Those aren't giant leaps, but Qualcomm is betting that they'll be ideal for gaming, where GPU performance is more important than raw number crunching. The tweaks also make the 855+ helpful for AR and VR experiences, AI and anything else that's particularly taxing. This isn't your dream chip for 5G, though. The built-in modem can't handle more than LTE, so devices will still need a separate X50 modem (and potentially make compromises in size and battery life) to reach next-gen cellular speeds.

You won't have to wait long to see the 855+ in use, at least. Qualcomm is expecting devices built around the new system-on-a-chip to ship in the second half of 2019. Unlike in the past few years, you won't have to settle for a months-old Snapdragon just because you want an Android phone released in the back half of the year. There's only one mention of vendors using the 855+ as we write this, with ASUS confirming that its upcoming ROG Phone II will feature the chip. There's a good chance that other major phone makers will leap on this -- it's a way to keep their phone lineups fresh without waiting for the 855's full-fledged sequel.