On March 18, Qualcomm officially unveiled its 3rd generation Snapdragon 8s mobile platform. Boasting flagship specs rooted in the same DNA as the Snapdragon 8, it's set to elevate the mobile experience across more devices in the market.
The 3rd Gen Snapdragon 8s features a Qualcomm Kryo CPU that shares the same architecture with the 3rd Gen Snapdragon 8. It comes with 1 super core clocked at 3.0GHz, 4 performance cores at 2.8GHz, and 3 efficiency cores at 2.0GHz. According to Qualcomm's tests, its multi-threaded performance outpaces competitors by 20%.
The GPU uses the same architecture as the second-generation Snapdragon 8's Adreno GPU, boasting a 15% lead in energy efficiency over its competitors. It also supports hardware-accelerated real-time ray tracing, Qualcomm Adreno Image Motion Engine 2.0, and Snapdragon Elite Gaming super-resolution features. With ray tracing enabled, its energy efficiency can outperform competitors by up to 25%. For gamers, the immersive gaming experience offered by the third-generation Snapdragon 8s is something to look forward to.
A major highlight of the third-generation Snapdragon 8s is its AI performance, which is simply unparalleled. Like other Snapdragon platforms, it leverages heterogeneous computing to deliver superior performance across various workloads. According to data released by Qualcomm, the third-generation Snapdragon 8s leads its competitors by more than 400% in object detection tests. Its advantages in tests for language understanding, image segmentation, and background blur reach 280%, 100%, and 300%, respectively.
The third-generation Snapdragon 8s supports mega-models with up to 10 billion parameters, along with AI-enhanced GPU features. Major predictive models include Baichuan-7B, Gemini Nano, Llama2, and ChatGLM. During the launch event, partners like ByteDance and NetEase, in collaboration with Qualcomm, shared how the Snapdragon mobile platform's features bring about new functionalities and upgraded user experiences. For instance, the enhanced AI performance enables users to access more filters and gameplay on apps like TikTok, even improving efficiency in video editing tasks such as background removal.
It's worth noting that Qualcomm has been committed to driving AI development on the edge. Besides offering hardware support around computational platforms, they also provide developers with more software stacks and toolkits to accelerate the deployment of mega-models, AIGC, and other next-generation applications on a wider range of terminal devices.
On the photography front, the third-generation Snapdragon 8s integrates the cognitive 18-bit triple ISP, supporting up to 200-megapixel photography and smooth video zooming. It optimizes photos through real-time semantic segmentation of photos and videos, supporting Snapdragon low-light photography (LLV). When combined with AI, it unlocks new experiences in image creation, such as extending edges for secondary editing. The third-generation Snapdragon 8s also features always-on camera perception, ensuring smoother experiences in scenarios like facial recognition, mobile payments, and QR code scanning.
The third-generation Snapdragon 8s comes with Snapdragon Sound technology, offering an immersive audio experience for multimedia and gaming, along with clearer audio for calls.
For connectivity, it features the Snapdragon X70 5G modem and RF system, along with the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 mobile connectivity system, supporting up to 10Gbps 5G connections, Wi-Fi 7, and features like intelligent dual Bluetooth. With Snapdragon Seamless, it enhances the seamless connectivity experience across multiple devices, ensuring smooth transitions for audio and other connections when switching devices.
During the press conference, Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi Group and General Manager of the Xiaomi brand, announced that the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro will debut globally with the third-generation Snapdragon 8s, and Redmi will follow suit simultaneously.
Moreover, major OEM manufacturers and brands such as Honor, iQOO, and realme will also adopt the third-generation Snapdragon 8s, with the first terminals expected to hit the market in March.
Not only is Qualcomm launching its all-new third-generation Snapdragon 8s mobile platform, but it also stated that there are 1.9 billion Snapdragon-powered smartphones worldwide. In 2023, Qualcomm led globally in shipments of flagship and high-end Android smartphones, with market shares reaching 83% and 73%, respectively.
The third-gen Snapdragon 8s, as the "new member" of the Snapdragon flagship mobile platform lineup, further expands our product portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies' Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Handsets, Chris Patrick, said, "With its on-device generative AI, cutting-edge imaging features, and a wealth of other rich capabilities, the third-gen Snapdragon 8s is designed to enhance user experiences, boosting creativity and productivity in everyday life. We're thrilled to extend the Snapdragon 8 series flagship platform lineup. As our top-tier mobile platform solution, the Snapdragon 8 series will bring a range of exceptional features to more consumers."
