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The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 leads the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the benchmark aggregates available for comparison, with a particularly large gap in graphics results. Qualcomm also specifies a faster CPU configuration, Wi-Fi 7 and an X70 modem for the 8s Gen 3. The 7s Gen 3 is aimed at more affordable, mid-tier phones. For a buying decision, compare the actual phones too: cooling, memory, cameras, battery, software and regional network support can change the experience.
At a glance: what separates the two chips?
| Specification | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Process | 4 nm (Qualcomm product brief) | 4 nm (Qualcomm product brief) |
| CPU configuration | 1 prime core up to 3.0 GHz, 4 performance cores up to 2.8 GHz, 3 efficiency cores up to 2.0 GHz (Qualcomm product brief) | Peak speed up to 2.5 GHz (Qualcomm product brief); NanoReview lists 1 prime core up to 2.5 GHz, 3 performance cores up to 2.4 GHz and 4 efficiency cores up to 1.8 GHz |
| Graphics | Adreno 735 listed by NanoReview; Qualcomm identifies Adreno graphics and hardware-accelerated ray tracing | Adreno 810 listed by NanoReview; Qualcomm identifies Adreno graphics |
| Memory platform | LPDDR5X, up to 4200 MHz and 67.2 GB/s (NanoReview) | LPDDR5, up to 3200 MHz and 25.6 GB/s (NanoReview) |
| Wi-Fi and modem | Wi-Fi 7 and Snapdragon X70; peak downlink up to 6.5 Gbps (Qualcomm product brief) | Wi-Fi 6E/6; peak downlink up to 2.9 Gbps (Qualcomm product brief) |
| Imaging capabilities | Up to 200 MP photo capture and 4K HDR video up to 60 fps (Qualcomm product brief) | Up to 200 MP photography and 4K HDR video (Qualcomm product brief) |
These are platform specifications, not a promise that every phone includes every feature or uses the same memory configuration. For graphics, do not infer which chip is faster from the Adreno model numbers alone; the benchmark results below provide a more useful comparison.
Benchmark comparison: 8s Gen 3 leads the reported aggregates
NanoReview’s live comparison, accessed October 7, 2026, reports higher scores for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 in every listed test. The figures are aggregates across phones, not results from a controlled test using identical handset hardware.
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| Benchmark | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Reported sample information |
|---|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 11 total | 1,797,821 | 1,041,899 | 287 tests and 140 tests, respectively |
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 1,923 | 1,161 | Aggregate scores; device setup can vary |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 5,179 | 3,390 | 64 tests and 14 tests, respectively |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 1,033 | 379 | 8s Gen 3 stability listed as 90%; no 7s Gen 3 stability value listed |
| PCMark 3.0 | 15,526 | 13,160 | 14 phone models and 8 phone models, respectively |
Where the gap is largest
The AnTuTu component scores reported by NanoReview are CPU 556,525 vs. 405,718; GPU 503,679 vs. 179,932; memory 307,418 vs. 193,010; and UX 430,199 vs. 263,239, for the 8s Gen 3 and 7s Gen 3 respectively. The largest difference in those components is GPU performance, consistent with the 8s Gen 3’s lead in 3DMark Steel Nomad Light.
#1 Best Overall
- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
How to interpret the numbers
These results indicate a clear peak-performance advantage for the 8s Gen 3 in the cited aggregate data, especially for graphics-heavy workloads. They do not predict the score or sustained performance of a particular phone. Cooling design, firmware, power settings, benchmark version and test conditions affect results, and no matched-phone controlled comparison is established here. A phone that performs well in a short benchmark may also behave differently during a longer gaming session as it heats up.
CPU, memory and gaming differences
CPU configuration
Qualcomm’s product brief gives the 8s Gen 3 a prime core reaching 3.0 GHz, while its 7s Gen 3 brief specifies a peak speed of 2.5 GHz. NanoReview provides the 7s Gen 3’s core breakdown: one prime core up to 2.5 GHz, three performance cores up to 2.4 GHz and four efficiency cores up to 1.8 GHz. The 8s Gen 3’s four performance cores and higher clock ceilings support its stronger peak profile, but GHz alone does not determine performance in every task.
Memory and graphics
NanoReview lists LPDDR5X support for the 8s Gen 3, with up to 4200 MHz and 67.2 GB/s bandwidth, compared with LPDDR5, up to 3200 MHz and 25.6 GB/s, for the 7s Gen 3. These are platform-level figures; check a phone’s listed RAM type and configuration rather than assuming that every model uses the maximum supported setup.
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- Ultra-high Performance Chipset: This cell phone is equipped with a powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, using 4nm technology and a full-core 3.2GHz CPU, supporting 24GB LPDDR5X memory + UFS 4.0 flash memory, and equipped with an AI engine, with comprehensive performance upgrades.
- Revolutionary 50MP Quad Camera System: This smartphone is equipped with All 50MP four camera system: Including a Main Camera, a Periscope, an Ultra-wide Camera, and a ultra-clear Front Camera; this cell phone support Ultra XDR 4K video, Auto Tone, Portrait Optimiser, Motion Capture Mode, Night Mode; Whether you're a photographer, vlogger, or social media enthusiast, with the pro-grade camera system and AI enhancements, this Nothing phone can ensure every shot is masterpiece-ready.
- One-Touch Control, AI-Powered Organization：ESSENTIAL KEY: A new button on the side of your device.Press once to capture your screen, long-press to record voice and ideas, and double-press to access Essential Space; ESSENTIAL SPACE: Everything in one place, organised the way you want it to be，AI mobile phones helps organise your captures, generating suggestions, and staying on top of what matters; Explore more AI features, Let AI enrich your life
- GLYPH INTERFACE: Where Light Speaks; The Glyph Matrix transforms your phone into an interactive playground—smart animations turn notifications, tools, and games into living light experiences; NFC: An animation comes to life when NFC is triggered; Glyph Button: Quick-tap to browse Glyph Toys, long-press to launch—from utilities to games; Smarter Alerts: Notifications now speak in light and sound, blending visuals with meaning; Beyond illumination; This is interaction, redefined.
- Larger and Brighter FHD Display: 6.67" FHD+ 1.5K AMOLED flex screen with 1.07B colors & 120Hz adaptive refresh for ultra-smooth visuals; Vs Nothing Phone (2)/(3a): Phone (3) boasts 181.2% brighter (4500 nits), 16.7% sharper (460 PPI), and 316% faster touch response (1000Hz); IP68-rated—tough enough for any adventure.
Qualcomm’s 8s Gen 3 brief also names hardware-accelerated ray tracing and gaming features. That is a capability, not a guarantee that a particular game enables ray tracing or runs at a specific frame rate. For gaming, handset cooling, power tuning and the game’s settings matter alongside the chip.
Connectivity and camera features depend on the phone
Wireless connectivity
Qualcomm specifies Wi-Fi 7 and the Snapdragon X70 modem for the 8s Gen 3, with a platform peak downlink of up to 6.5 Gbps. The 7s Gen 3 brief lists Wi-Fi 6E/6 and peak downlink up to 2.9 Gbps. These are platform ceilings, not expected everyday speeds: carrier support, network conditions, handset antenna design and regional band support affect what a phone can use.
Camera capabilities
Qualcomm lists up to 200 MP photo capture and 4K HDR capture at up to 60 fps for the 8s Gen 3. Its 7s Gen 3 material also describes up to 200 MP photography and 4K HDR video. These headline capabilities do not establish which phone takes better photos or video. The sensor, lenses, image processing and recording modes selected by the phone maker shape the finished camera experience.
Rank #3
- For USA Buyers: This Smartphone is not compatible/will not work with any CDMA Networks including: VERIZON, SPRINT, US CELLULAR. Please check with your network provider for 3G or 4G/LTE compatibility check before you purchase.
- Dual-SIM, Network Compatibility, SIM CARD 1 & 2 : [2G : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and/or 3G : HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 and/or 4G : FDD-LTE 700(B12) / 700(B13) / 700(B17) / 700(B28) / 800(B20) / 850(B5) / 850(B18) / 850(B19) / 850(B26) / 900(B8) / 1700|2100(B4) / 1800(B3) / 1900(B2) / 2100(B1) / 2600(B7) TDD-LTE 1900(B39) / 2100(B66) / 2300(B40) / 2500(B41) / 2600(B38) and/or 5G : N1 / N3 / N5 / N7 / N8 / N20 / N28 / N38 / N40 / N41 / N66 / N77 / N78 SA/NSA]
- 6.78 inches, LTPO AMOLED, 1B colors, 1264 x 2780 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
- 256GB ROM Storage, 12GB RAM
- Android 14, Realme UI 5.0, Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm), Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520), Adreno 735
What Qualcomm’s 7s Gen 3 performance claims mean
Qualcomm describes the 7s Gen 3 as a platform for bringing more 7-series features to affordable, mid-tier phones. Its stated improvements—nearly 20% better CPU performance, up to 40% accelerated GPU performance, more than 30% better AI performance and 12% overall power savings—are comparisons with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, not the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. They should not be read as a direct comparison between the two chips in this article.
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Qualcomm’s announcement quoted Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets at Qualcomm Technologies, saying the chip would bring “the best of the 7-series to more mid-tier devices” by selecting top 7-series features, including on-device AI support. That is Qualcomm’s positioning of the 7s Gen 3, not an independent assessment of phone value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which should you choose?
Choose an 8s Gen 3 phone if peak performance is the priority
The benchmark aggregates favor the 8s Gen 3, most notably in graphics. Its higher specified CPU clocks and newer listed connectivity options may also matter if the phone implements them and your network supports them. For gaming or demanding workloads, look beyond benchmark totals to reviews or measurements of the specific phone’s sustained performance and thermals.
Rank #4
- 6.78 inches, OLED, 1B , 1224 x 2700 pixels
- 512GB Storage, 12GB RAM
- Android 14, Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm), Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520)
- Rear: 50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.3", 1.2µm, PDAF, OIS, 50 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom, 12 MP, f/2.2, 112˚ (ultrawide), AF, Front: 50 MP, f/2.1, (wide), 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
- Dual SIM (SIM + ESIM)
Consider a 7s Gen 3 phone for a mid-tier handset
Qualcomm positions the 7s Gen 3 for more affordable, mid-tier devices. That positioning alone does not prove that every 7s Gen 3 phone costs less or is a better value than every 8s Gen 3 phone. Compare actual prices, memory, display, battery, camera system, software support and build quality.
Compare complete phones, not chip names alone
- Sustained performance: Look for evidence about cooling and performance during longer gaming or heavy-use sessions.
- Connectivity: Check the model’s supported bands and Wi-Fi features for your region and carrier.
- Camera: Compare the actual sensors, lenses and supported recording modes.
- Everyday hardware: Compare battery capacity, charging, display and storage.
- Ownership: Include software support and the phone’s price in the decision.
The chip comparison cannot establish one best phone to buy. A finished Android smartphone implements the platform within a particular hardware and software design, and that design determines how much of the chip’s potential you experience.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Qualcomm, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform Product Brief (2024)
- Qualcomm, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Mobile Platform Product Brief (2024)
- Qualcomm, Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Brings Remarkable AI Experiences to More Affordable Smartphones (August 20, 2024)
- NanoReview, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: tests and benchmarks (accessed October 7, 2026)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
