What you should know
- Earlier this week, Qualcomm quietly launched the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 cellular platform, which feels like a wholly new chip.
- It is not, as Qualcomm confirmed that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is basically a rebranded Snapdragon 695.
- If Qualcomm isn’t innovating sufficient in the low-end of the chipmaking market, rivals like MediaTek might pull forward.
Qualcomm subtly added a new cellular processor to its web site earlier this week on Monday, June 10 — the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3. This chip continues a development of Qualcomm naming processors in a approach that is complicated at finest or deliberately deceptive at worst. It may sound like an improve over the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chip, but it surely isn’t. In truth, it’s a downgrade as a result of the “new” Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 processor is basically a rebranded model of the Snapdragon 695.
There had been obvious similarities between the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 and the Snapdragon 695, however there are a few issues about the former chip which can be new. Qualcomm cleared up the hypothesis with a assertion to Android Authority, which confirmed that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 isn’t really a new chip.
“Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is an enhanced version of Snapdragon 695 delivering improved CPU, GPU, and AI performances (sic),” the firm mentioned.
Before this was made clear, it already appeared like the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 was yet one more rebranded model of the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, which was first launched in 2021. For starters, the starting of the mannequin variety of the former (SM6375-AC) is an identical to that of the latter (SM6375). Both chips additionally used the 6nm manufacturing node, which is an older course of. We’ve already seen 3nm cellular chips come out, and the 6nm course of is far from innovative in 2024.
With that being mentioned, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 does have a few clear benefits over the Snapdragon 695. The ”enhanced” model of the chip has a increased CPU and GPU clock velocity, probably making for sooner efficiency. Qualcomm additionally says that there is help for “AI performances,” however we really don’t know what which means. It’s unlikely that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 will be capable of ship the sorts of recent on-device AI options that we see on stronger platforms, like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or the Tensor G3.
These minor enhancements can’t change the indisputable fact that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is constructed on the very same structure as the Snapdragon 695, and there’s solely a lot Qualcomm can do to drag extra efficiency out of it. This creates a scenario the place new gadgets with a “new” processor are probably beginning three years behind competing gadgets.
We know Qualcomm can do higher
It’s disappointing that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is nothing new, as a result of we all know Qualcomm can do higher. This isn’t like the darkish days at Intel, the place the whole firm was struggling to enhance its chipmaking and fabrication applied sciences throughout its portfolio. Qualcomm is doing higher than ever, and its Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon X platforms are giving Apple a run for its cash for the first time in a lengthy whereas.
Qualcomm clearly focuses on the money-makers, and it’s not laborious to see why. The firm has had basically a monopoly on the flagship Android cellular processor house for a whereas, even after Google moved to its personal Tensor processors. The newest Tensor G3 doesn’t come near matching the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, so any purchaser frightened about efficiency will select a Qualcomm-powered telephone. That’s with out even moving into the grip Qualcomm has on wi-fi modems.
The firm is breaking into the laptop computer and desktop markets with the Snapdragon X platform, which is powering a strong lineup of recent Windows laptops set for launch this week. Qualcomm is the solely firm making a chip that might be appropriate with Microsoft’s Copilot+ characteristic set at launch. It already introduced plans to convey Snapdragon X to extra type components, beginning with a Snapdragon Dev Kit mini PC.
This is why it’s a disgrace that the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is simply a 2021 chip with a few tweaks. No one is anticipating Qualcomm to make its funds chips aggressive with flagship ones, however the firm can definitely do greater than rebadging three-year-old processors.
Qualcomm could be making a mistake by changing into complacent
When Intel obtained complacent, AMD was proper there to swoop in and seize some market share. Now, the “team red” and “team blue” race is again on in full swing. The similar factor might occur in the smartphone chipmaking {industry} if Qualcomm retains re-releasing chips with none new innovation. Qualcomm isn’t the solely firm making cellular processors, and it’s going through actual competitors, particularly in the low finish of the market.
MediaTek has the potential to one-up Qualcomm in the funds market, particularly if its newest chips point out what it could possibly do. The firm has been teasing a flagship Android machine powered by a MediaTek processor, which might be enormous for the firm. MediaTek appears to have the chops to compete with Qualcomm industry-wide, however it could possibly positively accomplish that in the funds sector if Qualcomm retains releasing ”new” chips like the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3.