Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, which is positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- Qualcomm has compared the new processor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, saying it’s a follow-up to 2024’s flagship SoC.
- OnePlus is expected to launch the first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phone before the end of the year.
Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 a couple of months ago, but it also gave us a sneak peek at the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5. It’s taken a while, but the company has finally launched this non-Elite chipset.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, which is built on TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing process, is positioned as the less impressive but still “premium” companion of the 8 Elite Gen 5. What’s particularly interesting is that Qualcomm is comparing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rather than the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
“Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 is the next generation ‘base’ variant in the Snapdragon 8 series, following Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and sitting above the ‘s’ tier,” the chipmaker told Android Authority when we asked about comparisons to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
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In any event, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 CPU has matrix acceleration capabilities for improved AI performance, much like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU. Expect two prime cores and six performance cores, albeit with a 3.8GHz peak clock speed compared to the Elite chip’s 4.6GHz. This delivers 36% better performance and 42% better efficiency compared to the 8 Gen 3. The matrix acceleration support in particular suggests that the 8 Gen 5 and 8 Elite Gen 5 share the same basic CPU technology.
We asked Qualcomm for more details on this CPU and how it compares to the 8 Elite Gen 5 CPU:
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Mobile Platform features a recent implementation of our custom Qualcomm Oryon CPU with hardware matrix acceleration. While it shares architectural roots with the third-generation Oryon CPU in Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the two are not identical. The Elite variant includes a more advanced configuration tailored for flagship performance, whereas the 8 Gen 5 version is optimized for broader mobile use cases.
Qualcomm’s Elite processors have a so-called “sliced” GPU architecture, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 offers the same fundamental architecture. This results in 28% better efficiency and 11% better performance than the 8 Gen 3’s graphics hardware. Qualcomm’s new chip also supports ray tracing, mesh shading tech, and Snapdragon Game Super Resolution capabilities. In saying so, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 GPU has two slices compared to the Elite line’s three slices, while also lacking the 8 Elite Gen 5’s Adreno High Performance Memory.
Expect a sizeable upgrade for AI workloads, too. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 NPU is 46% faster than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s NPU, but maintains the same efficiency. Much like the 8 Elite Gen 5, the standard flagship processor supports INT2 precision. This enables higher quantization (i.e., compression) of large language models.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 5: What about camera and connectivity?
A big reason to buy a flagship Android phone is the camera experience, and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 brings some noteworthy features in this regard. Much like its more premium stablemate, the standard 8 Gen 5 has a 20-bit triple ISP which delivers a four-fold increase in dynamic range. Expect 48MP+48MP+48MP triple camera support, 108MP single-camera support at 30fps with zero-shutter lag, and 320MP snapshot support.
Other notable camera features include Snapdragon Audio Sense for audio zoom and wind noise reduction (with specific microphones), 4K/120fps slow-motion capture, Night Vision 3.0 video capture, and AI video processing at 4K/60fps.
We asked about 8K video capture, but Qualcomm only confirmed that the chipset supports 4K/120fps capture and 8K HDR playback. It’s not a huge loss for most people, as 8K TVs aren’t exactly popular after all this time. However, this is still a notable omission, particularly if you use this feature for burst capture, suggesting that 8K video recording is an Elite feature.
Cellular connectivity is handled by the Snapdragon X80 modem, which appeared in the Snapdragon 8 Elite but is a generation behind the latest and greatest Snapdragon X85 modem. This modem is nothing to scoff at, though, delivering 10Gbps peak download speeds, 3.5Gbps peak upload speeds, integrated satellite support, and mmWave capabilities. As for general connectivity, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 supports Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, integrated UWB (if OEMs choose to use the FastConnect 7900 chip), XPAN for Wi-Fi audio, and Quick Charge 5.
Qualcomm says the first devices with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 will launch in the coming weeks. It adds that IQOO, Motorola, OnePlus, and vivo are all working on devices with the chipset. OnePlus is expected to launch the first Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 phone, the OnePlus Ace 6T, in China later this month. This phone is tipped to arrive in global markets as the OnePlus 15R.
In any event, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 seems like a big improvement over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in several areas. Between the custom Oryon CPU, powerful GPU, and top-tier connectivity capabilities, this processor certainly seems deserving of the Snapdragon 8 series moniker. However, the lack of 8K video capture shows that it’s not a complete upgrade over older Snapdragon flagship SoCs.
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