Updated:Snapdragon 8 Gen 3處理器實際採「1+3+2+2」的特殊核心配置，其中在效能核心分別採用3組運作時脈為3.2GHz的Cortex-A720 CPU，以及2組運作時脈為3.0GHz的Cortex-A720 CPU構成，另外搭配1組Cortex-X4 CPU、運作時脈為3.3GHz的主核，以及2組運作時脈為2.3GHz的Cortex-A520 CPU，藉此讓效能分別可以更加細膩。
The key announcement at the Snapdragon Tech Summit 2023 is naturally the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is positioned as the next-generation flagship processor. Qualcomm also emphasizes that this processor brings greater computing performance improvements and integrates more artificial intelligence computing application functions.
Snapdragon computing platform with comprehensive performance enhancements
In terms of computing performance, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is also built on TSMC's 4nm process. It uses a Kryo CPU designed with an Arm Cortex-X1 CPU architecture and an operating clock of 4GHz. It is designed as the main core, coupled with 3.3 performance cores with an operating clock of 5GHz and 3.2 energy-saving cores with an operating clock of 2GHz. The overall computing performance is approximately 2.3% higher than the previous generation, while power loss is reduced by 30%.
Compared with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 launched last year, which adopted a "1+4+3" core configuration, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 launched this time has been adjusted to a "1+5+2" design, further improving computing performance.
Qualcomm previously revealed that while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will still utilize the Kryo CPU design, it will gradually integrate NUVIA technology, leading to the expectation that the Oryon CPU design will also be introduced in the next product. While there are no clear plans yet, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 may be the last computing platform to utilize the Kryo CPU design.
The Adreno GPU improves display performance by 25% and reduces power consumption by 25%, respectively. It supports refresh rates as low as 1Hz, significantly reducing power consumption. It also supports 240fps display output for gaming needs, and can provide up to 2.0fps gaming stability through Adreno Frame Motion Engine 120 technology. It is also the first to support Unreal Engine 5's Lumen real-time global ray tracing effect.
顯示輸出則支援4K@60Hz，或是QHD+@144Hz規格，外接顯示螢幕則最高可對應8K@30Hz，以及1080@240Hz規格。
Other designs include a memory capacity of up to 24GB, a storage component corresponding to the UFS 4.0 specification, a USB-C 3.1 USB port, and support for Quick Charge 5 fast charging technology.
Improving device-side artificial intelligence computing capabilities
In the area of artificial intelligence applications, Qualcomm has partnered with Meta to integrate its Llama 2 large-scale natural language model, enabling the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 to handle more naturally interactive artificial intelligence computing capabilities. This allows the device to handle over 100 billion parameters, executing an average of 15 code instructions per second. It can also execute large-scale natural language models with INT4 precision and Transformer-level performance, increasing computing performance by approximately 98% and reducing power consumption by 40% compared to previous product designs.
At the same time, the next-generation Qualcomm AI Engine design executes the LLSM-2 large-scale natural language model on the Hexagon NPU and runs OpenAI's Whisper speech-to-text software on the front end through Sensing Hub. Furthermore, natural speech content is presented on the output end through open source text-to-speech software, thereby providing a more natural digital assistant service interaction experience, even capable of responding within 15 seconds, and supporting multi-modal artificial intelligence model operations.
Qualcomm stated that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is compatible with over 20 mainstream AI models on the market. Qualcomm is collaborating with the Hugging Face community and hosting platforms to expand support for more AI models in the future. Qualcomm also announced deep integration with the PyTorch machine learning library, enabling support for more open-source AI applications and services.
In addition, Qualcomm claims that all AI calculations are completed on the device side and will not be uploaded to the cloud for collaborative computing, thus ensuring higher personal privacy and security.
With the help of artificial intelligence computing, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can significantly improve its wireless network connection, camera shooting and various perceptual computing capabilities. For example, the Sensing Hub design, which was previously responsible for perceptual computing, will be able to increase computing performance by 3.5 times, support INT4 computing precision, and increase memory usage by 30%, thereby improving the performance of artificial intelligence applications running in the background.
Enhance the camera experience and add more automatically generated artificial intelligence application functions
The camera specifications can correspond to up to three sets of 3-megapixel, 3600fps lens specifications, and support zero-delay shutter, or correspond to a 30-megapixel with a 6400-megapixel, 3600fps lens combination, also supporting zero-delay shutter, and even can be configured with a single 30-megapixel lens, supporting up to 1-megapixel still image shooting.
The video recording function supports up to 8K HDR video recording, and corresponds to up to 6400 million pixel still image shooting. It also supports 10-bit HEIF image shooting, including HEIC still image and HEVC video formats, and supports Google Ultra HDR image recording, as well as HDR10+, HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision video recording specifications.
In camera applications, it can automatically generate a wider shooting background through automatic generative artificial intelligence, or support the removal of background passers-by in video content, even improve the brightness of videos shot in low-light environments, or record video content with a movie-like depth of field effect in 1080p 30fps.
In addition, Qualcomm has also collaborated with Dolby on HDR image capture effects, which can record 10-bit color depth, Rec 2020 color tones, and over 10 billion colors. As for JPEG format image recording, it corresponds to 8-bit color depth, Rec 709 color tones, and 1670 million colors.
With the help of the new generation of Cognitive ISP perception image processor, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 can quickly establish up to 12 recognition layers for images, thereby partitioning and processing areas such as the subject's body shape, hair, skin, face, eyes, and the sky, ground, buildings in the background, etc., allowing the processor to process the details of each image partition in real time and produce more beautiful image presentation results.
In terms of algorithms, we are also collaborating with Tetras.ai (Hui Li Technology) and other industry players to further enhance the visual processing capabilities of mobile phone images.
Regarding automatically generated images, Qualcomm is collaborating with the open-source agreement C2PA (The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) to cryptographically tag the original source of the image within the digital file. This helps identify whether the content is artificially generated, thus preventing such images from causing greater problems.
In addition, Qualcomm is also collaborating with the Truepic image authenticity verification platform to ensure that users will not have any problems using images automatically generated by their mobile phones, while also preventing such images from being misused.
Networking capabilities and sound experience are also comprehensively improved
Other specifications include a 10G Advanced connection system that supports downloads of up to 3.5Gbps and uploads of up to 5Gbps, and can accelerate network transmission efficiency through artificial intelligence. It also supports Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 wireless network system, corresponding to 5.8Gbps download speed, HBS Multi-Link high-bandwidth multi-connection technology, and dual Bluetooth connectivity.
As for sound, it also corresponds to Snapdragon Sound technology, providing 24-bit 96kHz lossless sound quality performance. It can also ensure personal listening privacy through Qualcomm Expanded Personal Area Network (XPAN) technology and switch listening sources between different devices.
The first mobile phone equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor will be released
Brands including ASUS, Honor, iQOO, Meizu, Weilai, Nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, Redmi, Red Magic, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi, and ZTE are planning to launch mobile phones equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors. Xiaomi has earlier confirmed that it will unveil the product in Beijing at 10 pm on October 26.Xiaomi 14 series mobile phonesIt is expected to become the first mobile phone product announced to be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, emphasizing that there have been significant improvements in the startup speed of multiple apps, game screen output stability and temperature control, and power loss control performance.
It is expected that more brands will announce mobile phone products equipped with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors, and Samsung’s flagship phone to be launched next year is also expected to be equipped with this processor.
