Qualcomm has fallen right into a sample – launch a Snapdragon chip, then introduce a sooner “+” variant and a less expensive “s” variant. There was the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in late 2023, then got here the beefy 7+ Gen 3 in March and, effectively, now an “s” mannequin is on the horizon. It’s not official but, possibly that can occur throughout Qualcomm’s huge occasion in October. For now, now we have this leaked slide that was shared by Evan Blass.
Specializing in the main points on the backside, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 may have a 20% sooner CPU, 40% sooner GPU and 30% sooner NPU, whereas providing a modest 12% enchancment in energy effectivity.
These numbers are presumably in comparison with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. That chip isn’t notably quick – it has 4 Cortex-A78 cores (2.4GHz) and 4 A55 cores (1.95GHz), plus an Adreno 710 GPU (940MHz). This {hardware} can also be seen within the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, although there it runs at decrease clocks.
The 7s Gen 2 GPU is corresponding to, say, a Dimensity 7300 GPU (Mali-G615 MC2), so a 40% enhance over that may make the 7s Gen 3 aggressive with extra highly effective mid-range chips. It ought to find yourself shut however nonetheless behind the vanilla 7 Gen 3 (Adreno 720, 975MHz). It’s not clear what CPU and GPU {hardware} can be used within the 7s Gen 3, although, in order that’s only a guess.
Anyway, generative AI and language translation/transcription will possible be the important thing promoting factors for the brand new chip. AI is stylish and actually advantages from quick GPU and NPU. And it’ll assist the digital camera flip the uncooked Bayer information right into a coloration picture with AI remosaic.
This chipset will possible discover itself in cheaper gaming telephones too, because of AFME or “Adreno Body Movement Engine”. This generates extra frames with out placing further load on the GPU. It converts 60fps into 120fps, for instance. There’s additionally VRS Professional (Variable Fee Shading).
There can be an improve to connectivity too, although we don’t have all the main points but. Bluetooth 5.4 is definitely new (7s Gen 2 solely does v5.2). Spatial Audio looks as if a brand new addition as effectively.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 discovered itself in a number of standard telephones and we’ve reviewed most of them. Some had been priced effectively and the chipset’s efficiency was described as “enough”. Nonetheless, different telephones had been too costly for the efficiency that chip presents. Going by the official efficiency numbers, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 will possible fare higher in future evaluations.
