Qualcomm’s current lineup of mobile processors is probably among its best in years, and we’ve seen how flagship-tier chips like the Snapdragon 8 Elite and even its Snapdragon X series chips for Windows computers excel in terms of general performance and usability. With that in mind though, Qualcomm also manufactures product offerings for more budget-friendly alternatives, and while these are noticeably different in terms of raw power, they still perform considerably better versus competing products in the same price tier, at least most of the time.
For this one, we’re taking a look at the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4. It’s the latest addition to Qualcomm’s 6 Series chips (previously branded with 6XX naming schemes), and positioned well below the the 8 and 7 series processors within the brand’s lineup. That doesn’t mean that it’s a pushoever however, as it does come with some nifty upgrades especially when compared to older 6 series chips. It’s safe to say that we’ll see the 6 Gen 4 in affordable smartphones and tablets this year, although what exactly does it come with? Let’s take a look.
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Fabricated using TSMC’s 4nm node, the 6 Gen 4 uses ARMv9-based CPU cores with the 2.3GHz Cortex-A720 serving as the prime core, three 2.2GHz A720 big cores and four 1.8GHz Cortex-A520 small cores. Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 is designed to add some extra “oomph” to mobile gaming sessions. This includes the chip’s new “Snapdragon Game Super Resolution” which allows for smart upscaling, allowing users to run supported games in 4K resolution. There’s built-in Adreno HDR Fast Blend that can render dynamic scenes 2x faster versus devices without the feature, in addition to the Adreno Frame Motion Engine that can double frame rates without compromising on battery endurance.
As with a lot of other newer mobile chipsets these days, the 6 Gen 4 also includes on-device support for generative AI features. The chip packs slightly-improved AI performance with support for INT4 which allows for faster and more efficient processing. There’s also the Qualcomm Sensing Hub and AI Engine that work in tandem for activity tracking and curated app suggestions and intelligent settings adjustments. The 6 Gen 4’s AI capabilities also extend to audio, with support for AI-based noise cancellation, noise reduction, and contextual awareness.
For mobile photography, Qualcomm adds that it’s worked on the 6 Gen 4’s low-light performance in particular. There’s a Qualcomm Spectra Triple ISP inside that allows users to capture both photos and videos simultaneously, which adds a bit of versatility in terms of content creation. Additionally, Snapdragon Low-Light Vision (LLV) helps reduce noise in images and videos even in challenging low-light conditions, alongside support for 200MP single photos for better detail.
With all that said, we can expect the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 to appear in upcoming devices from honor, Oppo, and Realme to name a few.
