Qualcomm is gearing up to unveil the highly anticipated Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 application processor (AP) during this October’s Snapdragon Summit. It is expected that the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will be one of the first flagship Android phones to be powered by this new chipset early next year. The focus of the new Qualcomm AP seems to be on energy efficiency rather than sheer performance, which could have a significant impact on the device’s overall functionality.
According to a tweet from a reliable leaker, internal testing data suggests that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC, manufactured by TSMC using its cutting-edge second-gen 3nm process node (N3E), delivers impressive performance through its Adreno 750 graphics processing unit (GPU). The GPU’s peak performance is said to rival that of the Dimensity 9300 AP from MediaTek but at half the power consumption, showcasing a promising advancement in energy efficiency.
While the GPU performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 looks promising for the Galaxy S25 Ultra, there are concerns regarding its CPU performance. The chip’s custom Oryon CPU cores only show a marginal single-digit improvement compared to current-generation chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. As per the leaker’s advice, those who prioritize CPU performance may want to consider waiting for the next generation – Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 – for significant enhancements in this area.
Despite potential limitations in CPU performance, Qualcomm’s emphasis on optimizing GPU energy efficiency in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 should benefit devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra by ensuring cooler operation and improved battery life. Transitioning from Samsung Foundry’s 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC to TSMC’s more advanced 3nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is expected to bring inherent energy consumption improvements even before factoring in specific optimizations.
Looking ahead, speculations about the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 AP suggest that it may power devices like the Galaxy S26 in 2026. This chipset is rumored to feature custom Pegasus CPU cores in a similar configuration as its predecessor – two high-performance CPU cores and six efficiency-focused CPU cores. Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting developments in telecommunications technology!
