Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Launched – Faster CPU and GPU Performance, Kryo Cores, AI Upgrades and Gaming Enhancements

Highlights

• The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 has been officially introduced in China.
• It is built on a 4nm process and delivers 31% faster CPU performance, 49% better GPU performance and 44% improved AI capabilities.
• The chipset includes hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, Snapdragon Game Resolution 2.0 for 4K upscaling, support for up to 320MP photos, 8K HDR video and Wi-Fi 7.

Caption – Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 officially introduced. (Image credit – Qualcomm)

Qualcomm has officially launched the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset at a special event in China. This new processor is the successor to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which was introduced in May 2024. It brings significant improvements in CPU speed, GPU performance, AI capabilities and connectivity. Smartphones powered by this chipset are expected to arrive soon. Here’s what we know about the latest flagship chipset.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – Key Features and Performance Upgrades

Caption – Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 key features. (Image credit – Qualcomm)

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is built on a 4nm process, the same as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powers flagship phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12. However, Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset uses a more advanced 3nm process, making it more powerful than the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is designed for high-end smartphones, but it sits just below Qualcomm’s most premium offering, which is used in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

The new chip is based on a “1+3+2+2” CPU architecture, with its prime core clocking up to 3.2GHz and performance cores running at 3.0GHz. According to Qualcomm, it delivers:

• 31% faster CPU performance
• 49% better GPU performance
• 44% improved AI performance compared to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – Advanced Gaming and AI Features

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is packed with gaming enhancements, thanks to Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including –

• Hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing for more realistic lighting and shadows in games
• Snapdragon Adaptive Performance Engine, which ensures smooth gaming during long sessions
• Snapdragon Game Resolution 2.0, which upscales lower-resolution games to 4K quality

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – Full Specifications

Caption – Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 specifications. (Image credit – Qualcomm)

Processing Power

• CPU: Qualcomm Kryo, with a maximum 3.2GHz clock speed
• GPU: Qualcomm Adreno, supporting Ray Tracing, HDR gaming, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision

Display Support

• WQHD+ resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate
• 4K external display support at 60Hz

Connectivity

• Wi-Fi 7 for ultra-fast wireless internet
• Bluetooth 6.0 and Bluetooth Low Energy
• GPS and NaVIC for precise location tracking
• Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System with download speeds of up to 4.2Gbps

Camera Capabilities

• Supports photos up to 320MP
• Handles 36MP triple-camera recording at 30fps
• 8K HDR video playback at 60fps

Memory and Storage

• LPDDR5x RAM running at 4800MHz
• UFS 4.0 storage for faster app and file loading

Battery and Charging

• Supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 5.0 for faster battery charging

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 – Availability

As of now, Qualcomm hasn’t announced when the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 will appear in smartphones, but devices featuring the chipset are expected to launch soon.

FAQs

Q1. What are the key performance improvements in the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4?

Answer. The chipset offers 31% faster CPU performance, 49% better GPU performance, and 44% enhanced AI capabilities compared to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.

Q2. What gaming features does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 support?

Answer. It includes hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, Snapdragon Adaptive Performance Engine for smooth gaming sessions, and Snapdragon Game Resolution 2.0 to upscale games to 4K quality.

Q3. What are the camera capabilities of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4?

Answer. The chipset supports up to 320MP photos, triple-camera recording at 36MP (30fps), and 8K HDR video playback at 60fps.

Q4. What connectivity features does the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 offer?

Answer. It includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System with download speeds up to 4.2Gbps, and precise location tracking via GPS and NaVIC.

Q5. When will smartphones with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 be available?

Answer. Qualcomm hasn’t specified a release date, but devices powered by this chipset are expected to launch soon.