Qualcomm’s next-gen flagship smartphone chipset Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is starting to take shape. There are already rumors that the new Qualcomm processor will feature a slightly different CPU core arrangement with a much speedier prime core. Another noted tipster has reiterated that information.
According to a tipster Digital Chat Station, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will bear the model number SM8650 (via). That’s in line with the previous-gen solutions (SM8450 for Gen 1 and SM8550 for Gen 2). However, Qualcomm will reportedly switch to a 1+5+2 CPU core arrangement this year. The company is replacing an efficiency core with a performance core. Last year’s solution featured a 1+4+3 configuration. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 came with a 1+3+4 CPU core arrangement in 2021.
This suggests Qualcomm is focusing more on the performance side of things as node improvements make chips more efficient than ever. The rumored frequency of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Cortex-X4 prime CPU core suggests the same too. The upcoming chipset will reportedly boast a clock speed of up to 3.7GHz, a figure similar to the one reported last month. That’s about 15 percent faster than the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which tops out at 3.2GHz. The Samsung-exclusive version found in the Galaxy S23 series goes up to 3.36GHz.
The massive boost is reportedly enabled by TSMC’s improved 4nm process node. The Taiwanese firm will manufacture the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 N4P node, which is said to be about six percent more efficient than the N4 node used to manufacture last year’s chip. The upcoming solution will also upgrade to the Adreno 750 GPU, but its frequency details are not known yet. We will let you know when we have more information.
Qualcomm may skip the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2
Qualcomm usually launches two flagship smartphone chipsets every year. The first one comes in the first half of the year and is essentially an overclocked version of its previous-gen solution (denoted by a “+” sign). For example, it launched the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in May last year with a slightly faster CPU and GPU setup than the 2021 flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which debuted in November.
Going by this, last year’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 should get a “+” version within the next couple of months. Qualcomm’s Taiwanese rival MediaTek has already confirmed a May 11 launch of its Dimensity 9200+, a similarly overclocked version of last year’s Dimensity 9200. However, rumors are that the American chipmaker doesn’t plan to launch Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 this year. It will go straight to Gen 3. That explains why there hasn’t been any talk about the former but the latter frequently pops up in the rumor mill.
2023-05-01 15:05:17