Highlights

• Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 set to exclusively power Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with significant improvements over its predecessor.
• The chipset boasts a 30% faster and 20% more power-efficient Kryo CPU.
• Official benchmark scores reveal the Gen 3 outperforms Gen 2 in multiple tests including Geekbench and AnTuTu.

Qualcomm has taken the wraps off the official benchmark scores for its latest flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

This high-performance processor will exclusively power Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S24 Ultra, with the Galaxy S24 and S24+ also offering versions integrated with Exynos 2400 in select markets like Europe and Korea.

Upon its announcement, Qualcomm emphasised the AI capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, stating that the processor might as well be dubbed ‘Gen AI.’

The chipmaker states that this is due to its specialised AI co-processor and an array of AI-centric features.

Recently Google’s Tensor G3 chipset also packed in a lot of AI prowess, however, Qualcomm has remained mum on how well its own chipset coped compared to Google’s offering.

In any case, these are the key highlights of Qualcomm’s next-gen flagship silicone.

Key Specifications

• Manufactured using TSMC’s 4nm technology, promising second-generation stability and compatibility.
• Delivers a 10% hike in overall system efficiency.
• Features a Kryo CPU that’s both 30% faster and 20% more power-efficient.
• Multi-core CPU architecture consisting of 1 x Cortex-X4 running at 3.3GHz, 3 x A720 at 3.2GHz, 2 x A720 at 3.0GHz, and 2 x A520 at 2.3GHz.
• Adreno GPU offers a 25% speed boost and 25% better power efficiency.
• AI capabilities see a 98% improvement in performance and 40% better efficiency per watt.
• The Spectra ISP supports 8K HDR and offers advanced features like multi-camera real-time semantic segmentation, Dolby HDR photo technology, and dual always-sensing cameras.
• Enhanced gaming experience through Snapdragon Elite Gaming features and new hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
• Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System provides peak download speeds up to 10 Gbps.
• Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System supports Wi-Fi 7 with a speed of up to 5.8 Gbps.

Benchmark Scores Unveiled

• Geekbench single-core score: 2329 points
• Geekbench multi-core score: 7526 points
• AnTuTu benchmark: 2.14 million points
• PCMark score: 21628 points
• GFXBench Aztec Ruins OpenGL and Vulkan tests resulted in 83 FPS and 96 FPS respectively.
• 3DMark WildLife Extreme test scored 32 FPS.
• Jetstream 2 browser test marked at 241 points.

When these benchmarks are compared to the previous Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset that powered the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it’s apparent that the Gen 3 chipset shows significant improvements.

For context, the Galaxy S23 Ultra’s Gen 2 scored around 5000 points in Geekbench multi-core tests, while the Gen 3 demo device surpassed the 7000-point threshold.

Qualcomm is also collaborating with tech giants like Microsoft and Meta to unlock the full AI potential of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.

While these details are promising, the real test will be how device manufacturers like Samsung utilize this next-gen technology in their upcoming smartphones. 

In more news, the iQOO 12 series has been confirmed to sport the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, a first for the Indian market.

Globally, it would appear that China will be even earlier with the introduction of this SoC on the Xiaomi 14 series.

FAQs

What are the key specifications of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?

The chipset features a multi-core CPU architecture, an Adreno GPU with a 25% speed boost, and enhanced AI capabilities. It is manufactured using TSMC’s second-generation 4nm technology.

How does Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 compare with its predecessor in benchmark scores?

The new chipset scores higher in Geekbench, AnTuTu, and other benchmark tests. For instance, it scored 7526 points in Geekbench multi-core tests compared to around 5000 points scored by its predecessor.

What devices will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3?

Besides Samsung’s Galaxy S24 series, the chipset will also be featured in the iQOO 12 series in India and Xiaomi 14 series in China.

What are Qualcomm’s plans for AI capabilities?

Qualcomm is working closely with Microsoft and Meta to maximize the AI potential of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, although specific comparisons with Google’s Tensor G3 chipset have not been made public.