Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Introduced – Faster, More Efficient, Built on TSMC’s 4nm Process and First with ARMv9 CPU cores

Highlights

• Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is built on TSMC’s 4nm process and features ARMv9-based CPU cores.
• It offers 11% faster CPU performance, 29% faster GPU rendering and 12% power savings.
• New Features – Support for INT4 AI processing, Snapdragon Game Super Resolution, 200 MP camera capture, advanced Wi-Fi 6/6E and Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System for ultra-fast connectivity.
• Realme, Oppo and Honor will be the first brands to launch devices with Snapdragon 6 Gen 4.
• Devices are expected to be priced between $100-$150 with availability starting in India.

Qualcomm has officially introduced the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 bringing significant upgrades over its predecessor. This chip improves performance, efficiency, gaming, AI, camera and audio while introducing some key firsts for the Snapdragon 6-series. Here’s everything we know about the latest processor so far.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 – What’s New?

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is the first in the series to be built on TSMC’s 4nm process moving away from previous generations that used Samsung’s 4nm and TSMC’s 6nm nodes. It also marks the first time the 6-series features ARMv9-based CPU cores, with a Cortex-A720 prime core (2.3GHz), three more A720 cores (2.2GHz) and four Cortex-A520 cores (1.8GHz) for efficiency.

Despite this generational upgrade, CPU performance has only improved by 11%, as measured in Geekbench 5.2 single-thread tests. However, the new Adreno GPU brings a 29% boost in graphics performance, making a noticeable difference in gaming. Additionally, the chip is 12% more power-efficient than its predecessor.

Features

• 11% faster Kryo CPU
• 29% faster graphics rendering from the Adreno GPU
• 12% overall power savings
• New-in-series INT4 support for faster AI processing and improved efficiency
• Qualcomm Sensing Hub, featuring a Low Power AI System
• Select Snapdragon Elite Gaming Features to deliver gassed-up gaming experiences
• New-in-series Snapdragon Game Super Resolution upscales gaming scenes in up to 4K, without draining power
• Adreno Frame Motion Engine doubles the frame rates of game scenes for more realistic visuals
• Qualcomm Spectra Triple ISP captures from three cameras at once
• Highly detailed 200 MP photo capture
• Snapdragon Low Light Vision (LLV) captures crisp photos and videos day or night
• FastConnect offers advanced Wi-Fi 6 and 6E systems with leading speeds up to 2.9 Gbps
• Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF System for ultra-fast 5G connectivity with 5G/4G Dual-SIM Dual-Active (DSDA) support
• Supports Snapdragon Sound

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 – AI, Memory and Display Features

For AI, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is the first in the family to support INT4 allowing larger, more optimised models to fit into limited RAM. Qualcomm is working on text summarization AI, though it hasn’t specified how much memory LLMs (large language models) will require.

The chip supports up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM (3200MHz) with LPDDR4X (2133MHz) available for budget-friendly devices. Storage is handled via UFS 3.1, ensuring faster read/write speeds.

For displays, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 can support up to 1080p+ resolution at 144Hz refresh rates. It also includes Snapdragon Game Super Resolution (for gaming upscaled to 4K) and Adreno Frame Motion Engine, which doubles the frame rate while keeping power consumption low. USB-C 3.1 enables external display output at 4K 60Hz with HDR10+ support.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 – Camera and Other Features

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 features triple 12-bit ISPs allowing support for camera sensors up to 200MP. It can record video in 4K HDR, though limited to 30fps. The chip supports HDR10 and HLG for video and 10-bit HEIF for photos. Hardware acceleration is available for H.265 and VP9 playback, but AV1 is not supported.

On the connectivity front, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 supports:

• 5G (sub-6GHz 4×4 MIMO & mmWave 2×2 MIMO) with up to 2.9Gbps speeds
• Wi-Fi 6E (including the 6GHz band)
• Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive
• Triple-frequency GPS (L1/L5/L2) for better positioning

A Quick Comparison

Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 – Expected Launch and Pricing

According to reports, Realme, Oppo and Honor will be among the first brands to launch smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4. While there’s no confirmed release date, Qualcomm says we’ll hear more “in the coming months.”

Interestingly, the first wave of devices is expected to launch in India and manufacturers are targeting an affordable price range of $100-$150.

FAQs

Q1. What process technology is the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 built on?

Answer. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is built on TSMC’s 4nm process.

Q2. What improvements does the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 offer in performance?

Answer. The CPU performance has improved by 11%, while the new Adreno GPU brings a 29% boost in graphics performance.

Q3. What is the maximum camera resolution supported by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4?

Answer. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 supports camera sensors up to 200 MP.

Q4. Which AI processing support is introduced in the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4?

Answer. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 introduces INT4 support for faster AI processing and improved efficiency.

Q5. When and where are the first devices with Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 expected to launch?

Answer. The first wave of devices is expected to launch in India, with manufacturers targeting an affordable price range of $100-$150.

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