaging upgrades. Expect a new main camera sensor with a variable aperture and a next-gen ultrawide sensor as Samsung looks to push the envelope in mobile photography.