Qualcomm is readying its latest flagship mobile processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, for launch in October 2024 at the annual Snapdragon Summit. And if the leaks and rumors are to be believed, this new chip could blow away the competition to become the fastest Android processor ever.
Industry insiders report the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 3nm process, paving the way for massive performance gains over the previous 8 Gen 3 chip. Early benchmark leaks suggest Qualcomm’s new silicon could even outpace Apple’s industry-leading A-series chips that power the iPhone.
At the heart of this performance leap is Qualcomm’s new Oryon CPU architecture, which was first introduced in the company’s Snapdragon X Elite PC processor line. The 8 Gen 4 is rumored to feature up to a blistering 4GHz prime core clock speed, compared to 3.3GHz in the 8 Gen 3. Qualcomm is also switching to a 2+6 CPU core configuration to better balance performance and efficiency.
The 8 Gen 4’s AI processing capabilities are also expected to get a huge boost thanks to the new Oryon cores and optimizations. This will allow for more advanced on-device AI and machine learning applications on next-gen Android flagships.
However, with great power comes a higher price tag. Reports indicate the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be significantly more expensive for smartphone makers, which could translate to higher retail prices for consumers. Qualcomm is also said to be working on more affordable chips for Windows laptops.
Despite potential costs, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is widely anticipated to be a hit. Xiaomi is rumored to be first out of the gate with the chip in its upcoming Xiaomi 15 flagship series. Other major players like OnePlus and IQOO are expected to quickly follow with their own 8 Gen 4-powered devices.
When Qualcomm officially unveils its next über-chip this fall, all eyes will be on whether it can deliver Android’s biggest generational performance leap yet. If so, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could usher in a new era of unmatched power and capabilities for the Android ecosystem.
