Qualcomm has announced its latest flagship system-on-a-chip (SoC), the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which will power many of the top Android smartphones in 2023. As a leading designer of mobile processors, Qualcomm’s newest chip aims to push the boundaries of performance, AI, gaming, camera technology and connectivity in phones.
Key Features and Improvements
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 brings both evolutionary and revolutionary changes compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Here are some of the most notable improvements:
Faster CPU
The CPU design utilizes Arm’s latest Cortex technology and is clocked higher for dramatically better performance. Qualcomm claims it offers up to 40% faster processing versus the prior generation.
Improved GPU
The new Adreno GPU offers up to 25% quicker graphics rendering and is more power efficient thanks to a new microarchitecture. This should result in significantly faster gaming frame rates.
Advanced AI Engine
With an upgraded Qualcomm Hexagon processor, the AI Engine has more than doubled in size and is now able to perform nearly 7 trillion operations per second. This enables advanced AI features.
Boosted ISP
An all-new image signal processor (ISP) supports computational photography up to 200MP sensors and 8K HDR video capture. The ISP also enables bokeh effects in 4K video recording.
Faster Modem
The integrated Snapdragon X70 5G modem has download speeds up to 10 Gbps thanks to support for new technologies like 5G carrier aggregation. This results in the fastest 5G connectivity in any mobile chip so far.
Improved Sustainability
The 4nm manufacturing process results in a more power efficient design. New AI awareness capabilities can further optimize system power consumption.
Performance and Efficiency Gains
According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers major gains in both performance and power efficiency:
- Up to 35% faster CPU performance
- Up to 40% more power efficient CPU
- Up to 25% faster GPU rendering
- Up to 45% more power efficient GPU
- 2x larger AI Engine with up to 49% higher TOPS
These kinds of generational improvements will be clearly noticeable in daily use. Apps and games will load faster, run smoother and consume less battery life.
Leading Edge Manufacturing Process
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is built on an advanced 4nm manufacturing process from TSMC. This allows for higher transistor density compared to the 5nm process used for the previous generation.
4nm results in significant gains in performance, power efficiency and chip area reduction. Qualcomm is able to pack in more technology while keeping the chip’s physical size small.
Cutting Edge Camera Technology
With support for up to a staggering 200MP camera sensor, 8K HDR video capture and new AI-powered imaging features, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 pushes mobile photography to new heights.
Key camera capabilities include:
- Up to 200MP photo capture
- 8K HDR video at 30 fps
- 4K video with bokeh effects
- Multi-frame noise reduction
- Slow motion 720p video up to 960fps
For the first time, phones will be able to shoot bokeh video in 4K resolution. The ISP can also process data from multiple frames to reduce noise in low light shots.
Lightning Fast 5G Connectivity
Integrated 5G connectivity is one of the hallmarks of Qualcomm’s flagship smartphone chipsets. The new Snapdragon X70 5G modem offers the fastest 5G speeds in the industry:
- Up to 10 Gbps download
- Up to 3.5 Gbps upload
- Support for 5G carrier aggregation
- Faster multi-SIM performance
With maximum theoretical speeds up to 10 Gbps, the X70 delivers lightning fast 5G data performance. Carrier aggregation combines multiple channels for expanded bandwidth.
Designed for Next-Gen Immersive Experiences
Qualcomm emphasized how the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powers “immersive experiences for the metaverse.” The GPU, display, video, audio and connectivity systems are all designed to enable bleeding-edge AR, VR and XR functionality.
Key capabilities include:
- Hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- Fast, high-resolution video streaming
- Spatial audio recording and playback
- Ultra-low latency video and audio
- Dual SIM, dual 5G connectivity
From mobile VR gaming to video conferencing in the metaverse, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will help make next-generation immersive experiences possible on phones.
When Will Phones Launch With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?
While Qualcomm has unveiled the chip, it will take a bit of time before the first consumer devices launch with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside.
Qualcomm says commercial devices are expected by the end of 2022. Historically, many flagship Android phones are announced in the spring timeframe.
Look for major brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus and more to launch Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered smartphones in the first half of 2023. Qualcomm has delivered an extremely impressive chipset that will raise the bar for performance in Android devices.
