Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the latest chip in its mid-range lineup, bringing several notable upgrades in performance, connectivity, and AI capabilities. The chip introduces Wi-Fi audio transmission to the Snapdragon 7 series for the first time, alongside other improvements aimed at enhancing the user experience in affordable Android smartphones.
Among the most significant additions is support for XPAN, Qualcomm’s audio-over-Wi-Fi technology. Previously exclusive to the high-end Snapdragon 8 series, XPAN allows wireless audio to be transmitted over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth. This shift can potentially deliver higher audio fidelity and greater range, although its real-world benefits will depend on adoption by both smartphone makers and headphone manufacturers. At launch, XPAN support remains limited to specific hardware, such as the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 also includes Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 7 support, both of which represent incremental steps forward in connectivity. While Wi-Fi 7 had already appeared in previous Snapdragon 7 chips, this is the most affordable Qualcomm processor to feature the standard to date.
Performance upgrades are another core focus. Qualcomm reports a 27% CPU performance boost over its predecessor, driven by a new architecture featuring one Cortex-A720 core at 2.8GHz, four more A720 cores at 2.4GHz, and three efficiency-focused Cortex-A520 cores at 1.8GHz. GPU performance is said to be up by 30%, and the chip integrates Qualcomm’s Adaptive Performance Engine and Adaptive Game Configuration features to better balance power and thermal efficiency during resource-heavy tasks, like mobile gaming or emulation.
Artificial intelligence continues to be a key area of investment, and the Gen 4 chipset reflects that with a 65% increase in NPU (Neural Processing Unit) performance. Qualcomm attributes this to expanded shared memory and support for INT4 precision, which allows for more efficient processing of AI models on-device. The chip can also run tools like Stable Diffusion 1.5 for fast local image generation, though practical applications for this in mid-range devices remain to be seen.
Camera performance also benefits from the new silicon, with AI-enhanced autofocus, exposure, and white balance controls. Hardware-level electronic image stabilization, multi-frame noise reduction, and real-time video upscaling are also part of the package, potentially making mid-range phones more competitive for mobile photography and videography.
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 is built on a 4nm process, supports displays with up to 144Hz refresh rates at WQHD+ resolution, offers Quick Charge 5 compatibility, and enables peak cellular download speeds of up to 5.8Gbps.
HONOR and vivo are expected to be the first manufacturers to release devices powered by the new chip, with launches anticipated before the end of the month. Broader adoption by brands like Motorola, OnePlus, and Samsung would significantly extend the chip’s reach, especially as mid-tier devices become more central to the global smartphone market.
