Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A New Era of Mid-Range Performance with an All-Large-Core Architecture

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A New Era of Mid-Range Performance with an All-Large-Core ArchitectureQualcomm's Snapdragon series has long been a benchmark for Android performance. However, facing the rise of MediaTek's Dimensity series in the mid-to-high-end market, Qualcomm has adjusted its strategy, actively launching "flagship-lite" chips to fill market gaps

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A New Era of Mid-Range Performance with an All-Large-Core Architecture

Qualcomm's Snapdragon series has long been a benchmark for Android performance. However, facing the rise of MediaTek's Dimensity series in the mid-to-high-end market, Qualcomm has adjusted its strategy, actively launching "flagship-lite" chips to fill market gaps. Following the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (SM8735) has officially surfaced, with its specifications gradually being revealed. The chip's biggest highlight is its all-large-core CPU architecture, completely abandoning the traditional small-core design a rarity in the mid-range segment.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's CPU architecture consists of one 3.21GHz ARM X4 super-core (performance core), three 3.01GHz A720 large cores (high-frequency efficiency cores), two 2.80GHz A720 large cores (medium-frequency efficiency cores), and two 2.02GHz A720 large cores (low-frequency efficiency cores). This all-large-core design uses different frequencies of A720 cores to achieve tiered energy efficiency, aiming to reduce scheduling latency between different cores and thus improve smoothness in complex scenarios. The ARM X4, as the latest generation super-core, focuses on single-threaded burst performance, while the multiple A720 cores handle multitasking and energy balance. Theoretically, the all-large-core architecture should deliver better performance, but it also places higher demands on power consumption control.

On the GPU side, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 features the Adreno 825, a contemporary of the Snapdragon 8 Elite's Adreno 830, but with a reduced core count. This "same-generation downscaling" strategy effectively controls costs while ensuring near-flagship-level graphics performance. Leaks suggest an AnTuTu GPU score of around 450,000 for the Adreno 825, significantly higher than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's Adreno 750 (around 380,000), although still somewhat behind the Snapdragon 8 Elite's Adreno 830 (expected to exceed 500,000). However, it's sufficient for mainstream mobile games at maximum frame rates.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 uses TSMC's 4nm process, consistent with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. However, its cache configuration has been adjusted, boasting 6MB of SLC (system-level cache) and 8MB of L3 cache. The larger cache capacity helps reduce memory access latency, further optimizing multi-core collaboration efficiency in the all-large-core architecture.

In AnTuTu V10 benchmark tests, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 scores over 2 million, approaching the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3's score (around 2.1 million) and significantly surpassing the MediaTek Dimensity 8300. A breakdown shows a projected 15-20% improvement in single-core CPU performance thanks to the high frequency of the X4 super-core. The Adreno 825's reduced scale hasn't significantly impacted graphics performance. Combined with TSMC's 4nm process and all-large-core dynamic scheduling, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's daily power consumption is expected to be better than traditional "1+3+4" three-cluster designs.

There were rumors that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 might be named "Snapdragon 8s Elite," but Qualcomm ultimately chose to continue the "Gen 4" sequence. According to bloggers, the "Elite" designation requires two conditions: the use of Qualcomm's self-developed Oryon CPU architecture and a positioning in the absolute flagship market. As the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is based on a public ARM architecture and targets the flagship-lite market, it didn't receive the "Elite" title. This reflects Qualcomm's cost considerations, as the R&D and production costs of the self-developed Oryon architecture are higher, making it difficult to apply to flagship-lite products. There are even reports suggesting it might not be used in the mid-range market in the second half of the year.

Currently known manufacturers using the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 include Redmi Turbo 4 Pro (focus on cost-effectiveness, expected price 2500-3000 RMB), iQOO Z10 Turbo Pro (focused on game optimization, possibly featuring a dedicated display chip and cooling system), and Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro (focus on slim design and portrait photography). These new phones are mostly expected to launch in April, with Xiaomi phones possibly launching in May. For consumers, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 means "more performance for less money," giving manufacturers a significant competitive advantage.

The launch of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 marks a shift in Qualcomm's mid-to-high-end market strategy. Through architectural innovation and performance leaps, Qualcomm aims to further squeeze MediaTek's market share. The application of its all-large-core architecture, and the balance struck between performance and power consumption, will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the mid-range smartphone market. This is not just a chip upgrade, but a significant adjustment to Qualcomm's market competition strategy. By launching powerful flagship-lite chips, Qualcomm offers consumers more choices and manufacturers more possibilities. This "high-performance, low-price" strategy might trigger a new round of competition in the mid-range smartphone market. We'll wait and see how the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 ultimately changes the market landscape. The success or failure of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 will largely determine Qualcomm's future direction in the mid-to-high-end market. This concerns not only Qualcomm's own competitiveness but also the overall development trend of the Android smartphone market. Therefore, the launch of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is not just a technological upgrade but the start of a market battle. We will continue to monitor the market performance of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and provide you with the latest reports and analyses. This article is only a preliminary interpretation of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4; as more information is revealed, our understanding of this chip will become more thorough. Let's look forward to more phones equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 hitting the market and experiencing the new performance they bring. In the future, we will also continue to monitor Qualcomm's dynamics and its competitive strategy in the mobile chip field.