After the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 released at the end of 2023, the smartphone chip giant unveiled its version for slightly less high-end mobiles, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. A chip still focused on AI.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, you’ve probably already heard about it. This is this processor – or rather SoC for System on a Chip or system on a chip in French – that we have found since the end of last year on the most high-end Android smartphones. We have already had the opportunity to come across a few such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra from Samsung, the RedMagic 9 Pro from Nubia, the ROG Phone 8 Pro from Asus, the Honor Magic6 Pro or even the very recent Xiaomi 14. Premium smartphones with prices well above 1000 euros.
In order not to leave users hungry for power, artificial intelligence and new technologies on the sidelines but unable to spend a minimum wage to afford one of these latest flagships, Qualcomm has just declined its Rolls of SoCs in a more “affordable” version bearing the sweet name of Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. This is not, however, a discount chip. Qualcomm places it halfway between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, flagship SoC of the year 2023, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, its current best of the best. But make no mistake. We will not find — at least in 2024 — mid-range smartphones at 500 or 600 euros, equipped with Snapdragon (SD) 8s Gen 3. This SoC should nestle in mobiles that are still quite expensive, around 1000 euros all together. likewise. But then what differentiates SD 8s Gen 3 from its big brother SD 8 Gen 3? In reality, the differences are tiny.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3: what are the differences?
During their press conference, Qualcomm representatives were at a loss to clearly answer this question. Is the SD 8s Gen 3 less powerful, less efficient, less efficient than its predecessor? Yes and no. This new SoC is in a way an SD 8 Gen 2 partly improved thanks to technologies borrowed from SD 8 Gen 3 as shown in the table below.
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | |
| Engraving | 4nm | 4nm | 4nm |
| Main heart | 1 Cortex-X3 3.2/3.36 GHz | 1 Cortex-X4 3.0 GHz | 1 Cortex-X4 3.3/3.4 GHz |
| High performance core | 2 Cortex-A715 2.8 GHz | 4x Cortex-A720 2.8GHz | 3 Cortex-720 3.15 GHz |
| 2 Cortex-A710 2.8 GHz | 2 Cortex-720 2.96 GHz | ||
| High energy efficiency core | 3 Cortex-A510 2.0 GHz | 3 Cortex-A520 2.0 GHz | 2 Cortex-A520 2.3 GHz |
| RAM management | Up to 24 GB LPDDR5x 4200M Hz | Up to 24 GB LPDDR5x 4200 MHz | Up to 24 GB LPDDR5x 4800 MHz |
| Storage management | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 | UFS 4.0 |
| USB management | USB 3.1 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 |
| Graphics processor | Adreno 740 | Adreno 735 | Adreno 750 |
| 5G modem | X70 | X70 | X75 |
| Wireless | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Image Processor (ISP) | triple 18-bit | triple 18-bit | triple 18-bit |
| Video management | Up to 8K HDR at 30 fps | Up to 4K HDR at 60 fps | Up to 8K HDR at 30 fps |
| 4K at 120 fps | 1080p at 240 fps | 4K at 120 fps |
This SoC is also engraved in 4 nm and also has 8 cores. Their architecture remains identical to that of the SD 8 Gen 2 in 1 + 4 + 3 while the SD 8 Gen 3 relies on a configuration in 1 + 5 + 2. We also note that the RAM management capacity is similar between the three chips (with a slight advantage to SD 8 Gen 3 supporting a frequency of 4800 MHz against 4200 MHz on the other two), such as storage support. The differences play out elsewhere. Particularly with the GPU and the 5G modem a little less efficient on the SD 8s Gen 3 than on the SD 8 Gen 3. We also note that the SD 8s Gen 3 allows the reproduction of video in 4k at 60 frames per second compared to 8K HDR at 30 frames per second for its big brother. However, thus armed, Qualcomm’s latest can also tackle the new challenges of artificial intelligence without hesitation, like its big brother but while remaining a bit behind.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: everything for local AI
AI is today one of the strong arguments among smartphone manufacturers to arouse desire among users. For this 8s Gen 3, Qualcomm obviously took advantage of the experience acquired with its 8 Gen 3 to make it a bit more accessible to cheaper mobiles. It therefore includes a large part of the possibilities already available in the SD 8 Gen 3 but slightly reduced by a few functions. For generative AI, it is capable of managing more than 30 LLMs (Large Language Models) such as Gemini Nano or Llama 2.
Generative AI also concerns photography and allows, for example, to extend the photos you have taken. Enough to recreate the edges of a photo shot vertically for a horizontal version. The “cognitive” capabilities of the chip also work in video. Such as erasing subjects or applying night vision filters (which amplify the signal and reduce digital noise on each frame). Functions also taken from SD 8 Gen 3.
Note that unlike the SD 8 Gen 3, this new SoC does not include a certification system for the authenticity of images while Qualcomm remains a first-class member of the Content Authenticity Initiative (C2PA) which makes it possible to determine whether an image is authentic or generated by artificial intelligence.
Given the meager technical differences and the minimal gaps in the management of artificial intelligence, we can’t wait to see if this new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 will really be more affordable than its big brother. The first smartphones to benefit from it should appear in the coming months from Honor, Realme, IQOO (Vivo) and Xiaomi and even Redmi (Xiaomi’s more accessible brand) according to Qualcomm.
[Article réalisé avec la participation d’Adrian Branco]