In the latter half of the year, tech companies introduce their best products for the upcoming year. Apple (A17 Pro), Huawei (Kirin 9000s), and Google (Tensor G3) have all revealed their latest offerings, and now Qualcomm presents its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was unveiled in October 2023 and is considered a flagship SoC. Smartphone manufacturers are likely to use it in upcoming devices like the Xiaomi 14 and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 - 4

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 specs

Before we jump into the analysis proper, let us explore the key specifications of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3:

  • CPU Cores:
    • 1x ARM Cortex X4 (3.3GHz)
    • 3x ARM Cortex A720 (3.15GHz)
    • 2x ARM Cortex A720 (2.96GHz)
    • 2x ARM Cortex A520 (2.27GHz)
  • GPU: Adreno 750
  • ISA: ARMv9.2
  • Fab: 4nm TSMC
  • RAM: LPDDR5X (4800MHz)
  • Storage: UFS 4.0
  • Camera: Up to 200MP (single camera)
  • ISP: Qualcomm Spectra
  • AI: Hexagon DSP
  • Video Capture: 8K/30fps or 4K/120fps
  • Video Playback: 8K/60 fps
  • Display support: Up to 2160p (4K)
  • Modem: Snapdragon™ X75 5G Modem, mmWave and Sub-6GHz, LTE, HSPA, 10 Gbps (upload), 3.5 Gbps (download), Bluetooth 5.4 LE, WiFi 7.

Performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3:

This SoC is octa-core, which means it has eight CPU cores. It uses a unique 1+5+2 architecture. The 1+5 cores (Cortex X4 + Cortex A720) handle demanding tasks like gaming and running apps, and with the powerful Adreno 750 GPU, it delivers excellent processing power. The other 2 cores (Cortex A720 and Cortex A520) manage lighter tasks and help conserve battery life.

Qualcomm aims to position itself as a leader among Android chips, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is expected to compete with other top chips like:

  • Dimensity 9300,
  • Apple A17 Pro,
  • Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and
  • Dimensity 9200+.

Gaming

The 8 Gen 3 is an incredible gaming machine. It can offer gaming experiences that rival game consoles, with support for super smooth gameplay at 240 frames per second on high-quality screens. It also has advanced technology to make sure your games look great.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Gaming

The graphics part of the 8 Gen 3 is 25% faster, uses less power, and makes games look 40% better with a special lighting technology.

Artificial Intelligence

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 focuses on AI and it is equipped with a Hexagon DSP NPU which makes your phone smarter. It can quickly understand your voice commands and generate images super fast.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Hexagon DSP NPU

There’s also something called Sensing Hub which knows about your interests, fitness, and where you are, so your AI assistant can be even better.

The AI also makes your camera better. It boasts features such as:

  • Semantic Segmentation: which helps your photos and videos look nicer and brighter.
  • Night Vision Video: will help you capture your great videos in the dark.
  • Object eraser: helps you remove things that you don’t want from your videos.
  • Vlogger’s view: allows you to use both your front and rear cameras at the same time, and make photos bigger.
  • Generative AI and Photo expansion: can increase the resolution of your photos.

RAM and storage

The 8 Gen 3 supports the latest LPDDR5X RAM, which operates at a fast speed of 4800MHz. It can handle up to 24GB of RAM and is compatible with UFS 4.0 storage. This combination ensures a smooth and responsive experience for users of phones powered by this SoC.

Multimedia

This SoC supports cameras with a maximum resolution of a remarkable 200 megapixels. Nowadays, photography and video quality depend not only on the camera sensor but also on the image processing capabilities of the hardware.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Photography

The 8 Gen 3 is well-equipped with a Spectra ISP (Image Signal Processor) as well as the Hexagon DSP AI/machine learning unit. Thanks to these features, it can take great photos and record videos at resolutions of up to 8K at 30 frames per second (fps) and 4K HDR videos at 120fps, making it ideal for multimedia purposes.

Connectivity

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a next-generation SoC, offering 5G connectivity along with support for older network technologies like 4G LTE, 3G, and 2G. It also features Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 7, providing seamless wireless connectivity options.

Conclusion

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a true flagship from Qualcomm and is expected to be among the top SoCs in the world for at least the next 12 months. It excels in performance, gaming, and multimedia capabilities. Qualcomm’s SoCs are known for their optimization and are highly favored by smartphone manufacturers.

Please leave a comment if you have any difficulty and remember to: