After several weeks of leaks, Qualcomm formalizes the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 during its traditional annual conference. A more powerful component than its predecessor, obviously. But it is not the raw performance that allows it to stand out: it is the generative artificial intelligence with which it is natively compatible. This processor will power a large part of the high-end smartphones of 2024.
For several weeks, we have known that Qualcomm is preparing the formalization of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The component has been the subject of numerous leaks, revealing a large part of its technical characteristics. We know it will be more powerful at the CPU level and at the GPU level. We know that it will be designed to manage generative artificial intelligence, such asA17 Pro of the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the Tensor G3 Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. What we lacked was official information. And here it is.
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Today, during the 2023 edition of the Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm unveiled its new high-end processor. So it’s called Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, to succeed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 of 2022. And it sports a beautiful technical sheet which will allow all high-end smartphones equipped to be even more efficient. Power performance. Performance in terms of connectivity. Performance in terms of photography. Graphics performance. Brief. Everything will be better.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is compatible with Meta’s Llama 2
But the interest of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 does not lie in its technical sheet. Oh no! The interest of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is artificial intelligence, obviously. One of the biggest announcements about Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is its native compatibility with Llama 2 developed by Meta. The generative model will be managed by the component and will power a virtual assistant which will, logically, be able to manage more complex commands. And not just with voice, but also text and images. Or all three at the same time.
Generative artificial intelligence will not only have the role of assistant, even if it will be the first one you access. It will have many others, in particular thanks to direct access to Sensing Hub, the coprocessor which manages and analyzes the signals obtained by the different sensors. Depending on your location, time, ambient brightness, active connectivity (Bluetooth, WiFi or GSM), ambient noise, the smartphone will be able to adapt more effectively to reduce energy consumption.
Qualcomm is preparing a real magic eraser for video
Another example in photography: the generative model will be able to create, improve and modify content thanks to the power of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. You can create an image, of course, as with Slab Or Midjourney, with Qualcomm claiming that generating an image takes less than a second. But you can also extend a photo that you have just taken, like what Photoshop offers, for example.
And if the magic Pixel eraser tempts you, know that Qualcomm, in partnership with ArcSoft, is preparing the same thing in photos… and in video! Yes, you will soon be able remove a person from a video as easily as in a photo! Note also that in the photo, Qualcomm announces that it has worked with Samsung to improve the compatibility of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with its 200 megapixel sensors… But this was already the case previously.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 technical sheet is high-end
Of course, not everything will depend on Qualcomm. The founder has already developed a kit specific to artificial intelligence intended for developers. They will be able to use all the power of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to create their applications. Llama 2 won’t be the only supported model, with Qualcomm announcing that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be compatible with around twenty generative models different from its launch.
We cannot talk about the launch of a Snapdragon without talking about the technical sheet. Here are a few things to remember:
- Engraving in 4nm
- 8 Kryo cores (1 Prime Cortex-X4, 5 Gold and 2 Silver) clocked up to 3.3GHz30% more powerful and 20% more efficient
- New GPU 25% more powerful and 25% less energy intensive, compatible with Ray-Tracing and Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Global Illumination
- New Hexagon coprocessor 98% faster and 40% more efficient
- New triple Spectra coprocessor, compatible with 200 megapixel photo sensors, video capture up to 8K @ 30fps and slow motion at 960 fps in 720p
- Quick Charge 5 compatibility
- LPDDR5X compatibility clocked at 4.8 GHz, up to 24 GB
- Modem Snapdragon X75 5G
- FastConnect 7800 router, compatible with WiFi 7 MiMo, Bluetooth 5.4 and Snapdragon Sound
- Compatibility with internal 4K @ 60 fps and Full HD+ @ 144 Hz displays and external 8K @ 30 fps and Full HD+ @ 240 fps displays
- Native HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision compatibility, for capture and visualization
The first equipped smartphones will be official from fall 2023
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 already has a dozen commercial partners, including Asus, Honor, Vivo (including iQOO), Meizu, ZTE (including Nubia and RedMagic), Sony, Oppo (including Realme and OnePlus) and even Xiaomi (including Redmi). The first equipped models will be announced in the coming weeks, according to Qualcomm. The Xiaomi 14, whose official release is expected on October 26, could be part of the lot.
