Qualcomm has just launched its latest flagship System-on-Chip (SoC) the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, fulfilling their earlier promise. While maintaining the architecture of the 8 Gen 3, it introduces varying clock speeds. The platform showcases support for potent on-device generative AI capabilities, an always-sensing Image Signal Processor (ISP), hyper-realistic mobile gaming, groundbreaking connectivity, and lossless high-definition audio.
According to the company, it accommodates a diverse range of AI models, including renowned large language models (LLM) such as Baichuan-7B, Llama 2, and Gemini Nano. Notable changes include the utilization of the Snapdragon X70 modem instead of the X75 found in the 8 Gen 3. Additionally, it offers 4K HDR video capture instead of 8K HDR, while retaining the 18-bit triple ISP from the 8 Gen 3. The Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System is also retained, delivering Wi-Fi 7 with speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps and dual Bluetooth connectivity for prolonged engagement.
While the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 features Real-time Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, it lacks Global Illumination. Moreover, it does not support the Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Global Illumination and Reflections System, as seen in the 8 Gen 3, due to changes in the GPU, which offers performance comparable to the Adreno GPU present in the 8 Gen 2.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (SM8635) Specifications -
| CPU | 1 x Kryo Prime CPU (Arm Cortex-X4 based) at up to 3.0GHz, 4 x Kryo Performance CPUs (Arm Cortex-A720 based) at up to 2.8GHz, 3x Kryo Efficiency CPUs (Arm Cortex-A520 based) at up to 2.0GHz, ARMv9 architecture |
| Process | 4nm TSMC Process Technology |
| RAM/Storage | Support for LP-DDR5x memory up to 4200 MHz, Memory Density: Up to 24 GB |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno next-gen GPU, Real-time Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, Snapdragon Game Super Resolution, Adreno Frame Motion Engine 2.0, Snapdragon Game Post Processing Accelerator, HDR gaming (10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut), Snapdragon Shadow Denoiser, API support: OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Vulkan 1.3 |
| Sensors | GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC capable, Dual Frequency GNSS (L1/L2C/L5), Sensor-Assisted 6.0,With global map aiding, Urban pedestrian navigation with sidewalk accuracy, Global freeway lane-level vehicle navigation |
| Camera |
|
| Display | 4K at 60 Hz / QHD+ at 144 Hz, Maximum External Display Support: up to 8K @ 30 Hz, Up to 1080 @ 240 Hz, Variable Refresh Rate support for 240 Hz to 1 Hz, 10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut, HDR10, HDR10+, HDR vivid, and Dolby Vision |
| Qualcomm Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engine | Qualcomm Hexagon Processor, Fused AI Accelerator, Hexagon scalar, vector, and tensor accelerators, Hexagon Direct Link, Upgraded Micro Tile Inferencing, Upgraded power delivery system, Support for mix precision (INT8+INT16), Support for all precisions (INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16) |
| Video | Hardware-accelerated H.265, VP9, AV1 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 5Gpbs down, 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz, standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes, standalone mmWave and mmWave-sub6 dual connectivity, FDD, TDD, mmWave: 8 carriers, 2×2 MIMO, Sub-6 GHz: 4×4 MIMO |
| Multi-SIM | Qualcomm 5G AI Suite, Qualcomm AI-Enhanced Signal Boost, 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 Dual-SIM Dual-Active (DSDA) |
| Connectivity |
|
| Charger | Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 technology |
Availability -
Qualcomm has verified that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform will be embraced by worldwide OEMs and brands, including HONOR, iQOO, realme, Redmi, and Xiaomi, with the initial device slated for announcement in March.
About the launch, Chris Patrick, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Handsets at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., remarked -
Equipped with features such as on-device generative AI and advanced photography capabilities, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is crafted to elevate user experiences, nurturing creativity and productivity in their everyday routines. We are thrilled to unveil the newest addition to our premium Snapdragon 8 series, our pinnacle mobile offering, extending a plethora of exceptional, carefully curated features to a wider audience.
