Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is rumored to be manufactured using TSMC’s N3E process
Recent rumors surrounding Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 have abounded, such as the introduction of new cores and altered configurations of large and small cores. However, as the chipset continues to utilize TSMC’s 4nm process and does not incorporate custom cores infused with NUVIA technology, the forthcoming Snapdragon 8 series SoC next year has garnered greater interest.
According to Twitter user @Tech_Reve, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will be manufactured using TSMC’s N3E process, the second iteration of 3nm technology, which offers substantial multi-core performance improvements compared to current processes. Furthermore, Qualcomm will introduce custom cores based on NUVIA technology, eschewing previous Arm-based designs. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4’s CPU is expected to adopt a 2+6 architecture, with two “Nuvia Phoenix” performance cores paired with six “Nuvia Phoenix M” energy-efficient cores.
Reports suggest that bolstered by the new process and cores, the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8’s performance will see a significant increase of up to 40%. Based on such an improvement and factoring in leaked data from the third-generation Snapdragon 8, the fourth-generation model could potentially surpass 9,000 points in Geekbench 5’s multi-threaded benchmark tests, even outperforming Apple’s M2 chip.
In addition to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 designed for smartphones, Qualcomm will also release the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8cx for ultra-thin mobile devices, incorporating custom cores based on NUVIA technology. Previous reports have indicated that Qualcomm’s newly announced Oryon processor will be dubbed the fourth-generation Snapdragon 8cx, codenamed “Hamoa,” and is currently undergoing testing.
