The latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 was released in March, and now phones with this chip are beginning to be released. Is it simply an upgrade from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, or a completely different product?
The “s” in this case does not indicate a more powerful version, but rather a more affordable option for the budget-friendly flagship phones or lesser-known gaming phones.
Alright, so where do we stand? We have begun evaluating phones equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in our office. Specifically, we are looking at the Honor 200 Pro and Motorola Edge 50 Ultra. Although the benchmarks have been released, the results will not be very informative unless we consider them in context.
Let’s compare scores with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. We used results from OnePlus phones as they are a reliable option. Samsung phones are optimized for Galaxy devices, and ROG Phones have excellent thermal management. You can also select any other phone from the drop-down menu to compare.
Therefore, the numbers speak the truth – when it comes to CPU power, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 falls somewhere between 8 Gen 3 and 8 Gen 2, unfortunately leaning more towards the latter. As for 3D testing, it performs even worse than the 8 Gen 2. Nevertheless, it is important to consider the 3DMark Highest and Lowest scores, as this test aims to push the phone to its limits and induce throttling.
Due to the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 not having much headroom, it doesn’t lose as much steam when throttling compared to more powerful processors that start with higher scores but also shave off a lot when throttling.
For what purpose was the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 created?
As we have seen with the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, it is a great option for those looking for a more affordable flagship smartphone. While it may not impress with its peak power, it remains stable and consistent, providing a high-quality experience.
Choosing the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 over an older flagship model with Gen 2 or Gen 1 technology could be a better option. The Gen 3 has been upgraded with modern features such as LPDDR5X and Wi-Fi 7 support. One area where Qualcomm has not compromised is in the AI capabilities, as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 offers the same NPU features as high-end smartphones, aiming to bring advanced AI functionality to budget devices.
That potential exists, depending on how manufacturers handle it. The upgrades may be minor, but they can still provide modern budget phones with a slight advantage over a flagship from the past.
