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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the S22 chipset, with 10 Gigabit 5G

Updated: Dec 01, 2021, 3:42 AM

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Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra chipset

Qualcomm just took the stage to announce the long-rumored Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset that is going to power a number of Android flagships in the next year or so, including Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S22 series phones.

Previously rumored as Snapdragon 898, the processor got a name change, as Qualcomm decided to simplify and streamline how it calls its mobile chipsets. This, and the fact that the team from San Diego is branching out into processors for Microsoft Windows 11 devices, as well as into a gaming platform. We are most interested in the mobile applications, however, so here are the most interesting Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 details.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 vs Snapdragon 888 vs Apple A15 specs and features

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1

Here's a list of the most important new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features:

Up to 3GHz Kryo CPU with Cortex-X2 cores.
30% faster Adreno GPU with 25% lower power consumption.
The world’s first X65 5G modem to reach 10 Gigabit download speeds.
First 18-bit image signal processor for mobile.
First 8K HDR10+ video capture for mobile.
Mega low-light capture snaps 30 images and merges the best parts into one shot.
Always-On ISP for fast face unlocking and locking.
7th Gen Qualcomm AI Engine for voice analysis and Leica Leitz Look bokeh filters.
Bluetooth Low Energy audio features like broadcasting, stereo recording, and voice back-channel for gaming.
First platform with Android Ready Secure Element support, the new standard for digital car keys or drivers’ licenses.

As for how does the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 stacks up against its Snapdragon 888 predecessor and Apple's A15 monster in the iPhone 13, here's a quick comparison of their specs and features.

	Snapdragon 8 Gen 1	Snapdragon 888	Exynos 2100	Apple A15
Production process	Samsung 4nm EUV	Samsung 5nm EUV	Samsung 5nm EUV	TSMC 5nm 2nd gen
Processor cores	1xCortex-X2@3GHz 3xCortex-A710@2.5GHz 4xCortex-A510@1.8GHz	1x Cortex-X1@2.84GHz 3x Cortex-A78@2.42GHz 4x Cortex-A55@1.80GHz	Exynos X1@2.91GHz 3x Cortex-A78@2.8GHz 4x Cortex-A55@2.2GHz	2x Avalanche@3.23GHz 4x Blizzard@1.8GHz
GPU	Adreno 730, 30% faster and 20% more frugal	Adreno 660 @ 800MHz	ARM Mali-G78	Apple custom quad-core (5-core on the iPhone 13 Pro models)
Modem	X65 5G modem (integrated) up to 10 Gbps over 5G Global iSIM multi-SIM card support	X60 5G modem (integrated) up to 7.5Gbps over 5G, and 3 Gbps download speeds on LTE	Exynos 5123 (Category 24) Downloads up to 7.3Gbps (mmWave), 5.1Gbps (sub-6GHz), or 3Gbps (4G LTE), 8xCA Uploads: up to 422 Mbps	Qualcomm X60 5G modem
AI co-processor	7th Gen Qualcomm AI Engine	Hexagon 780	Tri-core NPU, up to 26 TOPS	16-core Neural Engine, up to 15.8 TOPS
Video encode	8K HDR10+	8K HDR at 60fps 4K HDR at 120fps	8K HDR at 60fps 4K HDR at 120fps	4K HDR+ at 120fps
Features support	QHD+ @144Hz or 4K@60Hz display refresh Demura and subpixel rendering for OLED uniformity First 18-bit ISP, mega low light capture merges 30 images in one shot for brighter, sharper pictures Qualcomm FastConnect 6900: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-fi 6E (up to 3.6GBps)	QHD+ @144Hz or 4K@60Hz display refresh Triple 14-bit Spectra 580 ISP, up to 200MP sensor 4K computational HDR, low-light capture architecture Qualcomm FastConnect 6900: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-fi 6E (up to 3.6GBps)	UFS 3.1 storage support for up to 2.9GB/s speeds Single-camera up to 200MP up to 16 GB DDR5 Variable 120Hz display refresh rate	Computational photography Cinematic Mode video bokeh Machine learning capable of 15.8 trillion operations per second

As you can see, Qualcomm isn't playing around, and offers some unique 5G connectivity and other features that Apple will have to catch up with when its next generation A16 processor hits the iPhone 14 in the fall of 2022. That one is reportedly also being done on the 4nm process, but until then the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 may stay the undisputed connectivity king for the 5G era..

We are also very curious to test the new 18-bit ISP and the 8K HDR10+ video capture it brings, not to mention the digital keys and cards or the integrated iSIM multi-SIM functionality. Theres is little doubt that the Galaxy S22 series will be powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but the chip maker also lists many other manufacturers lining up for it.

Black Shark, Honor, iQOO, Motorola, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Redmi, SHARP, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE are all in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mix, with the first phones powered by the new chipset expected as soon as next month.

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.