Qualcomm just debuted the Snapdragon 8S Gen 3, a slightly less powerful version of their flagship 8 Gen 3 chip. It’s designed for those who want near-flagship performance at a lower price point. This move introduces a whole new tier to Qualcomm’s high-end chip offerings… which might make things a bit more confusing.
What You Get with the 8S Gen 3
It shares many features with the 8 Gen 3, like support for on-device AI models and fancy ray tracing for realistic gaming visuals. There are some downgrades, though: a slightly slower processor and a previous-gen modem.
The 8S Gen 3 still packs an impressive AI punch. It can run large language models directly on your phone. While it doesn’t have the full AI power of the 8 Gen 3, it still handles virtual assistants and image editing like a champ.
Here’s where things get interesting. Qualcomm now breaks down their top-tier Snapdragon chips (8, 7, 6, 4 series) into three sub-categories.
Expect to see the 8S Gen 3 in upcoming phones from brands like Honor and Xiaomi.
