Google, up until recently, heavily relied on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoCs to power their devices. Right now, Google has weaned itself off Qualcomm and is now making its own SoCs. Let’s compare Google’s best with Qualcomm’s flagship SoC from last year. This is the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 vs Google Tensor G3.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the older of the two and was announced in November of 2022. It is Qualcomm’s flagship SoC (of 2022) and it is a favorite of many Android smartphone makers. It powers high-end smartphones like the Xiaomi 13 Pro, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, One Plus 11, Nubia Red Magic 8 Pro, Honor Magic 5 Pro, Motorola Edge+ 2023, Oppo Find X6 Pro, and many other high-end devices.
The Tensor G3 is Google’s current flagship processor. It replaces last year’s Tensor G2 which was rather underwhelming. The G3 powers the new Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.
With that being said, let’s move on to the comparison proper.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Vs Google Tensor G3
- Comparison Table (you can skip the table to see the written summary below)
- Written summary
SoC Name |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Google Tensor G3 |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Flagship | Flagship |
| Model Number | SM8550-AB | – |
| CPUs | 1x Cortex X3 (3.19GHz), 2x Cortex A710 (2.8GHz), 2x Cortex A715 (2.8GHz), 3x Cortex A510 (2.0GHz) | 1x Cortex X3 (2.91GHz), 4x Cortex A715 (2.37GHz), 4x Cortex A510 (1.7GHz) |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | 8 | 9 |
| Clock Speed | 3.2GHz | 2.91GHz |
| Instruction Set | ARMv9 | ARMv9 |
| Process Node | 4nm TSMC | 4nm Samsung |
| TDP | – | 6W |
| GPU | Qualcomm® Adreno™ 740 | ARM Mali G715 MP10 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU Max Freq. | – | 890MHz |
| Execution Units | – | 10 |
| RAM Type | LPDDR5x | LPDDR5x |
|---|---|---|
| Memory Freq. | 4200 MHz | – |
| Max Memory Size | 16GB | 16 GB |
| Storage Type | UFS 3.1, UFs 4.0 | UFS 3.1, 4.0 |
| Max Display Resolution | 4K Ultra HD | 3840 × 2160p |
|---|---|---|
| Max Refresh Rate | 144 Hz | 120Hz |
| HDR | HDR Vivid, HDR10+, HDR10 | Yes |
| Video Capture | Up to 8K 30fps, 4K 120fps video capture | 4K HDR @60fps, 4K @120fps |
| Video Playback | Up to 8K @ 60 fps | 4K HDR @60fps, 4K @120fps |
| Video Codecs | Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG), HDR10+, AV1, H.264 (Advanced Video Coding (AVC)), VP9, VP8, Dolby Vision®, H.265 (High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC)), HDR10 | H.264, H.265, AV1, VP9 |
| Audio Codecs | – | AAC LC, MP3, HE-AACv1, HE-AACv2, FLAC |
| 4G Support | Yes | LTE Cat. 24 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Support | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 7 | 7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 |
| Navigation | GLONASS, NavIC, Beidou, GPS, QZSS, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS |
| NFC | Supported | Yes |
| Max Camera | Up to 200 MP | 200MP |
|---|
Performance of the Tensor G3 vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Both SoCs feature nearly identical CPU lineups, which include the Cortex X3, Cortex A715, and Cortex A510 CPUs. The sole distinction lies in the 8 Gen 2, which additionally incorporates a pair of Cortex A710 CPUs.
Both SoCs are equipped with 5 high-performance cores for demanding tasks. However, those on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 boast higher clock speeds and will outperform the Tensor G3 in high-performance applications, tasks, and games.
Gaming on the Tensor G3 vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performs better for gaming and tasks that heavily rely on the GPU, thanks to its impressive Adreno 740 GPU. This is not surprising because the Tensor G3 is primarily designed for photography and AI, not gaming. It was never meant to be a gaming powerhouse.
RAM and Storage
This one is a tie as both SoCs use the same LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 3.1/UFS 4.0 storage.
Camera and Video
When it comes to taking photos, both SoCs can handle high-resolution cameras, up to a whopping 200 Megapixels. But when it comes to shooting videos, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 takes the lead. It can record and play back videos in super sharp 8K at 30 frames per second and silky-smooth 4K at 120 frames per second. The Tensor G3 maxes out at up to 4K HDR video @60 frames per second.
In an era where smartphone photos and videos heavily rely on hardware processing and software algorithms, both SoCs are well stacked. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is armed with a Spectra ISP and a Hexagon DSP NPU. The Tensor G3 is always well equipped with a Pixel Neural Core which is backed up by the Tensor NPU. Both of which are excellent at Image and Video processing.
In the end, the age-old debate about which SoC captures better images usually comes down to personal preference. It’s like arguing over whether chocolate or vanilla ice cream is better – it depends on what you like!
Connectivity
These SoCs have you covered when it comes to staying connected. They support everything from old-school 2G to blazing-fast 5G networks. They’ve got the latest Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 7 to keep you wirelessly linked. But, there’s a little twist. The 8 Gen 2 boasts faster download speeds at 10,000Mbps, while the Tensor G3 falls slightly behind at 7300Mbps.
Battery Life
Both SoCs are like siblings with the same 4nm fabrication process, but from different parents – TSMC for the 8 Gen 2 and Samsung for the Tensor G3. Think of it this way: they’re both built with a 4nm, but one is more efficient. In this case, TSMC’s fab is the more efficient one. So, what does this mean? It means the 8 Gen 2 is likely to have a better battery life.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the better SoC when it comes to CPU performance, gaming, download speeds, and battery efficiency. However, both SoCs are pretty much neck-to-neck in other areas such as RAM, Storage, and Cameras.
So depending on your priorities, you might have a slight preference for one over the other. But remember, both of these chips are powerhouses.
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