With Wi-Fi 7 and Ray Tracing: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 unveiled

More performance and less power consumption compared to its predecessor also apply to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. But Qualcomm offers further arguments to install the system-on-a-chip (SoC) in a top smartphone for 2023 with its support for new technology standards, nicer graphics and the prospect of even better photos.

Qualcomm even expects the first smartphones with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in 2022 - or at least their presentation. The list of manufacturers planning to use the new chipset is long: Asus (ROG), Honor, Iqoo, Motorola, Nubia, OnePlus, Oppo, Redmagig, Redmi, Sharp, Sony, Xiaomi, Xingji/Meizu, and ZTE.

Faster, more efficient, ray tracing

With the SoC manufactured in the 4-nanometre process, the CPU is said to have become 35 percent faster compared to its predecessor. Nevertheless, it is said to consume 40 per cent less power. For graphics, it is 25 per cent more performance and 45 per cent less power consumption.

The processor of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has eight processing cores. A Cortex-X3-based Kryo Prime core with up to 3.2 gigahertz for peak performance. In addition, there are four performance cores with up to 2.8 gigahertz, which are supposed to handle demanding tasks simultaneously. The three efficiency cores with up to 2.0 gigahertz are intended for background tasks, so to speak.

Definitely not a quiet process in the background is the hardware-accelerated ray tracing of the Adreno GPU. This is supposed to make lights, reflections and illuminations look more realistic even when playing games on the smartphone. The GPU is also the first to support the Vulkan 1.3 interface.

In terms of image output, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 supports QHD+ displays with up to 144 hertz. At UHD resolution, the refresh rate drops to 60 hertz.

Better AI, more megapixels and Wi-Fi 7

Qualcomm claims to have optimised the image processor for Sony sensors with Digital Overlap HDR and Samsung's 200-megapixel sensor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is said to be able to process signals from up to three 36-megapixel or one 200-megapixel sensor. At 108 megapixels, there is said to be no shutter lag. For videos, 8K at 30 fps is possible or 4K at up to 120 fps. The slowest slow-motion stills reach 720p resolution at 960 fps.

Artificial intelligence also gets involved in image processing. It is said to have become more efficient overall - 60 percent better performance - and thus more helpful. For photos, this is reflected in better recognition of subjects and the choice of appropriate settings or post-processing. Our colleagues at dpreview have taken a closer look at the camera functions.

In addition to 5G, the Snapdragon also supports Wi-Fi 7. And unlike what I wrote just under a week ago on Mediatek's Dimensity 9200, the first matching routers have now been announced.

Bluetooth 5.3 is also on board. The latency for wireless audio transmission is supposed to drop to 48 milliseconds. In addition, there is support for lossless streaming with 48 kHz and spatial audio. So with the right headphones, you get 3D sound.