Qualcomm chipsets are stratified by quantity, however there are additional subdivisions with “+” and extra just lately “s” fashions. At present the corporate unveils the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a chipset that provides a collection of the premium Snapdragon options with out costing as a lot because the premier 8 Gen 2 and eight Gen 3 chips.
The 8s Gen 3 is a 4nm chip with a Cortex-X4 prime core at 3.0GHz, 4 efficiency cores at 2.8GHz and three effectivity cores at 2.0GHz. It helps as much as 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM (as much as 4,200MHz) and UFS 4.0 storage. For connectivity, it does USB 3.1 Gen 2 over USB-C.
Right here is how that compares to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the older Snapdragon 8 Gen 2:
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Node | TSMC 4nm | TSMC 4nm | TSMC 4nm |
| CPU (Prime) | 1x Cortex-X3 @ 3.2/3.36GHz | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.0GHz | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.3/3.4GHz |
| CPU (Huge) | 2x Cortex-A715 @ 2.8GHz 2x Cortex-A710 @ 2.8GHz |
4x Cortex-A720 @ 2.8GHz | 3x Cortex-720 @ 3.15GHz 2x Cortex-720 @ 2.96GHz |
| CPU (Small) | 3x Cortex-A510 @ 2.0GHz | 3x Cortex-A520 @ 2.0GHz | 2x Cortex-A520 @ 2.3GHz |
| RAM | as much as 24GB LPDDR5x 4,200MHz | as much as 24GB LPDDR5x 4,200MHz | as much as 24GB LPDDR5x 4,800MHz |
| Storage | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 |
| USB | USB 3.1 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 740 | Adreno 735 | Adreno 750 |
| 5G modem | X70 | X70 | X75 |
| ISP | triple 18-bit | triple 18-bit | triple 18-bit |
| Video | 8K HDR @ 30fps 4K @ 120fps |
4K HDR @ 60fps 1080p @ 240fps |
8K HDR @ 30fps 4K @ 120fps |
As you’ll be able to see, this isn’t only a binned model of the 8 Gen 3. It has the Cortex-X4 core at a decrease clock pace, but additionally 4 massive cores and three small ones for an 1+4+3 configuration. The unique 8 Gen 3 chip is in a 1+5+2 configuration.
RAM assist is nearer to the 8 Gen 2 and we see the older Snapdragon X70 5G modem moderately than the X75. Nonetheless, Qualcomm says that the 8s Gen 3 implements 3GPP Launch 17 and 5G energy financial savings that the 8 Gen 2 would not. Both approach, the chip is prepared for the brand new Wi-Fi 7 normal, so telephones will have the ability to take pleasure in extra bandwidth and decrease latency. For audio, 15-bit 44.1kHz lossless wi-fi streaming is supported as is Auracast.
Let’s have a better take a look at what premium options Qualcomm selected for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 highlights
Generative AI is on the forefront as new functions have gained quite a lot of recognition but additionally revealed new points. The 8s chip can run the preferred fashions like Llama 2, Baichuan-7B and Gemini Nano (Pixel 8 house owners just lately came upon their telephones can’t run Gemini Nano – that is among the new points we talked about). Fashions with as much as 10 billion parameters are supported. The s-model just isn’t as quick because the 8 Gen 3 duties, however it stands out from the older 8 Gen 2 with its on-device AI assist.
AI apart, the brand new chip is aimed toward delivering a flagship digital camera expertise and prime of the road gaming efficiency. For the previous, it features a triple 18-bit ISP that works hand-in-hand with the Hexagon NPU for picture processing. It allows an “always-sensing digital camera” characteristic that hastens face unlock and QR code scanning. The ISP+NPU combo additionally boosts picture high quality at the hours of darkness and may even do outpainting (i.e. “uncropping” a picture).
In additional technical phrases, it will probably run three 36MP cameras at 30fps with Zero Shutter Lag or a single 108MP digital camera at 30fps, nonetheless no shutter lag. The utmost picture seize decision is 200MP. 10-bit HEIC and HEVC pictures and movies are supported with 4K HDR movies going as much as 60fps. Discover the absence of an 8K video mode, no 4K at 120fps both. These are reserved for the premier 8-series fashions.
For gaming, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (SM8635) is supplied with a beefy Adreno GPU. It helps hardware-accelerated ray tracing. The Adreno Body Movement Engine 2.0 can double the body fee with out additional energy consumption, Snapdragon Recreation Tremendous Decision provides additional pixels to the picture at no additional price.
The chip can drive an on-board QHD+ show at as much as 144Hz or a 4K show at 60Hz. Variable refresh charges are supported within the vary from 1Hz to 240Hz. For exterior shows, up 8K panels are supported (30Hz) or 1080p excessive refresh fee ones (as much as 240Hz).
The chip helps H.265 and AV1 video decoding (as much as 4K at 60fps) with HDR playback (HDR10+, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HLG).
A number of main smartphone makers have already picked the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 for a few of their telephones, together with Honor, iQOO, Realme and Xiaomi (and we are going to even see Redmis with this chip). They may announce the telephones “within the coming months”, however we’ve a sense that we received’t have to attend that lengthy.
