Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Generative AI, 240fps Gaming, and a Leap in Mobile Computing

Qualcomm made waves on Tuesday at the Snapdragon Summit as it finally announced – Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 System-on-Chip (SoC) has set its sights on redefining the mobile industry with a slew of new features, most notably its focus on generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 introduces an AI engine that boasts support for multi-modal generative AI models, including popular large language models (LLMs). The star of the show is the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, which claims to deliver an astonishing 98 percent faster and 40 percent more efficient performance. Gaming enthusiasts can rejoice as the new SoC promises 240 frames per second (fps) gaming on compatible displays, complete with global illumination and ray tracing. Notably, the Qualcomm Adreno GPU is said to be 25 percent faster and more efficient compared to its predecessor.

One of the key highlights of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is its 5G readiness, supporting Wi-Fi 7 and dual Bluetooth. The chip’s release is highly anticipated, with Qualcomm revealing that flagship Android devices powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC are expected to hit the market in the coming weeks.

Global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and smartphone brands, including ASUS, Honor, iQOO, MEIZU, NIO, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Redmi, RedMagic, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE, have committed to adopting the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC in their flagship devices.

ALSO CHECK: Phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Key Features of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3:

• The Qualcomm AI engine boasts an improved hexagon process, promising a 98 percent speed boost and 40 percent greater efficiency. The SoC introduces generative AI capabilities, making it the fastest for stable image generation.
• The chip utilizes a 4nm processing technology, with the Qualcomm Kryo CPU delivering speeds of up to 3.3 GHz, a 30 percent increase in performance, and a 20 percent boost in efficiency. This CPU is equipped with five Performance cores (up to 3.2 GHz) and two Efficiency cores (up to 2.3 GHz).
• Gamers can expect a top-notch experience with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and global illumination, delivering 240 fps gaming on compatible displays. The Qualcomm Adreno GPU is cited as 25 percent faster and more efficient.
• The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 introduces cutting-edge camera features powered by AI. It includes a Video Object Eraser by Arcsoft for removing unwanted elements from videos, new zoom capabilities, object tracking, and 2X and 4X zoom.
• The chip supports Dolby HDR and features Photo Expansion, which enhances photos with AI.
• For connectivity, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 System with support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It is equipped with the Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System, featuring the world’s first 5G modem with an integrated AI tensor hardware accelerator.
• Audiophiles will appreciate the support for 24-bit 96 kHz lossless music over Bluetooth, USB Version 3.1 Gen 2, USB Type-C, and UFS 4.0 storage.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with its generative AI capabilities, improved gaming performance, and a wide array of advanced features will be go top SoC for most smartphone manufacturers in 2024, therefore, consumers can expect a significant leap in mobile computing and entertainment experiences.