Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Powering Top Android Phones Since October 2023
Qualcomm, renowned for its cutting-edge system-on-chip (SoC) technology that powers a significant portion of the world’s smartphones, is currently developing its next flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. Scheduled for release later this year in October, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is anticipated to become the cornerstone of upcoming high-end Android devices. This announcement aligns with Qualcomm’s customary product release schedule, with the company traditionally unveiling its flagship mobile platforms at the annual Snapdragon Summit. Notably, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which fuels premium Android smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12, was launched at the Snapdragon Summit held in Hawaii back in October 2023.
During the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Qualcomm’s Chief Marketing Officer, Don McGuire, provided insights into the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), McGuire confirmed the October 2024 launch timeline for the highly anticipated chipset. Additionally, McGuire reiterated Qualcomm’s commitment to incorporating its proprietary Oryon CPU into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, a technology initially unveiled at the Snapdragon Summit in 2022.
He emphasized that the upcoming chipset would feature a “supercharged” Oryon CPU paired with an upgraded Neural Processing Unit (NPU), promising a formidable combination of performance and efficiency. McGuire’s remarks hinted at significant advancements expected in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, generating anticipation among enthusiasts eagerly awaiting further details at the October launch event.
The Snapdragon Summit, slated for October, holds the promise of unveiling groundbreaking innovations as Qualcomm continues to push the boundaries of mobile computing. With the integration of the Oryon CPU and enhanced NPU capabilities, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 aims to redefine user experiences, delivering unparalleled performance, power efficiency, and AI-driven functionalities. Qualcomm’s commitment to innovation underscores its pivotal role in driving technological advancements within the mobile industry, setting the stage for the next evolution in flagship smartphone performance and capabilities.
While details are sparse on Qualcomm’s next flagship mobile platform, Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to be designed using TSMC’s 3nm fabrication process, which Apple’s A17 Pro chipsets are based on. It will feature the company’s Oryon CPU, unveiled in 2022 for Snapdragon platforms. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite platform for AI PCs, announced at last year’s Snapdragon Summit, also utilises Oryon cores.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to power upcoming flagship Android phones like Samsung Galaxy S25, Xiaomi 15 series, and Asus Zenfone 11. Qualcomm’s current top-end mobile platform, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, launched last year in October. The chipset powers phones like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12.
Qualcomm also unveiled a range of new generative AI features for Android smartphones at the MWC 2024 this week and introduced a Qualcomm AI Hub that offers over 75 optimised AI models for its platforms.The chipmaker occupies a 28 percent share in the global smartphone chipsets market as of the third quarter of 2023, behind only MediaTek, according to Counterpoint Research.