Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Leak Suggests Return to Confusing SoC Naming Conventions

Qualcomm, known for its streamlined naming scheme using numbers to denote the positioning of its SoC lineup and generational suffixes for yearly releases, seems to be deviating from its clarity. Recent leaks indicate that the company is developing a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, suggesting a departure from its established naming convention. However, early indications suggest that this new variant may not surpass the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 found in high-end Android flagships.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Leak

Renowned leaker Digital Chat Station has divulged the clock speeds of an upcoming Qualcomm SoC bearing the codename SM8635, speculated to be marketed as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. According to the latest leak, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 may boast a configuration that includes a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.01GHz, along with four Cortex-A720 performance cores running at 2.61GHz, and three Cortex-A520 efficiency cores operating at 1.84GHz. Additionally, the SoC is rumored to feature the Adreno 735 GPU.

The disclosure of these clock speeds brings fresh details, but what’s concerning is that the potential Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 may not surpass the capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, according to the leaked information available. With lower clock speeds, a lower codename designation (SM8635 versus 8 Gen 3’s SM8650), and a seemingly inferior GPU (Adreno 735 compared to 8 Gen 3’s Adreno 750), questions arise about its performance capabilities.

Therefore, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 could potentially occupy a position between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, contrary to the typical convention associated with the “S” suffix, often used to denote incremental upgrades (a concept popularized by Apple). It’s essential to note that Qualcomm also offers a “for Galaxy”/”Plus” version positioned above the flagship SoC, which could result in a flagship lineup with a “simplified” branding strategy that appears inconsistent.

There is a possibility that Qualcomm might opt for a different branding approach for this SoC upon release. However, there is also historical precedent suggesting that Qualcomm has been prone to embracing confusion in its branding strategies. Looking beyond the flagship SoC lineup, inconsistencies and a lack of foresight in branding become evident. For instance, there exists a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, which fits between the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 and the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2. However, notably absent is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 2. Arranged from most powerful to less powerful, the premium mid-range lineup appears as follows:

• Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2
• Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
• Snapdragon 7s Gen 2
• Snapdragon 7 Gen 1

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