Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is the newer, generally faster platform, with the clearest reported gains in graphics and multi-core performance. Qualcomm claims 31% higher CPU, 49% higher GPU and 44% higher AI performance than Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. Those are Qualcomm’s comparisons, not guaranteed results for every phone. If you are choosing between handsets, compare their cooling, cameras, battery, software support and price as well as the chip.
What changed between Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and Gen 3?
Qualcomm announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 on March 18, 2024; comparison sources identify Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 as announced in April 2025. Both are 4 nm platforms. Gen 4 raises the listed peak CPU clocks and adds a newer sliced Adreno GPU architecture, while its published camera and connectivity ceilings are higher in some areas.
Qualcomm’s product brief says its comparisons are against Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and that results vary by OEM implementation and other factors. The advertised 31% CPU, 49% GPU and 44% AI improvements should therefore be read as platform claims, not promises about an individual handset.
Specifications compared
| Specification | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Process | 4 nm (Qualcomm product brief) | 4 nm (Qualcomm product brief) |
| CPU clocks | Prime core up to 3.2 GHz; performance cores up to 3.0 GHz (Qualcomm product brief) | One prime core up to 3.0 GHz, four performance cores up to 2.8 GHz, and three efficiency cores up to 2.0 GHz (Qualcomm product brief) |
| GPU | Sliced Adreno GPU architecture; Qualcomm lists ray tracing with global illumination and Game Super Resolution 2.0 | Adreno GPU; Qualcomm lists hardware ray tracing and Snapdragon Game Super Resolution |
| AI | Qualcomm claims 44% improvement over the previous generation and lists 2× larger shared memory | On-device generative AI support, including models up to 10 billion parameters in Qualcomm material |
| Camera platform | Triple 18-bit ISP; semantic segmentation up to 250 layers; capture up to 320 MP | Triple 18-bit ISP; semantic segmentation up to 12 layers; capture up to 200 MP |
| Memory | LPDDR5X, up to 24 GB; up to 76.8 GB/s bandwidth listed by NanoReview | LPDDR5X, up to 24 GB; up to 67.2 GB/s bandwidth listed by NanoReview |
| Connectivity | Qualcomm lists Wi-Fi 7 and a 5G modem system with downlink up to 4.2 Gbps | Qualcomm identifies Snapdragon X70 modem-RF; a comparable peak downlink figure is not stated on the cited product page |
The published CPU information does not give a complete Gen 4 core-cluster layout, so its listed peak clocks should not be mistaken for a full core-by-core specification. Likewise, the camera megapixel ceilings describe platform support rather than image quality: sensors, lenses and the phone maker’s image processing remain decisive.
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The memory-bandwidth figures above are NanoReview specifications, rather than values confirmed in the Qualcomm product briefs. Qualcomm’s platform ceilings for wireless connectivity do not guarantee those speeds or features on a particular phone or network.
Benchmark results: Gen 4 leads, but scores vary
NanoReview’s comparison page, accessed in 2026, reports the following aggregate results. These are collected across phones rather than a controlled test of identical handsets.
Rank #2
- 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.
| Benchmark | Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu 11 | 2,314,417 (457 samples) | 1,797,821 (287 samples) |
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 2,072 (50 samples) | 1,923 (64 samples) |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 6,649 | 5,179 |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 1,688 | 1,033 |
| 3DMark Solar Bay | 7,641 | 4,992 |
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme | 3,705 | 3,116 |
| PCMark 3.0 | 15,335 | 15,526 |
The results generally favor Gen 4 on CPU and graphics tests, but PCMark 3.0 is nearly level in this dataset and has limited phone-model coverage. A separate 91mobiles comparison, accessed in 2026, reports AnTuTu scores of 2,366,913 for Gen 4 and 1,815,619 for Gen 3, plus Geekbench single-core scores of 2,197 and 2,003 and multi-core scores of 7,123 and 5,094. 91mobiles associates Gen 4 results with tested phones including POCO F7, iQOO Neo 10 and Nothing Phone 3. Those figures are not directly interchangeable with NanoReview’s aggregates because the devices and test conditions differ.
Benchmark scores cannot establish a particular phone’s sustained gaming frame rate, temperature or battery life. Cooling, firmware, power limits and benchmark versions affect results; the cited comparisons do not establish a controlled test on otherwise identical phone hardware.
Rank #3
- 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.
Which processor should you choose?
Choose a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 phone if performance is the priority
Gen 4 is the stronger on-paper choice for graphics-heavy games and demanding workloads, and the available aggregate CPU and 3DMark results generally support that direction. Its higher platform camera ceiling or newer AI capabilities may also matter to a manufacturer’s design, but neither guarantees a better camera or more useful AI experience in the finished phone.
Consider Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 if the phone is the better deal
A Gen 3 handset can still be the more sensible purchase if it costs less or is better in the areas you care about. The chip comparison alone does not tell you whether a particular older-generation phone has better battery endurance, cooling, cameras, display or software support.
Compare the exact handsets
- Check independent reviews for sustained gaming and thermal behavior, not just short benchmark runs.
- Compare camera sensors and real-world photo reviews rather than relying on the ISP’s maximum megapixel figure.
- Verify supported network bands and connectivity features for your region and carrier.
- Check each phone’s battery capacity, charging, software-update policy, storage configuration and current price.
POCO F7 is one phone identified by 91mobiles as using Snapdragon 8s Gen 4. Its regional availability, specific configuration and current listing should be verified before purchase; its results should not be treated as representative of every Gen 4 phone.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 platform information and product brief.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform information, product brief and March 18, 2024 announcement.
- NanoReview Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 vs Gen 3 comparison.
- 91mobiles Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 vs Gen 3 comparison.
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.
