Qualcomm is expanding its 7-series lineup with the announcement of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor. Positioned as the most affordable option in the trio, which includes the previously announced 7 Plus Gen 3 and 7 Gen 3, the 7s Gen 3 promises a modest performance boost over its predecessor, the 7s Gen 2.
The new chip boasts a 20% increase in processor performance and features four Cortex-A720 cores and four Cortex-A520 efficient cores. These cores operate at a maximum clock speed of 2.5 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 1.8 GHz, respectively.
More noticeable may be the claimed 40% increase in graphics rendering speed thanks to the new GPU. Qualcomm hasn’t announced the official name yet, but it’s likely to be “Adreno 810”.
You may find this decision a bit strange, as the name hints that it is more powerful than the Adreno 750 GPU of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This, of course, is not the case.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 also embraces the 2024 trend of artificial intelligence integration. Qualcomm claims a 30% improvement in AI performance along with support for features such as multilingual translation and built-in AI models.
The camera capabilities have also been improved, with 200 megapixel stills, 64 megapixel single shot, and a triple camera with up to 21 megapixels per lens. 4K HDR video recording is included, but the chip doesn’t support 4K/60fps recording, and slow-motion video is limited to 120fps at 1080p.
On the other hand, Qualcomm claims that the chip has 12% less power consumption compared to the previous generation. This should mean longer battery life for users for whom device longevity is a priority.
Features typical of a mid-range processor in 2024 round out the package. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 utilizes TSMC’s 4nm design, offers Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, supports various AptX codecs, boasts a peak downlink speed of 2.9 Gbps, and integrates Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ technology along with Wi-Fi 6E.
The first device based on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is expected to be a Xiaomi phone, which will be launched in September. Realme, Samsung, and Sharp are also working on devices based on this chip.