After the mess that was the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Qualcomm probably learned from its mistakes and setbacks, launching a significantly improved Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 courtesy of an improved manufacturing process. These advancements will likely be seen in the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, along with a potentially different CPU configuration than what Qualcomm has employed on previous flagship SoCs. Here is everything you need to know about the next-generation chipset.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Will Not Shift to TSMC’s Cutting-Edge 3nm Technology, but Can Switch to Samsung Again, Under the Right Circumstances
From what we know, TSMC will exclusively undertake Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 orders. For those that do not know, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is also mass produced by TSMC under its 4nm process, so looking at the improvements made, it makes complete sense for Qualcomm to stick with its Taiwanese supplier. Unfortunately, with Apple being TSMC’s most lucrative client, we do not expect the upcoming chipset to be made on the 3nm process since that is reserved for the M2 Pro and M2 Max.
Instead, TSMC will likely re-use its 4nm architecture to fulfill Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 orders, but Qualcomm will add a bunch of tweaking to ensure that it outperforms the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 while delivering better efficiency. One tipster has already commented that the initial samples of Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship silicon is showing better power-efficiency, beating the existing Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, and is likely to outperform Samsung’s Exynos 2300. Looking at such positivity, we are inclined to say that Qualcomm should stick with TSMC for its latest launch.
Then again, Samsung has beaten TSMC in the race to mass produce 3nm chips. The Korean manufacturer announced its 3nm GAA technology almost a month ago, with the first batch expected to be shipped to customers from July 25. Unfortunately, to our knowledge, no smartphone vendor has approached Samsung for its 3nm GAA chips, at least for now. As for Qualcomm, it could start giving orders to Samsung if TSMC starts facing mass production difficulties.
Samsung has been asked to provide 3nm GAA samples to Qualcomm on request to see if the next-generation node is worth considering for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Other factors such as costs may also be considered, so if Samsung provides a better deal than TSMC, Qualcomm may take it. Regardless of which supplier it goes to, Qualcomm will consider its position carefully as it will not want a boatload of negative press on its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 like what happened with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1.
Potential Specifications and Expected Performance
For multiple generations, Qualcomm has stuck with a ‘1 + 3 + 4’ CPU cluster, including the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. The first single core brings ultra-performance to the table, followed by three less powerful cores, and lastly, four cores focused on just efficiency. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 could take a different direction with a rumored ‘1 + 4 + 3’ configuration. This CPU cluster might sound strange to you, and that is because it is.
Apparently, instead of using three gold cores, Qualcomm intends to use four, likely to gain an advantage against the newly announced MediaTek Dimensity 9200, which has a ‘1 + 3 + 4’ configuration, and other SoCs. With that being said, the new CPU cluster will likely be as follows, and we have also added the frequencies of each core for good measure.
One Cortex-X3 core running at 3.40GHz
Four Cortex-A715 cores running at 2.80GHz
Three Cortex-A510 cores running at 2.00GHz
Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 features
The new cores should enable the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to attain a 20 percent performance boost against the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, all the while maintaining the same power draw. In case you wanted to glimpse of its single-core and multi-core performance, leaked Geekbench 5 scores of the Galaxy S23 Plus emerged, revealing notable gains in both tests.
The upcoming test handset obtained 1485 and 4844 points in single-core and multi-core benchmarks, respectively, so while it is slower than Apple’s A16 Bionic, Qualcomm is slowly pushing to close that performance gap. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may also arrive in two variants, both with different CPU clock speeds for a different class of products.
Manufacturers who prefer their smartphones to tout a sleek form factor could use a slightly slower version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while gaming handsets could go all out with the best-in-class hardware. Alongside the unique CPU configuration, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is expected to be paired with Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X70 5G modem, reaching new peak download speeds while consuming up to 60 percent less power.
Improved Video Streaming, and Quality Thanks to New Codec Support
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 could be the first from Qualcomm to get AV1 support, allowing for an improved streaming experience. This codec offers an exceptional upgrade for better video quality and at the same file size. If viewed at the same video quality, AV1 reduces the file size, freeing up valuable space, and is 30 percent more efficient than the H.265 codec, meaning your smartphone’s available resources will be freed up.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – When Will Qualcomm Announce It?
Qualcomm has officially announced its annual Snapdragon Summit, with presentations starting on November 15 and concluding on November 17. Going with past launch schedules, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will likely be announced on November 15, and if we are lucky, perhaps we will get a preview of Qualcomm’s Nuvia-based chipset, as the company is rumored to be working on a 12-core part, with eight performance cores and four power-efficiency ones.
Overall, we are raising our expectations for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, especially when the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 has proven to be a worthy A15 Bionic competitor since it beats Apple’s flagship phone SoC in a gaming test. Switching to TSMC for mass production has its perks, so we look forward to seeing what Qualcomm has in store for us.
The post Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – Better Power Efficiency, New Rumored CPU Configuration and Everything Else You Should Know by Omar Sohail appeared first on Wccftech.
