The rumored price of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 means phones may stick with 8 Gen 2 for longer
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor may stick around for another year, according to a new report. The move would be made by phone manufacturers in an effort to keep costs down as generational gaps shrink. The rumored Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor may be limited to ultra-premium smartphones as it is said to carry a hefty price tag compared to its predecessor.
This report comes from the leaker Digital Chat Station on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. In a post, the leaker wrote that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may be too expensive for many phone makers, with some likely opting to use the current Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor instead.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a powerful chipset that powers many of today’s top Android phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S23, Motorola Edge 40 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Pro, and more. The improvements in power and efficiency over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 family allow it to effectively compete with the iPhone 14 in everyday use. The headroom it currently offers suggests that Android phone makers can go another year without having to upgrade, especially on more affordable phones that prioritize performance over features like their cameras.
It’s worth noting that there are also other chips on the market, such as MediaTek’s Dimensity range. Our Motorola Edge 40 review shows that top-tier Dimensity chips are just as good in day-to-day use as their Qualcomm counterparts, and the savings could be worth it as people around the world tighten their belts.
Not an unusual strategy
Phone makers have employed similar strategies in the past, and this year select devices such as the Motorola Razr Plus (known as the Razr 40 Ultra in Europe) and the Vivo X90 Pro, both flagship devices, have different processors than Qualcomm’s reigning flagship. . This is because while this year’s Qualcomm chip is pretty good, last year’s chip was pretty good too!
While phone manufacturers often pack the most flashy specs into their Pro Max, Ultra, or (insert superlative chosen to communicate premium) phone here, they tend to be a bit more reserved with cheaper sub-flagship phones. The RAM could be lower and slower, the cameras could be fewer (most choose to drop the telephoto), and the processor a little different. Even Apple is getting in on the action, giving the standard iPhone 14 the same processor as the iPhone 13 Pro.
Essentially what we’re saying here is that if Android phone makers kept the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for another year to keep costs down, it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.