Snapdragon 8 Gen4 Engineering Model Leaked: Performance Explosion, Apple in Danger?

Snapdragon 8 Gen4 Engineering Model Leaked: Performance Explosion, Apple in Danger?Qualcomm Snapdragon processors have always been synonymous with mobile performance. Since Snapdragon got back on track, its performance and power consumption have made it the chip of choice for many manufacturers

Snapdragon 8 Gen4 Engineering Model Leaked: Performance Explosion, Apple in Danger?

Qualcomm Snapdragon processors have always been synonymous with mobile performance. Since Snapdragon got back on track, its performance and power consumption have made it the chip of choice for many manufacturers. With Qualcomm constantly bringing forward the release dates of its new products, we are getting closer and closer to the launch of the next generation flagship chip, Snapdragon 8 Gen4.

Recently, a leaked video about the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 engineering model has sparked heated discussions online. Bilibili Technology Zone UP host @Nonx_ posted a hands-on video of the engineering model, giving us a sneak peek at the revamped flagship chip.

QRD Engineering Model: Qualcomm's "Secret Weapon"

Before we delve into the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 engineering model, let's address a question you might have: What is QRD? Why are products equipped with new chips appearing in the market before the chip is officially released?

QRD stands for Qualcomm Reference Design. Think of it as Qualcomm's standard design for mobile phones. Similar to Intel's previous NUC reference design for manufacturers, QRD provides a complete hardware solution, including a polished graphical user interface, helping manufacturers quickly complete product design, production, and market launch.

QRDs are primarily used for internal testing by Qualcomm employees and may also be purchased by some OEMs through authorization from Qualcomm. Therefore, the engineering model we see is likely to have entered the market through this channel.

Engineering Model Appearance: Low-key But Not Lacking in Highlights

From the images provided by coolpad user @Einewill, this year's QRD8750 is basically the same as previous QRD engineering models in terms of design. The biggest feature is the red back cover, which makes it more eye-catching. Additionally, Qualcomm has added a simple rounded arc to the camera module, separating the lens and flash area, enhancing the design.

The front features a large straight screen with thick bezels, looking somewhat out of place in this era. However, according to netizens, Qualcomm's QRD this time should be using a 2K high refresh rate screen again, unlike the stingy Snapdragon 8 Gen3 engineering model.

The power button and volume buttons are located on the right side, while the bottom features a TYPE-C port, microphone, and speaker. The back is also covered with insulating tape. These design details provide convenience for subsequent wiring debugging and heat dissipation.

Performance Testing: Benchmark Explosion, Surpassing A17 Pro

• Apart from the exterior design, the most concerning aspect of the engineering model is its performance. This time, the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 uses a brand new self-developed Nuvia CPU architecture. The parameters shown on the QRD engineering model are 24.09GHz large cores + 62.78GHz large cores, paired with an Adreno 830 GPU.

According to Geekbench 6 test results, the Snapdragon 8 Gen4 chip in this QRD engineering model scored 2884 points in the single-core test and 8840 points in the multi-core test, surpassing the A17 Pro processor in the iPhone 15 Pro (single-core 2857 points, multi-core 7300 points) and the previous generation flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 (single-core 2329 points, multi-core 7526 points).

The performance improvements of Snapdragon 8 Gen4 primarily come from two aspects:

1. TSMC 3nm Process Technology: The 3nm process can achieve higher operating frequencies and lower power consumption, effectively improving phone speed and extending battery life.

2. Brand New Nuvia CPU Architecture: Qualcomm has completely abandoned ARM's reference design and adopted its own Nuvia CPU architecture. The new dual-cluster octa-core design offers significant performance improvements.

The performance of Snapdragon 8 Gen4 can even be comparable to the i7-1360P mobile PC processor released in the first quarter of 2023, showcasing a trend of converging performance between mobile processors and PC processors.

Who Will Be the First Manufacturer? Xiaomi 15 Could Take the Lead

Although the QRD engineering model is merely a tool for testing and showcasing chip performance, its impressive benchmark scores undoubtedly fill everyone with anticipation for the future of Snapdragon 8 Gen4.

So, which manufacturer will have the honor of being the first to launch with Snapdragon 8 Gen4? Currently, Xiaomi 15 seems to have the highest chance.

It is rumored that Xiaomi 15 will maintain the same body size but upgrade its peripheral configurations, including upgrading to single-point ultrasonic fingerprint, adopting Jin Sha Jiang battery for enhanced battery life, and potentially adding satellite communication functionality. Considering the release time of Snapdragon 8 Gen4, the Xiaomi 15 series is expected to meet us in early November.

Besides Xiaomi, other manufacturers are also eager to jump on board, including:

1. MediaTek: The Dimensity 9400 processor is expected to adopt ARM's new architecture and TSMC's 3nm process, confronting Qualcomm head-on with a full large-core design.

2. Samsung: Exynos 2500 is also not to be underestimated, using Samsung's 3nm process, paired with an exclusive 10-core CPU design and self-developed Xclipse 950 GPU based on AMD RDNA3 architecture. It may overturn people's conventional impression of Samsung flagships.

3. Apple: The A18 Pro processor is said to have a single-core performance of up to 3500 points, which will undoubtedly bring new impact to the mobile market.

The Mobile Market is About to Face a New Storm

This year's mobile market will see a qualitative change. Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung, Huawei, and Apple, together with manufacturers' efforts in AI, will bring unprecedented intelligent experiences to flagship phones.

It is foreseeable that a storm is brewing in the mobile market. Let's wait and see!