Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A Rising Star Reshaping the Mid-Range Market with 2 Million+ Antutu Scores

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A Rising Star Reshaping the Mid-Range Market with 2 Million+ Antutu ScoresOn April 2nd, 2025, Qualcomm is set to hold a "Snapdragon Flagship New Product Media Salon" themed "Rising Star, Powerful Performance," with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip (codename SM8735) as the focal point. This near-flagship chip, boasting a full-large-core architecture, TSMC's 4nm process, and an Antutu score exceeding 2 million, aims for the mid-to-high-end market, intending to "democratically" redefine the balance between performance and price

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: A Rising Star Reshaping the Mid-Range Market with 2 Million+ Antutu Scores

On April 2nd, 2025, Qualcomm is set to hold a "Snapdragon Flagship New Product Media Salon" themed "Rising Star, Powerful Performance," with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip (codename SM8735) as the focal point. This near-flagship chip, boasting a full-large-core architecture, TSMC's 4nm process, and an Antutu score exceeding 2 million, aims for the mid-to-high-end market, intending to "democratically" redefine the balance between performance and price. This article delves into the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's architecture details, performance, and market impact.

Core Architecture: Full Large-Core Design, Balancing Performance and Efficiency

Manufactured using TSMC's 4nm process, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 continues Qualcomm's efficiency advantage. Its most significant highlight is the revolutionary CPU architecture a X4 + A720 full large-core design, completely abandoning traditional small cores (A520). This isn't simply a large-core stacking; it utilizes a "1+3+2+2" octa-core configuration: one 3.21GHz Cortex-X4 super core (single-thread performance core), three 3.01GHz Cortex-A720 large cores (high-load tasks), two 2.80GHz Cortex-A720 large cores (medium-load tasks), and two 2.02GHz Cortex-A720 large cores (background tasks). Through differentiated frequency scheduling, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 efficiently handles instantaneous high-performance demands like large games and image processing, while optimizing power efficiency in multitasking scenarios. The full large-core design significantly improves response speed in high-load situations and avoids the latency of small-core switching, enhancing performance.

GPU Performance: Adreno 825, Flagship-Level Experience

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 features the Adreno 825 GPU, the same generation as the Snapdragon 8 Elite. While the core size is smaller than the Adreno 830, its graphics performance rivals the previous flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, ensuring smooth high-frame-rate gameplay and providing a flagship-level gaming experience.

Cache Enhancement: 6MB SLC + 8MB L3, Strengthened Multitasking

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 boasts 6MB SLC cache and 8MB L3 cache, significantly increasing data throughput efficiency and further enhancing multitasking capabilities. This allows for smoother and more stable operation when switching between multiple applications or running multiple programs simultaneously, preventing lag.

Benchmark Performance: Antutu Score Exceeds 2 Million, Outperforming Competitors

Leaks suggest the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 achieves an Antutu benchmark score exceeding 2 million, placing it between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (approximately 1.6 million) and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (approximately 2.2 million). This score strongly validates its "near-flagship" positioning, bringing near-flagship performance to the mid-range market. Compared to the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 (Antutu score 1.7-1.8 million), the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 holds a significant performance advantage, becoming a core competitive force for mid-range devices aiming for a "performance leap."

Pricing Strategy: Flagship Architecture, Near-Flagship Price

Qualcomm targets the 1500-2000 RMB price range for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, using a "flagship architecture + near-flagship price" strategy to capture market share. Compared to mid-range chips like the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 achieves a performance leap through its full large-core design; compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it reduces costs by scaling down the GPU and using a reference design (instead of the custom Oryon design), creating a differentiated competitive advantage in pricing.

First Wave of Devices: Multiple Models Ready for Launch

The first devices featuring the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 have emerged, including the Redmi Turbo 4 Pro, iQOO Z10 Turbo Pro, Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro, and OPPO K13 Pro. These models each offer advantages in battery capacity, fast charging speed, imaging systems, and cooling systems. With large batteries and exceptional value, they are expected to be key drivers of Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 sales.

Market Impact: Challenging Competitors, Driving Industry Upgrades

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's arrival may directly threaten the market position of MediaTek's Dimensity 8400/8300 series. While the Dimensity 8400's score approaches the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, with its higher performance ceiling and Qualcomm's ecosystem advantages (such as imaging algorithms and game optimizations), may force MediaTek to adjust pricing or accelerate the development of its next-generation chips.

In recent years, mid-range devices have shifted from "good enough" to "performance surplus." The new chip's arrival may encourage manufacturers to invest more in cooling, screens, and fast charging, even bringing down flagship features (like wireless charging and IP68 water resistance), thus raising consumer expectations for mid-range devices.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4's performance approaching the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may accelerate the price reduction and clearance of previous flagship chips like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, further squeezing the survival space of low-to-mid-range chips and triggering adjustments across all price segments.

In conclusion, with its powerful performance, excellent energy efficiency, and competitive price, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is poised to become a hit in the mid-range market and significantly impact the overall mobile phone market landscape.