Qualcomm is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual Snapdragon Summit, set to take place in late October 2024. As always, the spotlight will be on the next generation flagship processor – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This year's release marks a significant shift for Qualcomm’s flagship SoCs, as it involves more than just a typical incremental upgrade. The company is redesigning this chip from the ground up, introducing a new fundamental architecture. So, what can we expect from the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4? Here’s a summary of the details gathered so far on what Qualcomm has in store for its next-gen mobile SoC..jpeg)
.jpeg)
Oryon Cores for Mobile SoC
A major change for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is its shift from ARM’s Cortex cores to Qualcomm’s self-developed Oryon CPU cores. These Oryon cores have already made a splash in the company’s latest Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus PC chips. However, for mobile devices, Qualcomm will likely implement a scaled-down version of these Oryon cores, though specifics on the extent of these changes remain unclear. This transition promises enhanced performance and efficiency tailored specifically for mobile applications.
3nm Process Node
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be manufactured on TSMC's advanced 3nm process node, a leap forward from the 4nm process used in its predecessor. This shift is expected to offer significant improvements in power efficiency and performance, although these advancements come with a higher cost. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts a 25-30% price increase for the 8 Gen 4 compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which suggests that phones powered by the new SoCs will also see a price hike.
Core Structure Overhaul
In terms of core structure, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will abandon the traditional 1+3+4 cluster design (one high-performance core, three mid-range cores, and four efficiency cores) used in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Instead, it will adopt a 2+6 design, featuring two high-performance Oryon cores clocked at 4.26 GHz and six Cortex-A725 cores at 2.8 GHz. This move, reminiscent of MediaTek’s approach with the Dimensity 9300, aims to enhance performance by eliminating efficiency cores altogether.
GPU Advancements
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to debut a new Adreno GPU, potentially named the Adreno 830. While details about this graphical unit are still sparse, it is anticipated to utilize a new Slice GPU architecture and innovative technology aimed at improving GPU utilization. These enhancements are likely to deliver superior graphical performance and efficiency, setting new benchmarks for mobile gaming and multimedia experiences.
Early Benchmarks
Early benchmarks suggest the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be a formidable competitor to Apple’s A18 chip, which is expected to power the iPhone 16. Reports indicate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 might match the A18 in single-core performance and potentially surpass it in multi-core tasks. Leaked benchmarks show the 8 Gen 4 achieving around 3000 points for single-core and 10,000 for multi-core performance, which easily outpaces the scores of the iPhone 15 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra. In AnTuTu tests, the chip reportedly scored 1,769,083 points, although this figure may improve with further optimization.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Phones
Several manufacturers are expected to adopt the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 for their flagship models. The Xiaomi 15 series will likely be the first to feature the new processor, followed by the OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13 series. Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi is also reportedly working on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 4-powered phone, probably from the Redmi K80 series. Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, along with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and Sony Xperia 1 VII, are expected to adopt the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip, continuing the trend of their predecessors.
As the Snapdragon Summit approaches, the anticipation for Qualcomm’s latest innovations grows. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 promises to set new standards in mobile computing, delivering unprecedented performance and efficiency for the next generation of smartphones.