Qualcomm's upcoming mid-range mobile processor, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, is shaping up to be a substantial upgrade over its predecessor according to recent leaks. While not yet officially announced, the new chip is expected to bring notable improvements in CPU, GPU and AI performance that could enhance the capabilities of affordable smartphones.
Performance Gains Across the Board
Based on leaked marketing materials shared by reliable tipster Evan Blass, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is set to deliver:
- 20% faster CPU performance
- 40% faster GPU performance
- 30% faster AI processing via the NPU
- 12% better power efficiency
These gains are reportedly compared to the previous Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip. While exact hardware specifications are still unknown, the substantial GPU upgrade in particular could make the 7s Gen 3 competitive with more powerful mid-range processors.
AI and Gaming Capabilities in Focus
Qualcomm appears to be emphasizing AI and gaming performance with this new chip. The improved NPU is said to enable on-device tasks like real-time translation and transcription across multiple languages.
For mobile gaming, the 7s Gen 3 will incorporate several technologies:
- Variable Rate Shading (VRS) Pro
- Adreno Frame Motion Engine (AFME)
- Adaptive Performance Engine 3.0
AFME is highlighted as being able to convert 60fps gameplay into 120fps without additional GPU load, potentially bringing smoother gaming experiences to more affordable devices.
Other Notable Features
The leak also reveals a few other upgrades coming to the 7s Gen 3:
- Bluetooth 5.4 support (up from 5.2)
- Native aptX Lossless Audio
- Triple ISP for advanced camera processing
- Spatial audio capabilities
Positioning in Qualcomm's Lineup
It's important to note that despite the s designation, the 7s Gen 3 will still sit below the standard Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and 7+ Gen 3 in Qualcomm's hierarchy. However, these leaked improvements suggest it could offer a compelling balance of performance and affordability for mid-range smartphones.
While an official announcement date hasn't been set, the previous 7s Gen 2 launched in September 2023, so we may see the 7s Gen 3 debut around a similar timeframe this year. As always, real-world performance will be key in determining how competitive this new chip truly is in the mid-range market.