Qualcomm, a leading manufacturer of mobile chipsets, has recently introduced a new flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is designed to be a more affordable and budget-friendly option without compromising on performance. The company has emphasized the need for a more accessible high-end mobile device that still packs a punch, and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 seems to fit the bill. The chipset is expected to appear in phones from Xiaomi and Honor in the coming months, offering a compelling alternative to flagships at a lower price point.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is built on the 4nm process and features a 1+4+3 core distribution, which is less powerful than its more expensive sibling, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, this does not necessarily mean that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is lacking in performance. It still supports up to 24GB of LP-DDR5x RAM, although at a slower speed of 4200MHz compared to the 4800MHz speed of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The chipset also comes with the X70 5G modem, which offers a peak downlink speed of 5Gbps, half that of the X75 modem used in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones.
Despite the concessions made to achieve a lower price point, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 still packs some impressive features. It supports multimodal AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4, and provides on-device image expansion, support for AI models from Meta, and readiness for Google’s Gemini Nano model. The chipset also supports text-to-image generation, HDR gaming on smartphones, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and low-latency CD-quality Bluetooth streaming.
Qualcomm’s Budget-Friendly Flagship Chipset Revolutionizes Mobile Industry
One notable difference between the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and its more expensive sibling is the lack of Truepic photo verification with a Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) certification. This technology saves original image data and authenticates its originality, which is important in the age of hyperrealistic generative AI content. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 also lacks Global Illumination offered by Unreal Engine 5, a more advanced form of ray tracing that takes into account indirect light paths.
Gaming enthusiasts will still find plenty to love in the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, but it’s not supported by Global Illumination. However, the chipset’s more affordable price point will likely make it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers who still want a powerful and feature-rich device.
Competitive brands like iQoo, world, Honor, and Xiaomi are already developing phones based on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 silicon, which will likely offer a compelling alternative to flagships at a lower price point. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 may not be a full-fledged flagship, but it’s an exciting development that will make high-end devices sound less appealing by comparison.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a significant development in the mobile industry, offering a more affordable and budget-friendly option without compromising on performance. With its impressive features and competitive pricing, it will likely appeal to a wide range of consumers, from gaming enthusiasts to budget-conscious individuals. As the market for affordable high-end devices continues to grow, we can expect to see more exciting developments in the future.
