- Qualcomm's next mid-range processor is the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, an octa-core processor that's made on a 6nm process.
- The SoC features Qualcomm's AI engine that can be leveraged by on-device AI features.
- The 6s Gen 3 is strikingly similar to the Snapdragon 695 that Qualcomm launched in 2021.
Qualcomm has been on a roll and quite busy recently in launching the X Elite series of processors for laptops. The semiconductor giant has unveiled a new mid-range Snapdragon processor, the 6s Gen 3. At first glance, it reminded us of the Snapdragon 695. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is an octa-core SoC fabricated on a 6nm process. It features Kryo cores that work at up to 2.3 GHz max frequency, and like other “s” SoCs, the 6s Gen 3 comes with an AI engine that can be leveraged by various on-device AI tasks. Qualcomm hasn’t shared detailed info about the cores and their clock speeds, which is a bummer.
The latest chip supports displays of up to 120Hz and FHD+ resolution. Network-wise, it supports Wi-Fi 4 and 5 through Qualcomm’s FastConnect 6200 system.
There’s support for Bluetooth 5.2, rear camera resolution of up to 108 MP, and 1080p 60fps video playback. The supported memory and storage types are LPDDR4x and UFS 2.2. NFC support is also present.
The standout feature of the “s” series is that it’s powered by Qualcomm’s AI engine. This includes better AI-enhanced low-light shots, multiple AI voice assistants, lower power consumption for audio, voice, and sensors, and finally, multi-mic far-field detection and echo cancellation.
Motorola’s upcoming Moto G85 could become one of the first devices to feature this SoC and it is rumored to launch soon.
Snapdragon 6s Gen 3: A Rebranded Snapdragon 695?
The Snapdragon 695 which is almost a three-year-old SoC at this point, is suspiciously similar to 6s Gen 3, making the latter a rebranded SoC. For starters, Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 was also a rebranded 695. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the new 6s Gen 3 and 2021’s Snapdragon 695. Besides the 100 MHz slower clock speed, everything is identical.
Specifications Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 Snapdragon 695 Cores and Clock speed 2 x Cortex-A78 @ 2.3 GHz and 6 x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz 2 x Cortex-A78 @ 2.2 GHz and 6 x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz Fabrication Process 6nm 6nm RAM and Storage type LPDDR 4X at 2133 MHz and UFS 2.2 LPDDR 4X at 2133 MHz and UFS 2.2 Display resolution and Refresh rate FHD+ up to 120Hz FHD+ up to 120Hz GPU Adreno 619 Adreno 619 Modem X51 5G X51 5G Connectivity FastConnect 6200 FastConnect 6200 Max rear camera resolution 108MP 108MP Video recording 1080p@60fps 1080p@60fps Charging Tech Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+ Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 4, 5 Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 4, 5
One of the reasons why Qualcomm does this is to put people under the false impression that a processor with “Gen 3” in its name should be the latest and more powerful than, say 6 Gen 1 when, in reality, the 6s Gen 3 will perform worse than 6 Gen 1. Qualcomm needs to figure out its naming scheme as the current one is quite confusing and to some extent, misleading.
What are your thoughts on the new mid-range Snapdragon 6s Gen 3? Let us know in the comments.
