Qualcomm has introduced a new ‘S’ tier to its 8 Gen processor lineup. The 8 Gen series will have three variants: the top-of-the-line Plus variant with enhanced CPU and GPU speeds, the standard 8 Gen found in most flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and the new 8s Gen series positioned below the standard version. Qualcomm states that the new S series will specifically cater to the needs of OEMs and users.
If we put them in the order: 8 Plus Gen > 8 Gen > 8s Gen.
The 8s Gen 3 is the first processor in the new 8s tier. It will be available in upcoming smartphones from OEMs like Redmi, Xiaomi, iQOO, Honor and others.
In this guide, we compare the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 with the 8 Gen 3 and find all the differences you should know between the two premium platforms.
Table of Contents
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: The CPU Architecture
The new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has a similar architecture to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Both platforms were built using the 4nm TSMC fabrication process with 64-bit architecture. Both processors feature an Arm Cortex-X4 as the prime core. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has 1 prime core (Cortex-X4) with a frequency of up to 3.3 GHz, five performance cores with frequencies of up to 3.2 GHz, and two efficiency cores of up to 2.3 GHz.
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| Architecture | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Prime Core | 1x Arm Cortex-X4 up to 3.3 GHz | 1x Arm Cortex-X4 up to 3.0 GHz |
| Performance Cores | 5x up to 3.2 GHz | 4x up to 2.8 GHz |
| Efficiency Cores | 2x up to 2.3 GHz | 3x up to 2.0 GHz |
| Total Cores | 8 | 8 |
| TSMC Process | 4 nm | 4 nm |
On the other hand, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has one prime core (Cortex-X4) with a frequency of up to 3.0 GHz, four performance cores with frequencies of up to 2.8 GHz, and three efficiency cores with frequencies of up to 2.0 GHz. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has more efficient cores, which could provide better power efficiency for less intensive tasks. This can improve battery efficiency on 8s gen 3.
We don’t have numbers and benchmarks to share right now, but we will share them once we get hands-on experience with the 8s Gen 3 and compare it with the 8s Gen 3 to understand real-time performance better. Based on the specifications, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is slightly less powerful but has better efficiency cores.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs 8s Gen 3: GPU & Gaming Performance
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
| Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing | Real-time with Global Illumination | Real-time |
| Snapdragon Game Super Resolution | Yes | Yes |
| Adreno Frame Motion Engine 2.0 | Yes | Yes |
| Snapdragon Game Post-Processing Accelerator | Yes | Yes |
| HDR Gaming | 10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut | 10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut |
| Snapdragon Shadow Denoiser | Yes | Yes |
| API Support | OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Vulkan 1.3 | OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Vulkan 1.3 |
| Hardware-accelerated Decoders | H.265, VP9, AV1 | H.265, VP9, AV1 |
| HDR Playback Codec Support | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision | HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Additional Features | Support for Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Global Illumination | – |
The GPU architecture is nearly identical in both of these chipsets. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 have an Adreno GPU with similar features, including real-time hardware-accelerated ray tracing support, HDR gaming, and various API supports.
The primary difference is that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 GPU supports the Global Illumination and Reflections System through Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen technology, which could offer more advanced lighting and reflection effects in gaming and graphics applications than the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. Both processors come with the same Snapdragon denoiser for better shadows in gaming.
The GPU specifications on both chipsets offer better graphics and real-time hardware tracking for improved gaming performance. However, there may be a slight performance difference in balanced workloads due to the change in the CPU architecture. The CPU on the 8 Gen 3 is more efficient. As a result, the gaming performance might be slightly lower in balanced workloads. This change might not be noticeable unless you extensively test the GPU performance on this chipset.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: ISP & Camera Support
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| Image Signal Processor (ISP) | Qualcomm Spectra ISP | Qualcomm Spectra Triple Cognitive ISP |
| Maximum Single Camera Resolution | Up to 200 MP | Up to 200 MP |
| Maximum Triple Camera Resolution | Up to 36 MP @ 30 FPS with Zero Shutter Lag | Up to 36 MP @ 30 FPS with Zero Shutter Lag |
| Maximum Dual Camera Resolution | Up to 64+36 MP @ 30 FPS with Zero Shutter Lag | Up to 64+36 MP @ 30 FPS with Zero Shutter Lag |
| HDR Video Capture | 8K HDR @ 30 FPS, 4K @ 120 FPS | 4K HDR @ 60 FPS |
| Slow-motion Video Capture | 720p @ 960 FPS | 1080p @ 240 FPS |
| Night Vision Video Capture | 4K 60 FPS with RAW AI Noise Reduction | Snapdragon Low Light Vision (LLV) |
| HDR Photo Technology | Supports Dolby, Google Ultra HDR, 10-bit HEIF | Supports HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision |
| Semantic Segmentation | Real-time in up to 12 layers | Real-time in up to 12 layers |
| Additional Features | Truepic photo capture with C2PA support, Computational HDR video capture, Multi-Frame Noise Reduction (MFNR) | Snapdragon Low Light Vision (LLV), AI-based face detection, Multi-Frame Noise Reduction (MFNR) |
The new 8s Gen 3 uses a Qualcomm 18-bit Triple Cognitive ISP. It facilitates smooth zooming by quickly shifting multiple cameras. The triple ISP has better AI capabilities and low-light camera performance, enhancing the camera’s intelligence and efficiency in processing images and videos. It also comes with an always-sensing camera feature, which makes scanning files, like QR codes, noticeably faster. However, this feature is limited to a single camera on the 8s Gen 3, compared to dual-camera sensing on the 8 Gen 3.
Regarding camera hardware support, Both chipsets support a maximum camera resolution of up to 200 MP. However, the 8s Gen 3 has a few compromises. The 8s Gen 3 is limited to 4K HDR at 60 fps, compared to 8K HDR and 4K at 120 fps on the 8 Gen 3. There is also a difference in slow-motion video capture on the 8s Gen 3. The 8s Gen 3 can capture videos at 1080p at 240 FPS, offering better video resolution with a lower frame rate than the 720p at 960 FPS on the 8 Gen 3.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: Cellular and Connectivity Differences
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| 5G Modem-RF System | Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System | Snapdragon X70 5G Modem-RF System |
| 5G Downlink Speed | Up to 10 Gbps | Up to 5 Gbps |
| 5G Features | 5G Advanced-ready, 5G AI Suite Gen 2, Snapdragon Satellite support | 5G AI Suite, AI-Enhanced Signal Boost, 5G PowerSave Gen 3 |
| Wi-Fi | FastConnect 7800 System, Wi-Fi 7, Up to 5.8 Gbps | FastConnect 7800 System, Wi-Fi 7, Up to 5.8 Gbps |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4, Snapdragon Sound, XPAN | Bluetooth 5.4, Snapdragon Sound |
| Additional Connectivity Features | High Band Simultaneous Multi-Link, 2.5x AI processing power | High Band Simultaneous Multi-Link, 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite, Global 5G multi-SIM |
Regarding cellular connectivity, the 8s Gen 3 uses an X70 5G modem, compared to the X75 modem on the 8 Gen 3. The X70 can deliver up to 5 Gbps download speeds, compared to 10 Gbps download speeds on the 8 Gen 3. The lower download speeds on the 8s Gen 3 can significantly impact faster downloading and streaming speeds. Both processors come with the support for 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: Hardware and Memory Support
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| Audio | ||
| Audio Codec | Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec | Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec |
| Speaker Technology | Qualcomm Aqstic smart speaker amplifier | Qualcomm Aqstic smart speaker amplifier |
| Audio Features | Snapdragon Sound, 24-bit 96 kHz lossless audio over Bluetooth | Snapdragon Sound, Qualcomm aptX Lossless |
| Display | ||
| On-Device Display Support | 4K @ 60 Hz, QHD+ @ 144 Hz | 4K @ 60 Hz, QHD+ @ 144 Hz |
| External Display Support | Up to 8K @ 30 Hz, Up to 1080 @ 240 Hz | Up to 8K UHD @ 30 Hz, Up to 1080 @ 240 Hz |
| HDR Support | HDR10, HDR10+, HDR vivid, Dolby Vision | HDR10, HDR10+, HDR vivid, Dolby Vision |
| Charging | ||
| Charging Technology | Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 Technology | Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 Technology |
There is no difference in the hardware support on both of these chipsets. The 8 Gen 3 and 8s Gen 3 support HDR 10+ support with Dolby Vision, which can offer a maximum resolution of up to 4k and a refresh rate of 4k at 60 FPS and QHD+ at 144 Hz. Both the chipsets can support external displays with a resolution of up to 8k at 30 Hz and up to 1080 at 240 Hz.
The 8 Gen and 8s Gen 3 support the latest DDR5 technology with a memory density of up to 24 GB. However, the maximum speed is lower on the 8s Gen 3. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports higher speeds up to 4800 MHz, while the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 supports speeds up to 4200 MHz.
Both processors support the same maximum memory density of up to 24 GB, but the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 has slightly lower memory read and write speeds. The difference between 4800 and 4200 MHz might not be noticeable in everyday tasks like browsing the web, using office applications, or watching videos. However, for performance-intensive tasks like gaming, video editing, or running multiple applications simultaneously, the difference in speed could be more apparent.
As for the memory, both the chipsets are equipped with USB 3.1 Gen 2 memory, which offers sequential read speeds of up to 2,100 megabytes per second (MB/s) and sequential write speeds of up to 1,200 MB/s.
As per the audio, both the chipset supports Qualcomm Aqstic code and lossless audio over Bluetooth. The chipset’s latest Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 technology can deliver charging speeds up to 100 watts.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: AI Capabilities
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
| LLM Model Support | Supports multi-modal generative AI models, including LLMs up to 10B parameters solely on-device | Supports more than 30 LLMs and LVMs |
| Parameters | Up to 10 billion parameters for generative AI models | Up to 10 billion parameters for generative AI |
| On-device Processing | Yes | Yes |
| Stable Diffusion | Supports on-device Stable diffusion for image generation | No |
| Visual Assistant | Generative AI-powered virtual assistants for creative content and intelligent responses | On-device Generative AI assistant for content creation |
| Video Object Eraser | Video Object Eraser by Arcsoft for video capture removes unwanted people and objects | No |
| Multi-modal Support | Supports multi-modal generative AI models | Supports multi-modal AI models across different use cases |
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 supports multimodal generative AI on the device and is capable of running large language models with up to 10 billion parameters. The chipset supports more than 30 large language models (LLMs), including Llama 2, Gemini Nano and more. It also supports photo expansion on the device, which generates content beyond the frame of a photo, as well as a virtual assistant. However, not all AI features available in the 8 Gen 3 are available in the 8s Gen 3. The 8s Gen 3 supports Stable Diffusion on the device and an object eraser to remove unwanted objects locally on the device.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs 8 Gen 3: Which One Is Better
The new Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is aimed at a sub-segment of the flagship market that addresses the specific needs of users. According to Qualcomm, the new S series will address the specific needs of OEMs and users and offer selected experiences. It offers premium Snapdragon experiences such as Snapdragon Sound, Elite Gaming, Snapdragon Smart, Sight, Connect and Snapdragon Secure. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is still a powerful processor and part of the 8 Gen series, but it focuses more on efficiency and AI onthe device and targets specific user segments.
If you prioritize top-notch performance, especially for gaming and high-end tasks, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 might be the better choice. If you’re looking for a balance between performance and efficiency, with a focus on AI, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 could be more suitable. It sits between the 8 Gen 3 and the 8 Gen 2. Qualcomm hasn’t disclosed the price difference between the ‘s’ and the standard variant, but it is expected to be lower than the standard series.
The main differences between the 8 Gen 3 and the 8s Gen 3 are the camera and the 5G modem. The CPU cores are slightly different and optimized for efficiency, while the GPU remains the same. All other specifications of the 8s Gen 3, such as the display hardware, audio and charging speeds, are identical to the 8 Gen 3. We can expect to see smartphones with this chipset on the market in the coming months.
