Qualcomm has just launched its next-generation chipset, Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 for flagship Android devices at a Tech Summit that took place on November 30. This new chipset is Qualcomm’s first 4nm chipset and the first to use the new generation of the CPU architecture that maintains the three cluster design and breaks away from previous designs as it switches over to the new ARMv9 instruction set.
The new Adreno Frame Motion Engine allows the GPU to render a game at double the frame rate while using the same amount of power. Alternatively, it can keep the FPS the same while cutting power draw by half. It promises a 30% performance boost and up to 25% power saving thanks to its new architecture.
Another new feature is desktop-class volumetric rendering which is used for dramatic lighting effects, e.g. the God rays that level designers seem to love so much. Also new is Variable Rate Shading Pro, an image-based VRS that should streamline the integration of VRS into more games. Qualcomm has partnered with some of the largest game developers to ensure their games make the best out of the hardware.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features an integrated X65 5G modem, which supports both sub-6 and mmWave operation and can deliver theoretical peak speeds of 10 Gbps. For the first time, it also supports carrier aggregation for the uplink.
Local connectivity enjoys Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support, plus improvements to Bluetooth. The new chip can stream CD Lossless Audio over Bluetooth LE. It supports Bluetooth LE Audio, which represents a major advancement over existing tech. The Broadcast Audio feature allows one source to broadcast one or several audio streams to an unlimited number of receivers. The stereo recording will also be supported along with voice-back channels.
The first smartphone to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is said to come at the end of this year as Android smartphone manufacturers like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Redmi, Moto Edge series, Oppo, and other devices have confirmed to bring this chipset in their upcoming smartphones.
