Qualcomm has launched its latest flagship Mobile Platform the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit 2022 event, as expected. It has a new Kryo CPU based on the latest ARM-V9 architecture that promises 35% performance improvements and 40% improved power efficiency with a new 1-4-3 microarchitecture, as Compared to the predecessor. It has 1 x Prime core, up to 3.2 GHz, 4 x Performance cores up to 2.8 GHz, and 3 Efficiency cores, up to 2.0 GHz.
GPU -
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has a new Adreno GPU that gives up to 25% faster performance, with up to 45% better power efficiency, as compared to the predecessor. There are new Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including real-time hardware-accelerated ray tracing for life-like light, reflections, and illuminations to mobile games.
The company said that gamers can experience photorealistic human characters in their games with the world’s first mobile-optimized support for Unreal Engine 5 Metahumans Framework on Snapdragon. It is also the first mobile platform to support Vulkan 1.3 API.
AI -
The upgraded Qualcomm Hexagon Processor offers faster natural language processing with multi-language translation and advanced AI camera features. The Hexagon processor features brand-new upgrades to the architecture, including micro tile inferencing and a bigger tensor accelerator for up to 4.35X increased AI performance.
This is also the first Snapdragon mobile platform to support INT4 - a revolutionary AI precision format - with 60% performance/watt improvement for sustained AI inferencing. Now, the Qualcomm Sensing Hub features dual-AI processors for the first time, powering exciting new experiences like direct-to-app voice assistance for convenient control of your favorite apps.
ISP -
The Spectra 18-bit triple Cognitive ISP is the first-ever AI-powered camera processor from Qualcomm. This is the new architecture that powers real-time Semantic Segmentation, to recognize and optimize each aspect within a frame like faces, hair, clothes, backgrounds, and more.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions is the first to develop quad digital overlap HDR technology, which is fine-tuned for Snapdragon. This is available in Sony IMX800 1/1.5″ and the IMX989 1″ sensors.
The Samsung ISOCELL HP3, the first 200-megapixel image sensor optimized for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, promises professional-quality photos and videos. It offers up to 200 MP photo capture and 8K HDR video capture in 10-bit HDR. This is also the first Snapdragon to include an AV1 codec with support for video playback up to 8K HDR at 60 frames per second.
Connectivity -
It has Snapdragon X70 5G Modem RF System, making it the first in the world with a dedicated 5G AI processor that offers 5G+5G/4G Dual-SIM Dual-Active, which harnesses the power and flexibility of two 5G SIMs at once.
It supports Wi-Fi 7 offering up to 5.8 Gbps speed and dual Bluetooth connectivity for sustained immersion, thanks to the new Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System.
This is the world’s first commercial Wi-Fi 7 SoC, with advanced High Band Simultaneous Multi-Link that enables peak Wi-Fi 7 performance globally, allowing for smooth, blazing connections when streaming, gaming, and more.
Audio -
Snapdragon Sound Technology now features spatial audio with head-tracking (when using compatible Snapdragon Sound products) for complete surround-sound immersion. It supports for 48kHz lossless music streaming and ultra-low latency Bluetooth streaming <48ms for lag-free gaming.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (SM8550) Specifications -
| CPU | 1 x Kryo Prime CPU (Arm Cortex-X3 based) at up to 3.2GHz, 4 x Kryo Performance CPUs (2 x Arm Cortex-A715 and 2 x Arm Cortex-A710 based) at up to 2.8GHz, 3x Kryo Efficiency CPUs (Arm Cortex-A510 based) at up to 2GHz, ARMv9 architecture |
| Process | 4nm TSMC Process Technology |
| RAM/Storage | Support for LP-DDR5x memory up to 4200 MHz, USB 4.0, USB-C |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno next-gen GPU, Vulkan 1.3 API support, HDR gaming (10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut), API Support: OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Vulkan 1.3, Real-time Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing |
| Sensors | GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC capable, Dual Frequency GNSS (L1/L5), Sensor-Assisted Positioning, Urban pedestrian navigation with sidewalk accuracy, Global freeway lane-level vehicle navigation |
| Camera |
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| Display | 4K at 60 Hz / QHD+ at 144 Hz, Maximum External Display Support: up to 4K @ 60 Hz, 10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut, HDR10 and HDR10+, Demura and subpixel rendering for OLED Uniformity |
| Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engine | Qualcomm Hexagon Processor, Fused AI Accelerator, Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, Hexagon Vector eXtensions, Hexagon Scalar Accelerator, Support for mix precision (INT8+INT16), Support for all precisions (INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16), Micro Tile Inferencing |
| Video | Hardware-accelerated H.265 and VP9 decoder, HDR Playback Codec support for HDR10+, HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision |
| Audio | Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec, New Qualcomm Aqstic smart speaker amplifier, Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N), Playback: -108dB, Qualcomm Audio and Voice Communication Suite, Spatial Audio with Head Tracking |
| Network | Built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 5G modem-RF system, 5G speeds of up to 10Gpbs down, 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz, standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes, mmWave: 1000 MHz bandwidth, 8 carriers, 2×2 MIMO, Sub-6 GHz: 300 MHz bandwidth, 4×4 MIMO |
| Multi-SIM | Qualcomm 5G PowerSave Gen 3, Qualcomm Smart Transmit 3.0 technology, Qualcomm Wideband Envelope Tracking, Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite. Global 5G multi-SIM, including 5G-5G/4G DualSIM Dual-Active (DSDA) |
| Connectivity |
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| Charger | Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 technology |
Availability -
Qualcomm also confirmed that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 platform will be adopted by global OEMs and brands including ASUS ROG, HONOR, iQOO, Motorola, nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, REDMAGIC, Redmi, SHARP, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, XINGJI/MEIZU, and ZTE, with the first commercial devices expected by the end of 2022.
- Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun said that the new flagship Xiaomi 13 series will be the first to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, but Vivo X90 Pro+ which will be announced next week should be the first.
- As rumored, Motorola X40 has been confirmed to be powered by the chip. OnePlus confirmed that the new chip will power the OnePlus 11 series phone. iQOO 11 will also use the chip.
- OPPO confirmed that its next Find X series (Find X6) will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. OPPO also unveiled the latest achievements in mobile ray tracing technology.
- Luo Wei, GM of Terminal Product Center, ZTE announced that ZTE and Nubia devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform will arrive soon. Nubia’s CEO Ni Fei has confirmed that the nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro will be powered by the flagship Snapdragon chip.
- The next flagship ASUS Zenfone and ROG Phones will use the chip. Even though the HONOR 80 Pro will stick to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the company said that it will use 8 Gen 2 in its devices in the future. Sharp and Sony’s Xperia will also release phones with the chip next year.
