Qualcomm Expands AI Horizons for Mid-Range Smartphones

In the constantly evolving world of smartphones, Qualcomm has just introduced a new contender in the chipset arena that’s set to shake up the market. The Snapdragon 8S Gen 3, as it’s known, is Qualcomm’s latest offering aimed at powering not the top-of-the-line flagship phones but those that hover just below in terms of performance and price. This new chip is designed for devices that might not carry the flagship title but still pack a punch in terms of features and capabilities.

At the heart of this announcement, made on March 18, 2024, is the intention to bridge the gap between high-end luxury and affordable practicality in the smartphone world. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 is poised to deliver many of the bells and whistles of its more illustrious sibling, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but at a price point that’s more accessible to a wider range of consumers. This strategic move introduces a new tier within the premium 8-series chipsets, though it admittedly adds a layer of complexity to Qualcomm’s product lineup.

For the tech-savvy and the curious alike, the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 boasts a suite of impressive features. It comes equipped with a GPU that mirrors the standard 8 Gen 3 but with slight adjustments, such as one less performance core and a prime core that maxes out at 3.0GHz, compared to 3.4GHz in the 8 Gen 3. This chipset also employs a previous-generation modem, the X70 5G, yet still supports Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. A notable inclusion is the support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing, ensuring that photorealistic games run more smoothly on devices, a characteristic that’s becoming a hallmark of flagship quality.

Another forward-thinking feature of the 8S Gen 3 is its support for on-device multimodal generative AI, enabling it to run large language models of up to 10 billion parameters. This includes capabilities for gen AI virtual assistants and image expansion, though it doesn’t match the full AI prowess of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.

The introduction of the “S” series, as explained by Deepu John, Qualcomm’s senior director of product management, reflects the company’s approach to offering nuanced options within its chipset families. The Snapdragon series now include 8, 7, 6, and 4, with up to three variations within each, allowing for a granular differentiation of device capabilities and price points. This strategy could be seen as an attempt by Qualcomm to provide OEMs with compelling alternatives to MediaTek’s offerings for their mid to high-end devices.

However, the proliferation of chipsets and the nuanced differences between them may be confusing for consumers and industry watchers alike. It’s an interesting moment in the tech world, as phone manufacturers continue to use previous generations of Snapdragon chips for their latest devices, and new options like the 8S Gen 3 and the 7 Gen 3 carve out their niches.

As for availability, while the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 might not feature in devices sold directly in the U.S. market immediately, several manufacturers, including Honor, iQOO, Realme, Redmi, and Xiaomi, have announced plans to integrate this new chipset into their upcoming devices. These new phones, expected to hit the market in the months to come, will likely showcase the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3’s blend of high-end features and mid-range accessibility, offering consumers new options in the ever-competitive smartphone landscape.

Source: The Verge

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