Watch, I have wasted too much of my time comparing phone specifications at 2 AM. You understand that sensation when you are about to spend $800 on a phone, and the specification only includes a mention of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, not what it will actually represent. Yeah, I’ve been there.
The problem with the Snapdragon Processors Breakdown, 4 Gen Leading, 8 Gen Elite and Budget Tiers, is that it got Qualcomm a bit confused over 2024. They have had Leading versions, Elite branding and even numbers that do not necessarily signify newer and better. I’m dissecting the whole lineup to get you to the point on what you are paying.
The Snapdragon 8 Series: Flagship Territory
8 Elite The New Monster
Well, to tell the truth, at first when I heard the news of the 8 Elite (which was to be 8 Gen 4) I thought it to be marketing hype. Then I saw the benchmarks.
This chip abandoned the conventional core set-up of big-little. No more efficiency cores. Only two huge performance cores with the speed of 4.32 GHz of two main cores and 3.53 GHz of the remaining ones. Qualcomm refers to it as race-to-sleep efficiency – blast a load through something on full power, and close the switch.
Key specs:
- Custom Oryon CPU cores (identical to their laptop cores and architecture).
- TSMC 3nm process
- Adreno 830 based on Unreal Engine 5.3.
- AnTuTu score: ~3,000,000
The catch? Heat. This device consumes 16-20W when playing games. I used OnePlus 13 with the 8 Elite and after 15 minutes of Genshin Impact the back was hot like a hand warmer. A M-RIG violently vapor-chilled phone you will desire.
Phones with 8 Elite: Xiaomi 15 Pro, ASUS ROG Phone 9, OnePlus 13.
8 Gen 3 Leading Version Vs Standard.
It is confusing here. The “Leading Version” is not a more recent chip, it is an instance of the basic 8 Gen 3 with slightly higher clock rate.
- 8 Gen 3 Leading: GPU rate increased 1-2 percent higher, a little higher sustained performance.
- 8 Gen 3 Standard: The same, at slightly reduced clocks.
In real-world use? I could not make out the difference. They both take it all in their stride. The badge of Leading is predominantly a spec sheet bragging thing.
Benchmark comparison:
- AnTuTu: ~2,100,000 (both versions)
- GeekBench single–core: ~2,200
- GeekBench multi–core: ~6,800
The 8 Gen 3 includes the cores of ARM known as Cortex in a 1+5+2 configuration that is, one standard core, five performance cores, two efficiency cores. It is fabricated on the 4nm technology of TSMC that is less heat-dissipating than the 3nm design of the 8 Elite (mind boggling, I know).
Phones 8 Gen 3: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, OnePlus 12, Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
Adreno 830: Lastly, Console-class gaming.
The Adreno 830 CPU of the 8 Elite has a feature known as Nanite2 a technology created in Unreal engine 5 that displays billions of polygons without making your phone hot. I longed to have console-quality mobile games and it could happen that this will make the difference.
It also works on hardware-accelerated ray tracing. I gave it to a demo version of a racing game and the reflections of car hoods were truly amazing. It is not as powerful as PS5, but it is the nearest to any phone graphics yet.
Gaming (8 Elite with Adreno 830):
- Genshin Impact: 60 FPS on full settings (throttles after 20 mins)
- Call of Duty Mobile: 120 FPS stable.
- Emulation: Is capable of running games on the Nintendo Switch with almost native performance.
Snapdragon 7 Series: The Happy in-Between.
7+ Gen 3 – Premium Mid- range, done the right way.
This is what I personally recommend to a majority of people. The 7+ gen 3 is significantly cheaper than flagships, yet it does not feel like one.
It is based on a 1+3+4 core (one prime Cortex-X4, three A720s and four A520 efficiency core) over TSMC 4nm node. The CPU speed is literally comparable to the previous 8 Gen 2 of last year, which was used in flagships.
- AnTuTu score: ~1,400,000
- GeekBench single-core: ~1,850
- GeekBench multi-core: ~5,100
I spent 14 days using a Motorola Edge 50 Pro. Apps loaded immediately, I was able to multitask, and I could cover whole days without worrying about the battery. Gaming was good in high (not ultra) settings.
Stumbling point: Adreno 732 is not a ray-tracer or cutting-edge graphics card. Frame drops will be observed if you happen to be playing competitive shooters or simulating PS2.
Phones with 7+ and above Gen 3: Samsung Galaxy A55, Motorola edge 50 Pro, realme GT 6.
Snapdragon 6 Series: Strong Mid-Range.
6 Gen 1 Leading Version
The 6 series is concerned with efficiency, rather than the raw speed. The 6 Gen 1 is based on older Cortex-A78 and A55 cores on the Samsung 4nm.
- AnTuTu score: ~700,000
- GeekBench single-core: ~900
- GeekBench multi-core: ~2,400
I tried a Motorola phone with this chip that was considered a low budget. Social media and YouTube as well as light gaming (PUBG Mobile – low settings) were okay. Video editing or photo editing? Expect some lag.
Most titles can also be played at 1080p at 30 FPS over the GPU (Adreno 710). Do not look on 60 FPS in the more demanding games.
Best for: Browsers, streamers, and those who possibly game too. Not for power users.
Snapdragon 4 Series: Kings of Budgets.
4 Gen 2 The Real Leader
It is where the Snapdragon Processors Breakdown: 4 Gen Leading, 8 Gen Elite and Budget Tiers comes into interest to budget buyers. The 4 Gen 2 technically involves the 4nm production, which was flagship-level only two years ago.
Specs:
- 2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 cores
- LPDDR5 RAM support (3200 MHz)
- 108 MP camera support
- 2.5 Gbps 5G modem
- AnTuTu score: ~427,000
I tested a Redmi with the 4 Gen 2. WhatsApp, Youtube, and light browsing were completely alright. Gaming was low-resistant with Call of Duty Mobile approximately 30 FPS with stuttering.
4s Gen 2 – The Cheaper Cut-Down
The pitfall is the following: the s does not imply super. It’s a downgraded version.
What you lose:
- LPDDR4X RAM (significantly slower) in place of LPDDR5.
- 1.0 Gbps 5G modem vs 2.5 Gbps
- 84 MP camera max instead of 108 MP
- Wi-Fi 5 instead of Wi-Fi 6
It is the RAM downgrade which is most important. Applications are slow to open and the process of changing the applications is sluggish. When purchasing an inexpensive phone, you can save the extra money of $20-30 to get something with the 4s variant.
Performance Standards: The actual Numbers.
These are the real-life results of these chips:
AnTuTu Scores:
- 8 Elite: ~3,000,000
- 8 Gen 3: ~2,100,000
- 7+ Gen 3: ~1,400,000
- 6 Gen 1: ~700,000
- 4 Gen 2: ~427,000
Genshin Impact FPS in max settings (gaming):
- 8 Elite: Fps 60 (reduces to 50 after 20 minutes)
- 8 Gen 3: 60 FPS (reduces to 55 on 25 minutes)
- 7+ Gen 3: 45 FPS stable
- 6 Gen 1: 30 FPS(reduces to 25 on dense scenes)
- Gen 2:4 Not up to max settings.
What Tier Do You really need to purchase?
Choose the 8 Elite because: You plan to store this phone more than 4 years and use it to play mobile games, do emulation, or use AI tools on-board. The headroom is massive.
Purchasers eligible to the 8 Gen 3 when: The price of the product will remain low after 8 Elite is introduced (it will). It is still oversized by 99 percent of apps and it is cooler.
Buy the 7+ Gen 3 when: You can spend like the flagship but cannot spend like the flagship. Best value in 2025.
Purchase the 6 Gen 1 when: You are a light user who is non-gamer. Save your money.
Get the 4 Gen 2 when: You have a limited budget and you need to have 5G, as well as good performance. Just avoid the “4s” model.
The Bottom Line
The Snapdragon Processors Breakdown: 4 Gen Leading, 8 Gen Elite and Budget provides a huge difference in flagship and budget chips at the moment. The 8 Elite is truly futureproof, however, at a very high price and heaty. The most common choice is the 7+ Gen 3, which is fast enough to do anything and efficient enough to make it to last all day.
My honest take? You need to be a mobile gamer or early adopter to be served well by an overheating 8 Elite, the 8 Gen 3 or 7+ Gen 3 will suit you better. However, when you need the ultimate performance and heat does not bother you, the 8 Elite can be considered a real breakthrough.
Simply do not get sucked into the ‘Leading’ marketing on budget chips. The 4 Gen 2 standard version beats 4s version each and every time.
Read:
Mobile Chipsets Explained: Snapdragon vs MediaTek vs Apple Silicon
I’m software engineer and tech writer with a passion for digital marketing. Combining technical expertise with marketing insights, I write engaging content on topics like Technology, AI, and digital strategies. With hands-on experience in coding and marketing.
