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On Wednesday, Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chipset, which showcases significant enhancements over its predecessor. This latest mobile processor is designed to deliver improved capabilities and optimized performance for budget-friendly smartphones. Notably, it marks the first model in the lineup to incorporate generative artificial intelligence (AI) features and to support Snapdragon Game Super Resolution for gaming graphics enhancement. Enhancements have also been made to facilitate better low-light photography, more efficient Bluetooth audio sharing, and quicker 5G connectivity across a wider range of networks. In an official announcement, Qualcomm revealed this new mobile platform, which is unique in being manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) 4nm process. Previously, Qualcomm utilized a 4nm fabrication from Samsung.
This chipset also stands out as the first in its series to feature ARMv9 architecture, with the primary core being the Cortex-A720, operating at a frequency of 2.3GHz. Additionally, it includes three A720 performance cores running at 2.2GHz and four Cortex-A520 efficiency cores clocked at the same 2.3GHz. Importantly, this mobile platform is equipped with a Kryo series CPU, an Adreno GPU, and a Qualcomm Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) dedicated to AI tasks. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 system-on-chip (SoC) delivers a CPU performance increase of 11 percent, accelerates graphics rendering by 29 percent, and improves power efficiency by 12 percent. However, specific details about the Adreno GPU have not been disclosed.
Regarding features, this new chipset is equipped with the Qualcomm AI Engine, which introduces INT4 support for the first time in this series, enabling quick AI processing while optimizing models to accommodate limited RAM availability. In terms of camera capabilities, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 includes triple 12-bit image signal processors (ISPs) that are compatible with sensors up to 200 megapixels and support 4K HDR video recording at 30 frames per second. Additional formats supported include HDR10, HLG, and 10-bit HEIF. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 can handle full-HD+ (1080+) resolution with refresh rates reaching 144Hz. Qualcomm emphasized that the chipset can manage up to 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM at a speed of 3,200 MHz and offers UFS 3.1 support for storage. Its 5G modem supports sub-6GHz and mmWave bands with downlink speeds up to 2.9 Gbps. The mobile platform also includes support for Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.4 with aptX Adaptive, triple-frequency positioning for GPS, and USB Type-C 3.1 connectivity. Companies such as Realme, Oppo, and Honor are anticipated to launch smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 SoC in the near future.
