The most potent Android chips for the upcoming year will be powered by the next-generation processor, which has been revealed.At its yearly Tech Summit press conference in Hawaii, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, emphasizing AI capabilities and a boost in overall processing power that should make gadgets like the Samsung Galaxy S24 series that much more potent.
I was taken by Qualcomm to its Tech Summit in Hawaii, where they provided me with all the information regarding the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
AI everywhere
Naturally, AI is this year’s major focus. It seems natural that Qualcomm would want to compete given the emphasis that companies like Google are putting on AI for products like the new Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, in addition to the consumer releases of generative AI models like ChatGPT 4.0.
As next-generation AI digital assistants begin to appear over the coming years, Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was created especially to meet their needs. These include processing for models of language, image production, and other AI-based systems. Large language models, according to the company, can process an astounding 20 tokens per second on the chip. Additionally, it said that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers up to 40% greater performance per watt and up to 98% quicker Hexagon NPU performance.
Nuts and bolts
Qualcomm hasn’t overlooked fundamental performance in favor of AI performance. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can perform better while consuming less power than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with a 30% increase in CPU performance and a 20% improvement in battery efficiency. Qualcomm claims that the chip will have a 25% improvement in GPU performance along with a 25% improvement in power efficiency.
All of this should combine to create a phone that is capable of handling whatever you throw at it in 2023, 2024, and beyond.
Camera processing
Since the Pixel series originally used the Snapdragon platform, Qualcomm has placed a strong emphasis on image processing on its chip. Camera performance has been a hot topic for years.
The smartest AI-powered camera in your pocket is claimed by Qualcomm to be driven by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, and that claim may or may not come true, depending on how well phone manufacturers utilize the hardware. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ability to record up to 12 layers of a picture for improved vibrancy and detail is especially useful in a world where the majority of high-end smartphone cameras produce superior images by combining many frames into one. The new Arcsoft Video Object Eraser, which has two always-sensing cameras on the front and back for things like QR codes, can also be powered by the chip.
Additionally, Qualcomm is showcasing a new feature called Zoom Anywhere, which works with a 200-megapixel Samsung camera sensor and lets users record numerous films, track objects, and zoom up to 2 and 4 times while still in 4K capture mode.
Connectivity
Qualcomm has always placed a strong emphasis on connectivity, and even if the 5G buzz has subsided, the company is still developing improved cellular and Wi-Fi antennas. Qualcomm’s most recent X75 modem, which supports all of the most recent mmWave and sub-6GHz 5G bands, is available with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Additionally, it features Qualcomm’s FastConnect 7800 Wi-Fi technology, which enables Wi-Fi 7 at 5.8 Gbps peak rates.
Everything else
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has additional features that contribute to its superior performance over earlier models. Although few phones support a refresh rate that high, Qualcomm adds that the chip delivers its most recent version of Elite Gaming features, including hardware-accelerated ray-tracing and support for 240 frames per second on 240Hz displays. Additionally, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sound technology—which offers 24-bit, 96kHz lossless music over Bluetooth—will be supported.
When will we see the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?
Before we see the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in the wild, it won’t be long. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 flagship Android phones, according to Qualcomm, will be available in the upcoming weeks and be used by Asus, Honor, OnePlus, Oppo, and Xiaomi, among other firms.