Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Benchmark Showdown

The smartphone chipset race is heating up again in 2025 with Qualcomm’s latest flagship processors: the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Both chipsets power the most premium smartphones available in the market and promise cutting-edge performance, AI capabilities, energy efficiency, and enhanced user experiences.

In this detailed benchmark showdown, we will dive deep into their architecture, performance across gaming, AI tasks, power efficiency, camera capabilities, and real-world usage scenarios. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, gamer, or someone who simply wants the best performance, this comparison will help you understand which chipset deserves your attention in 2025.

Overview of the Two Chipsets

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Launched in late 2024, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was Qualcomm’s answer to pushing the boundaries of mobile performance using a hybrid core design combining ARMv9.3 cores and new GPU architecture. It powers a variety of flagship smartphones across brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus.

Key Highlights:

CPU: 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.2 GHz + 4x Cortex-A720 + 3x Cortex-A510
GPU: Adreno 750 Plus with improved ray tracing and AI acceleration
Manufacturing: TSMC 4nm process
AI Engine: Hexagon processor Gen 2.0
Connectivity: Snapdragon X73 modem with 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support
Camera: Support for 200 MP sensors and 8K video capture

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 debuted in early 2025 and is marketed as the ultimate flagship chipset with refined core architecture, higher clock speeds, and better power efficiency. It builds on the foundation of the Gen 3 but adds new enhancements in AI, GPU power, and multimedia capabilities.

Key Highlights:

CPU: 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.4 GHz + 4x Cortex-A720 + 3x Cortex-A510
GPU: Adreno 760 Plus with improved ray tracing and up to 20% faster graphical throughput
Manufacturing: TSMC 3nm process node
AI Engine: Hexagon Gen 3 with enhanced tensor accelerators
Connectivity: Snapdragon X75 modem with upgraded 5G and Wi-Fi 7+
Camera: Support for 250 MP sensors and 10-bit HDR video at 8K 60fps

Architecture Comparison

Both chipsets use the ARMv9 architecture but with key improvements in the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4:

CPU Clock Speeds: The Gen 4’s prime Cortex-X4 core runs 200 MHz faster than the Gen 3 (3.4 GHz vs 3.2 GHz), offering noticeable gains in raw single-core tasks.
Process Node: The Gen 4 uses a more advanced TSMC 3nm node compared to the 4nm node of the Gen 3. This results in better power efficiency and lower heat generation.
GPU: The Adreno 760 Plus in Gen 4 provides around 15-20% better GPU performance, improved ray tracing support, and faster AI inferencing capabilities than the Adreno 750 Plus.

Benchmark Performance

CPU Benchmarks

Tests using Geekbench 6 and AnTuTu show a clear edge for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4:

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core):
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: ~1900 points
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: ~2050 points (+7.8% improvement)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core):
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: ~8000 points
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: ~8800 points (+10% improvement)

The increased clock speed and optimized cores in Gen 4 push CPU performance noticeably ahead, especially in multi-threaded workloads like video editing and multitasking.

GPU Benchmarks

In GPU benchmarks such as 3DMark Wild Life and GFXBench, the Gen 4 chipset again outperforms the Gen 3 by roughly 15-20%:

3DMark Wild Life Extreme:
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: 8200 points
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: 9800 points
GFXBench Manhattan 3.1 (Offscreen):
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: 110 fps average
- Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: 132 fps average

These improvements translate into smoother gameplay at higher frame rates, better ray tracing support in supported games, and improved graphical fidelity.

AI and Machine Learning

Qualcomm’s Hexagon AI engine receives significant upgrades in the Gen 4, with Gen 3 tensor accelerators delivering up to 25% faster AI inferencing:

AI tasks like speech recognition, camera enhancements, and voice assistant responsiveness are quicker and more power-efficient on Gen 4.
Real-time language translation and advanced photo editing powered by AI show smoother, near-instantaneous performance on Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

Real-World Performance

Gaming Experience

The faster GPU and CPU cores on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 offer tangible improvements in gaming:

Games like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, and PUBG Mobile run at consistently higher frame rates with better thermal control.
Ray tracing effects look more realistic, and DLSS-like upscaling (via Snapdragon’s AI) runs more efficiently.
Extended gaming sessions generate less throttling and heat buildup due to the 3nm process.

Camera and Multimedia

Both chipsets support top-tier camera systems, but the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 adds support for:

250MP sensors versus 200MP on the Gen 3.
10-bit HDR 8K video capture at 60 fps, compared to 8K at 30 fps on the Gen 3.
Enhanced AI processing for real-time computational photography, night mode, and portrait enhancements.
Improved video encoding and decoding support for AV1 and HEVC formats.

Battery Life and Efficiency

Thanks to the 3nm node, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is more power-efficient:

Users report roughly 10-15% better battery life in daily mixed usage scenarios.
Charging speeds remain the same but devices stay cooler under load.
Background tasks and AI processes consume less energy, helping longer standby times.

Connectivity

Both chipsets offer 5G with mmWave and Sub-6GHz bands, but the Gen 4’s Snapdragon X75 modem provides:

Faster peak download speeds (up to 20% faster in ideal conditions).
Improved network handoff and power management.
Wi-Fi 7+ support with lower latency and higher throughput compared to Wi-Fi 7 on the Gen 3.

Software and Ecosystem

Qualcomm continues to improve its software support and updates, with both chipsets benefiting from:

Advanced developer tools for gaming and AI optimization.
Support for latest Android OS versions.
Regular security updates and performance enhancements.

However, Gen 4 devices often ship with the latest software optimizations and benefit from longer update windows.

Pricing and Availability

Devices powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 are generally available at slightly lower prices, as they have been on the market since late 2024.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 powers flagship phones launched in 2025 and tend to carry a premium price tag.
For consumers, this means the Gen 4 is more future-proof but might stretch your budget.

Summary: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

Feature	Snapdragon 8 Gen 3	Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
CPU Speed	Up to 3.2 GHz	Up to 3.4 GHz
Manufacturing Process	4nm	3nm
GPU	Adreno 750 Plus	Adreno 760 Plus
AI Engine	Hexagon Gen 2.0	Hexagon Gen 3
Camera Support	Up to 200 MP	Up to 250 MP
5G Modem	Snapdragon X73	Snapdragon X75
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 7	Wi-Fi 7+
Battery Efficiency	Good	Better (10-15% improvement)
Benchmark Performance	Strong	Superior
Price	Lower	Higher

Conclusion: Which Snapdragon Chipset Should You Choose?

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a clear upgrade over the 8 Gen 3 in every meaningful way—faster CPU and GPU, better AI, superior camera capabilities, and improved battery life. If you want the absolute best flagship experience and plan to keep your phone for several years, the Gen 4 is worth the premium.

On the other hand, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 remains a fantastic chipset offering excellent performance at a slightly lower cost, making it a great choice for users who want flagship performance without the latest cutting-edge features.