5 best Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1-powered smartphones you can buy

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series of processors is among the best you can buy right now, and powers many flagship Android smartphones and tablets from various brands. While this chipset series gets frequent updates including major annual refreshes, it remains relevant over many years, thanks to the flagship-grade architecture and high-end components that go into making these top-of-the-line chipsets. Understandably, many of these smartphones are still worth considering even a few years later, and you might be able to find a good deal on these former flagship devices later on.

Qualcomm kicked off the new naming convention for its current Snapdragon 8 series in late 2021 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, and followed up with the slightly more powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, a few months later in mid-2022. This mid-year refresh came with slightly better specifications, and a new TSMC-enabled 4nm fabrication process.

The chipset powers several potent smartphones, many of which are still available to buy today. Here is a list of the five best ones.

Best Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1-powered phones to buy right now

1. Nothing Phone 2 

2. Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ 

3. OnePlus 11R 

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 

1. Nothing Phone 2

While the first smartphone from the brand was pitched as a mid-range device, the Nothing Phone 2  comes with suitably premium credentials, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor under the hood.

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The device also features the glyph interface, which lets you set up the light and sound system at the back of the smartphone to flash in different sequences and patterns based on different calls and notification types. The device also comes with 12GB of RAM, up to 512GB of storage, a dual-camera setup at the back, and a 4,700mAh battery.

2. Oppo Reno 10 Pro+

Oppo’s upper mid-range Reno series is known and appreciated for its balance of features and capabilities, while also being priced sensibly. The Oppo Reno 10 Pro+ is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, and comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The device also comes with a triple-camera setup at the rear, and 100W fast wired charging.

3. OnePlus 11R

Launched alongside the OnePlus 11, the OnePlus 11R comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The R series is best known for offering flagship-grade specifications and features, but with a few changes aimed at making the smartphones more affordable including the use of previous-generation chipsets. The smartphone also comes with a triple-camera setup at the rear, 100W fast wired charging, and a 6.74-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display.

4. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4

Samsung’s innovative Galaxy Z Flip series utilises flagship-grade Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 series processors, and the Galaxy Z Flip4 comes powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. The foldable smartphone features the clamshell-style design where the device is very compact when folded shut.

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

Launched alongside the Galaxy Z Flip4, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is also powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. It features a different folding mechanism though, with a regular-sized outside screen and a larger inside folding screen for tablet-like functionality. The smartphone also has up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage.

These five smartphones, while slightly old, still happen to be extremely potent and remain a great investment, should you be looking for flagship-level performance on a budget.