Qualcomm Launches Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Mobile Platforms
Qualcomm on Friday unveiled the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoCs as its latest mobile platforms. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an upgrade on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is the successor to the Snapdragon 778G SoC. Qualcomm claimed that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of delivering up to 10 percent faster CPU performance and 30 percent improved power efficiency over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, on the other hand, is said to offer 20 percent faster graphics rendering performance than its predecessor. Alongside the new mobile platforms, the chipmaker unveiled its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 availability timeline
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform will be used by smartphone brands including Asus ROG, Black Shark, Honor, iQoo, Lenovo, Motorola, Nubia, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Redmi, Vivo, Xiaomi and ZTE. Phones based on the new Snapdragon platform will debut from the third quarter of this year, Qualcomm said.
However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 will be available in the second quarter on phones from companies like Honor, Oppo and Xiaomi.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can be clocked at up to 3.2GHz, which helps to deliver up to 10 percent faster CPU performance than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that debuted in December. The new chip shares the same architecture as the existing flagship Snapdragon model, with the same Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU. However, it comes with a higher clock speed to offer better performance. The San Diego company also claims that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of delivering up to an extra 60 minutes of gameplay on a single charge.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is based on the same architecture as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Photo Credit: Qualcomm
In terms of photography, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 features the latest Snapdragon Sight technologies that enable 8K HDR video recording and HDR+ support. There’s an 18-bit triple ISP under the hood, which is said to offer up to 64-megapixel photos.
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 also has the fourth-generation Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System that offers 5G speeds of up to 10Gbps. There’s also the Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 System that enables Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 support. There’s also Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity.
Qualcomm has integrated its Snapdragon Sound Technology into the new platform, which is said to help enable high-resolution music playback, clear voice calls, and a superior audio experience while playing games and videos. The proprietary technology also includes Qualcomm apX Lossless sound and LE Audio, which is said to enable over 17 hours of extended audio playback.
For on-device artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 features Qualcomm’s seventh-generation AI Engine, which is said to enable up to 20 percent better performance-per-watt than its predecessor. There’s also Quick Charge 5 connectivity.
Based on 4nm process technology, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 supports LPDD5 RAM with a frequency of up to 3200MHz and a capacity of up to 16GB. It also supports USB 3.1 Type-C connectivity and up to a 4K display with a refresh rate of 60Hz or a QHD+ display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed with mobile gaming in mind. The chip includes some of the premium Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including Adreno Frame Motion Engine, which is said to be able to double the framerate to upscale content. There’s also support for Quad HD+ display.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed to enhance mobile gaming experiences
Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Qualcomm has integrated its Spectra triple ISP under the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 platform which brings support for up to three cameras and takes photos in up to 200-megapixel resolution. There’s also the seventh-generation Qualcomm AI Engine which brings the Deep Learning Face Detect feature. This is said to be based on 300 facial recognition points and helps in providing accurate autofocus even when you’re wearing a mask.
The company claims that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 has up to 30 percent better AI performance compared to the Snapdragon 778G SoC that was launched in May last year.
The 4nm-based Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is also the first model in the Snapdragon 7 series to feature a Dedicated Trust Management Engine and Android Ready SE to deliver enhanced user security. There’s also the fourth-generation Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System for faster 5G support. The platform also comes with FastConnect 6900 for Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity. There’s also Snapdragon Sound integration for a jitter-free audio experience, according to the company.
Qualcomm’s Wireless AR Smart Viewer
Alongside the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, Qualcomm unveiled the Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design to help device and design makers as they bring new augmented reality (AR) glasses to market. The reference design is based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform and features a 40 percent thinner profile along with a more ergonomically balanced weight distribution compared to the previous AR Smart Viewer design powered by the Snapdragon XR1 platform.
Qualcomm has released its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design for manufacturers
Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Developed by China’s Goertek, the Wireless AR Smart Viewer’s hardware includes a dual micro-OLED binocular display that enables a resolution of 1,920×1,080 per eye and a frame rate of up to 90Hz. The glasses also have a no-motion-blur function to provide a seamless AR experience, Qualcomm said.
The reference design also includes two monochrome cameras and one RGB camera to enable support for six degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking and hand tracking, as well as gesture recognition.
Qualcomm has integrated its FastConnect 6900 to bring Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth support. The reference design is also said to have less than three milliseconds of latency between the connected smartphone and its displays.
The design can be combined with Qualcomm’s FastConnect XR Software Suite to offer features including better control and preferred channel access for XR traffic, and purpose-built power modes. It weighs 115 grams and has a frame thickness of 15.6mm. There’s also a 650mAh battery.
Qualcomm has initially shipped the Wireless AR Smart Viewer to select partners, but broader availability is expected to occur in the coming months.
The goal of bringing the new solution is to spur the development of AR devices. It will also help Qualcomm attract manufacturers who are exploring ways to enter the growing metaverse space.
The reference design could also help smartphone vendors and other market players build new devices that could compete with Apple’s rumored AR glasses.
