Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipsets power the most powerful phones available today, however Qualcomm produces mobile platforms of varying pricing and capabilities. Only the series 8 and series 7 platforms had the “Gen 1” classification until now. The announcement comes a day before Apple‘s A16 Bionic chip launch.
These Qualcomm Snapdragons will power midrange and inexpensive phones. The $300 Nord N20 has a Snapdragon 6-series chipset, whereas the $200 Nord N200 uses a Snapdragon 4-series chipset.
Qualcomm touts new advantages for Gen 1 platforms over prior generations, but it’s up to OEMs to execute them. Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 can take 108MP photos, but only if the phone maker includes a 108MP sensor and camera hardware and software. Snapdragon 4 can process images if the phone can take them.
Why new Snapdragons tonight?
Apple will launch the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max with a new A16 Bionic chipset tomorrow. The iPhone 14 will use the A15 Bionic. Qualcomm sees a chance.
Qualcomm is pointing out that even cheaper new Android phones have new Qualcomm chips with additional capabilities, but only the newest and most costly Apple product receives an upgrade this year.
Google’s latest Tensor processors should launch on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones this year. Next year’s Pixel Tablet may have last year’s Tensor chips, speculations say. This makes sense for a mid-range tablet, but would boost Qualcomm’s new chipset.
Apple’s phone designs and internal components are routinely upgraded after more than a year. Samsung and Google take advantage of its slow pace by launching many smartphones per year. Finally, chipmakers are cooperating.