Qualcomm, the well-known chip manufacturer for Android smartphones, is set to release its latest offering, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, later this year. Recently, some early details about this chip have been leaked, codenamed “Lanai” or “Pineapple,” revealing some exciting improvements over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
One of the most significant changes to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the adoption of a new 2+3+2+1 layout. This is different from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s 1+4+3 configuration. The new layout includes two Arm “Hunter” (A7xx) cores from the “titanium” cluster, which is speculated to be configured differently from the other clusters. It is possible that the titanium cluster may feature more cache or higher clock speeds. The full layout includes two A5xx cores, three A7xx cores, two A7xx cores, and a single “gold+” core.
Another significant upgrade is the use of new Arm cores. These new cores replace the entire current lineup, a development that promises better performance and efficiency. The chip will operate on 64-bit only, dropping support for 32-bit entirely. This is not a surprise, given that Android has been moving towards 64-bit support for some time now.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will also feature an upgraded Adreno 750 GPU with a maximum frequency of 770 MHz. This represents a significant upgrade from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, promising better graphics performance. In terms of software, the chip will support Linux kernel 6.1 and Android 14.
Back to the cores, Arm codename Hayes and Hunter (ELP) are brand new, unannounced CPU cores replacing the whole current line-up.
— Kuba Wojciechowski :3 (@Za_Raczke) March 23, 2023
They drop support for 32-bit completely, meaning that 8 Gen 3 will be 64-bit-only. This is also confirmed by Qualcomm's code. https://t.co/VSHvbFiKMD pic.twitter.com/Hgcb8YHOv1
According to rumors, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will be released ahead of schedule this year. It is expected to be installed in popular devices such as the “Xperia 1 VI” and Galaxy S24 series.
In summary, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip from Qualcomm is shaping up to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor. With an improved core layout, better graphics, and support for 64-bit only, Android users can look forward to more powerful and efficient smartphones with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip.