Qualcomm announced the launch of three new Snapdragon G-series processors during Gamescom 2023, as well as corresponding reference designs to expand its presence in the handheld gaming console market.
Qualcomm said that the current gaming market continues to expand, especially the mobile gaming market, and the application of network streaming technology is becoming more and more mature, which has also made the use of cloud streaming games more popular.
Qualcomm has expanded the Snapdragon G series processors this time, launching the entry-level Snapdragon G1 Gen 1, the Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 targeting the mainstream market, and the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 for heavy gamers.
Qualcomm also announced that it will create corresponding reference designs based on these three Snapdragon G-series processors to expand the currently popular handheld game console market.
According to Qualcomm's previous explanation, although many users are accustomed to playing games on their mobile phones, there are still many gamer-level users who want to play games on more suitable devices with higher computing performance. In addition, mobile phones are not designed solely for gaming. Therefore, it is believed that the launch of the Snapdragon G series processor will enable users to have a more immersive gaming experience by removing non-gaming functions, and will create new development opportunities in the gaming market.
According to Qualcomm, just as the mobile phone market differentiates between entry-level, mainstream, and flagship models, the handheld gaming market is also expected to differentiate between different user needs. Therefore, it hopes to attract different gaming groups by designing different specifications and price ranges.
For example, the Snapdragon G1 Gen 1 itself is set up for entry-level performance, mainly suitable for connecting to home game consoles or playing with cloud streaming game services. It is built with an 8-core Kryo architecture CPU and Adreno A11 GPU. Its reference design is also compatible with streaming gaming experiences such as NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PS Remote Play, and Steam Link.
The Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 is designed to play mainstream mobile games, so it will have better performance. The processor itself uses an 8-core Kryo architecture CPU design, but has been upgraded to an Adreno A21 GPU. This allows it to handle most game content on the Android platform, as well as game content provided by Netflix Games and the Amazon Appstore. It can also cope with the gaming experience of cloud streaming services and supports Wi-Fi 6/6E and 5G network connectivity respectively.
The updated Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is based on an octa-core Kryo architecture CPU design and features an Adreno A8 GPU. Compared to the previous generation Snapdragon G32x Gen 3, it boasts a 1% CPU performance boost and a 40x GPU performance boost. It even includes the ability to connect devices to an extended reality headset, providing a more immersive gaming experience through virtual reality. While also targeting high-performance and cross-platform gaming needs.
The reference design, based on the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, incorporates an active cooling system that supports live video cameras and ensures stable performance, while also providing a more immersive XNUMXD haptic vibration system for more realistic operational feedback.
This reference design also features a dual 4.0mAh battery design with QC 3000 fast charging support for longer battery life, a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, 12GB of LPDDR5x 4.2GHz memory, and a 256GB UFS 4.0 storage component. Storage capacity can even be expanded via an NVMe SSD, and connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7 and 5G networks.
Qualcomm even uses carbon fiber to create a lighter reference design that uses the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, claiming that it will allow the industry to create lighter game consoles.
Compared with the previous launchSnapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor, and cooperated with Razer to launch a game handheldRazer Edge 5GThe reference design announced by Qualcomm this time is also a collaboration with industry players including AyaNeo, Huaqin, Inventec, and Thundercomm to produce corresponding products, which are expected to enter the market by the end of this year.
