The name is already on the rise in the technological environment, whether in mobile phones or other portable devices. See below, what Snapdragon is and where this line of Qualcomm processors operates, what are the main differences between the models. In addition to being much talked about for smartphones, processors are already taking positions on other devices.
What is Snapdragon?
Snapdragon is the brand of processors made by Qualcomm that offers great processing speed in a small size. They are based on ARM architecture and integrate GPU, GPS circuits and modems for GSM and CDMA networks.
A mobile processor with these features, where they incorporate in a single chip several common functionalities in processors, decreases the total cost of manufacturing and the complexity of hardware. This feature is one of Snapdragon’s major success factors.
What is Snapdragon for?
Snapdragon is the chip that processes the various tasks of an electronic device, be it a smartphone, a notebook or a tablet.
A Snapdragon’s CPU, based on Arm architecture, is responsible for handling most generic tasks, such as mathematical calculations and logical operations. The Adreno GPU processes game graphics, while the Spectra ISP focuses mainly on images captured by a phone’s cameras.
It is generally built on the SoC (System-on-a-Chip) model, which brings together different types of processors on the same silicon chip. Some Snapdragon models are manufactured using SiP (System-in-Package) technology, which combines multiple integrated circuits in the same package.
What are the components of a Snapdragon chip?
- CPU: is responsible for most generic tasks such as arithmetic operations and logical instructions. In most models, it adopts big.LITTLE technology, which brings together high-performance and low-power cores in the same processor. Qualcomm’s custom CPUs use the Kryo brand;
- GPU (Adreno): graphics processor that mainly handles games. It also assists the CPU in encoding and decoding H.264 and H.265 videos. Adreno, now owned by Qualcomm, was created by ATI (a company later purchased by AMD) and is an anagram of the Radeon brand of video cards;
- DSP (Hexagon): is a digital signal processor aimed at a variety of auxiliary tasks for the CPU and GPU. In newer SoCs, it has Tensor, Scalar and Vector accelerators to focus on artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks, operating as a neural chip (NPU) ;
- ISP (Spectra): processes the images captured by the device’s image sensors, including optimizing the quality of photos and videos. It can handle hundreds of megapixel cameras and 8K videos in the most powerful versions, freeing up CPU and GPU load;
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (FastConnect): is a connectivity system integrated into the SoC that allows wireless communication with a variety of devices, such as wireless headphones and low-latency Wi-Fi routers;
- Modem: aimed at mobile connections, such as 4G and 5G. It is the bridge between the operating system and the device’s antennas. More powerful modems are part of the Snapdragon X line, adopting names such as Snapdragon X70 and X75;
- Audio Codecs: These are closely tied to FastConnect and include aptX, aptX HD, and aptX LL, Qualcomm’s proprietary sound compression codecs for wireless transmission via Bluetooth.
Which products have Snapdragon SoC?
- Phones: smartphones from Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi and other Android manufacturers can be equipped with Snapdragon chips, with the Qualcomm processor accounting for 28% of the SoC market for phones in 2023, according to Counterpoint Research;
- Notebooks and tablets: equipment from HP, Lenovo and Samsung use Snapdragon chips mainly in hybrid notebooks, as an alternative to CPUs from Intel and AMD. The Microsoft Surface line has Microsoft SQ chips that are based on Snapdragon processors;
- VR, AR, and XR headsets: The Snapdragon XR and AR lines are aimed at extended and augmented reality devices. These devices have optimizations in image processing and the user’s positional tracking capacity;
- Smartwatches: smartwatches with Wear OS can feature Snapdragon Wear chips that handle graphics processing, Bluetooth communication with the phone and, in some cases, support for mobile connections, such as 4G LTE;
- Cars: The Snapdragon platform can process information from the car dashboard and connect it to other vehicles (V2V connection) and road infrastructure (V2I connection), which enables the development of autonomous cars.
What are snapdragon models?
Qualcomm’s line of processors for smartphones, tablets and laptops currently consists of four series: Snapdragon 8, Snapdragon 7, Snapdragon 6 and Snapdragon 4. The chip nomenclature also indicates the series of that generation, with names such as Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3.
The higher the series number in the same generation, the more advanced the chip, that is, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is faster and has more features than a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 or a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. The “+” symbol after the series number (as in Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1) indicates an incremental improvement over the original chip.
Regarding generation, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a more significant evolution of a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. In general, generational changes in Snapdragon chips bring newer manufacturing processes, which improve the performance and efficiency of the SoC.
Snapdragon 8 Series (8, 8+, 8c and 8cx)
Snapdragon 8 series chips are the most advanced in the line and, in addition to being equipped with Qualcomm’s highest-performance Kryo CPUs and Adreno GPUs, they usually bring the latest in connectivity, photography and artificial intelligence, which are then launched in the lower series.
Processors like the Snapdragon 8 and 8+ are used in premium Android smartphones and can feature multiple gigabits per second 5G modes, as well as support for hundreds of megapixel cameras. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s FastConnect 7800, launched in 2022, was Qualcomm’s first to connect to Wi-Fi 7 networks.
The line also equips more powerful notebooks and tablets through SoCs such as the Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 Compute Platform, adopted in the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s.
Snapdragon 7 Series (7, 7+, 7c and 7c+)
The Snapdragon 7 series lineup brings the most sought-after premium features and some of Qualcomm’s next-generation technologies. It was created by the company as a more affordable option over the 8 series, but still catering to most power users.
It is present both on smartphones in the “premium intermediary” category, with platforms such as the Snapdragon 7+, and on Windows computers, equipped with the Snapdragon 7c+ and 7c Compute Platform.
Although they are less powerful than the 8 series, Snapdragon 7 series processors tend to have very recent technologies. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 and 7+ Gen 2 models, for example, were launched using the same 4-nanometer manufacturing process as Qualcomm’s most expensive chips.
Snapdragon 6 Series
Snapdragon 6 series processors are aimed at mid-range phones. Qualcomm describes the line as a “balance between performance and power consumption”.
The first model in the series, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, was announced in 2022 and equipped with simpler smartphones, such as the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G. This chip is capable of handling 200 MP images, a 5G connection of up to 2.9 Gb/s and Full HD+ screens with refresh rates of 120 Hz, depending on the device manufacturer’s design.
Snapdragon Series 4
The Snapdragon 4 series brings together Qualcomm’s simplest SoCs for smartphones. According to the company itself, it is a line for entry-level devices, which supports the most popular technologies and essential connectivity features.
Series 4 processors focus on low cost, therefore, they do not feature Qualcomm’s latest technologies and have lower performance than other lines, especially in CPU and GPU.
In general, these chips have more mature manufacturing processes, which lower the cost of production. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, launched at the same time as the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, was mainly differentiated by its 6 nm lithography, older than the 4 nm process of its more powerful brother.
Snapdragon Series 2
The simplest, for incoming phones, focuses on the main functions of this type of smartphone. Combines functionality with practicality to support the economical models that enhance the user experience.
With support for key mobile apps, this series delivers HD visuals, multi-channel audio, and smooth app navigation, all while optimizing battery life.
Snapdragon 800, 700, 600, 400 and 200
Snapdragon 800, 700, 600, 400 and 200 were the series used by Qualcomm until 2023 to divide its line of processors. The differences between each series were:
- Snapdragon 800: equivalent to the 8 series, aimed at high-end phones. The Snapdragon 888+ was the last, launched in 2021, and had Samsung’s 5 nm process, 5G support of up to 7.5 Gb/s, Adreno 660 GPU and Hexagon 780 DSP capable of processing 32 trillion operations per second ( TOPS);
- Snapdragon 700: equivalent to the 7 series, was aimed at smartphones in the premium mid-range category. The Snapdragon 782G was the last, launched in 2022, and had a 6 nm process from TSMC, 5G support of up to 3.7 Gb/s, Adreno 642L GPU and 12 TOPS Hexagon 770 DSP;
- Snapdragon 600: equivalent to the 6 series, aimed at mid-range models. The Snapdragon 685 was the last, launched in 2023, and had a 6 nm process from TSMC, 4G support of up to 390 Mb/s, Adreno 610 GPU and 3.3 TOPS Hexagon 686 DSP, being an incremental change compared to the 2021 Snapdragon 680;
- Snapdragon 400: equivalent to the 4 series, was aimed at basic devices. The Snapdragon 480+ was the last, launched in 2021, and had Samsung’s 8 nm process, 5G support of up to 2.5 Gb/s, Adreno 619 GPU and Hexagon 686 DSP of 3.3 TOPS;
- Snapdragon 200: brought together Qualcomm’s basic chips, aimed at low-cost devices. The Snapdragon name was eliminated from the series in 2017 with the launch of the Qualcomm 205, with a 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 308 GPU and TSMC’s 28 nm manufacturing process.
Snapdragon XR and AR
Snapdragon XR is Qualcomm’s line of SoCs aimed at extended (XR), virtual (VR), augmented (AR) and mixed (MR) reality headsets. They are designed to support voice and video capabilities with greater sustained performance, low power consumption and less heat dissipation.
The main features of the Snapdragon XR are optimizations for positional tracking, such as 6DoF (6 Degrees of Freedom), which allows the user to move freely in space. There are also improvements to Video See Through (VST), which merges real-world images with the virtual environment in extended reality glasses.
A simpler version of the Snapdragon XR, called Snapdragon AR, was launched in 2022 to equip augmented reality glasses. The Snapdragon AR2 was made up of a processor, a coprocessor and a connectivity chip distributed across the arms of the glasses.
Snapdragon W
Snapdragon W, formerly known as Snapdragon Wear, is a line of chips for wearable devices such as smartwatches and completely wireless earbuds.
These chips are built to provide basic connectivity and performance with as little power consumption as possible, as wearables have low-capacity batteries. W-series SoCs can also be used in action cameras and object trackers.
Snapdragon G
Snapdragon G is Qualcomm’s series of processors for portable video games. It brings together Snapdragon Elite Gaming, a set of technologies that improve gaming performance and add typical desktop capabilities, such as upgradable GPU drivers.
The Snapdragon G3X Gen 1, launched in 2021, was focused on portable consoles with Android and allowed games to be played at up to 144 frames per second with HDR10 via the Adreno GPU. The 5G modem and support for Wi-Fi 6 networks could be used for streaming games.
Who makes Snapdragon chips?
Snapdragon chips are manufactured by TSMC and Samsung.
Qualcomm is a fabless processor company, that is, it does not have semiconductor factories. It is responsible for designing the chip and outsourcing manufacturing to other companies.
How do you know if your phone’s processor is Snapdragon?
One way to find out your phone’s processor model is through the CPU-Z app, available for Android in a free version with ads. The name of the SoC is highlighted at the top of the main screen, which also shows specifications such as the number of CPU cores, the CPU clock and the GPU model.
What is the difference between Snapdragon and MediaTek?
Snapdragon is a Qualcomm SoC brand, while MediaTek is a Taiwanese company that produces chips competing with the Helio and Dimensity brands for phones, tablets and notebooks based on Arm architecture.
MediaTek was the leader in smartphone chipset sales in the first quarter of 2023, with 32% of units, followed by Qualcomm (28%) and Apple (26%), according to Counterpoint Research.
What is the difference between Snapdragon and Exynos?
Snapdragon and Exynos are two lines of SoCs for smartphones, tablets and notebooks based on Arm architecture. Snapdragon is from Qualcomm, while Exynos is a Samsung brand. They differ in characteristics such as manufacturing process, general performance and heat dissipation.
Comparisons between the two lines are common due to Samsung’s practice of selling the same phone model with different SoCs depending on the country.
Source: Qualcomm.
