The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 recently debuted as a flagship killer processor, promising high-end performance at an affordable price. The chip is featured on the iQOO Neo 10 and POCO F7, and is also expected to be on several upcoming phones, such as the Nothing Phone 3.
During the release, Qualcomm showcased that the new chip has received a massive GPU upgrade over its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 was no longer just a flagship killer; it is often referred to as the flagship of its segment. But does this really stand true? We tested the chip and compared it against the Snapdragon 8 Elite, Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and the MediaTek Dimensity 9400e to find out where the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 stands exactly. Here are the results.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Benchmark Comparison
We performed AnTuTu, Geekbench, and 3DMark Wildlife Extreme, and CPU Throttling benchmarks on the iQOO Neo 10 (Snapdragon 8s Gen 4), OnePlus 13 (Snapdragon 8 Elite), OnePlus 13R (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3), and the Realme GT 7 (Dimensity 9400e). The reason for choosing these specific phones is that each device scored the highest benchmarks with the respective chip, among all the smartphones that we tested.
AnTuTu
Winner: Snapdragon 8 Elite
The AnTuTu benchmark provides an overview of the raw CPU performance of a processor. It gives a direct idea of the peak capabilities of a chip.
- The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 scored an impressive 2 million points in AnTuTu, placing it squarely in the flagship category.
- However, it lags behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 by a margin of 5%.
- Benchmarks show that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is 7% less powerful than the Dimensity 9400e, a direct competitor from MediaTek that serves as a flagship-killer chip.
- Here’s how the four chips rank in terms of performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite > Dimensity 9400e > Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 > Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
While the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is expected to be a flagship-level chip, it does not beat the last-gen flagship processor from Qualcomm itself, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. It also lags behind its equivalent MediaTek competitor, the Dimensity 9400e. The differences are narrow, which highlights impressive performance, but it’s surely not the best in business, as many would think.
Geekbench 6
Winner: Snapdragon 8 Elite
Geekbench provides a comprehensive breakdown of a processor’s single-core and multi-core capabilities. Here are the benchmark results from our testing:
- The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 has better multi-core performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
- Multi-core scores are nearly identical between the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and the Dimensity 9400e.
- However, the single-core performance of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is 5% lower compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Dimensity 9400e.
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite is 30% more powerful than the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 can match the multi-core performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and the Dimensity 9400e. These numbers reveal why Qualcomm and smartphone makers are calling it a true flagship processor. However, the Snapdragon 8 Elite maintains a 30% lead.
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Winner: Snapdragon 8 Elite
The 3DMark Wildlife Extreme tests the GPU performance of the chip. It performs advanced 3D rendering benchmarks, simulating a gaming experience. It gives us a good idea of how a chip will perform while playing games like BGMI, CODM, Genshin Impact, and others. Here are the test results:
- The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 has a 30% slower GPU compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and over 40% slower than the Dimensity 9400e.
- The Snapdragon 8 Elite is twice as powerful as the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in GPU performance.
- These results are quite disappointing, considering that the upgraded GPU was a major highlight of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is capable of 120fps gaming in BGMI and can deliver a stable frame rate. However, in terms of peak performance, it heavily lags behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 8 Elite, and the Dimensity 9400e. This means that you can enjoy gaming on this chip for 1-2 years, but the chip might not sustain the same performance levels with future game updates. You could see a significant improvement in frame rate over the longer run, compared to the other three processors.
CPU Throttling Test
Winner: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
The CPU Throttling Test reflects the stability of a processor under sustained peak load. It also shows whether a chip has thermal throttling issues. A higher score indicates better stability, where the processor can maintain its peak performance to the respective percentage of the score.
- The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 throttled to 67% of performance.
- The Dimensity 9400e and Snapdragon 8 Elite also exhibit similar throttling issues, where all three chips experience a loss of up to 30% of their peak performance under stress.
- The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 proved to be the most stable chip, with an 87% stability rating.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 appears to have significant thermal throttling issues. While this can be device-dependent, we noticed the same problem on both the iQOO Neo 10 and the POCO F7. If you play games for a long duration, you may experience a dip in frame rates.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Verdict
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is indeed a powerful chip that delivers flagship-level performance. While it faces strong competition from the Dimensity 9400e and even the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the lower and affordable price tag gives the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 an edge.
The only cause of concern for this chip is its CPU throttling issues, as it has shown stability issues on two smartphones (iQOO Neo 10 and POCO F7). Since it’s a new chip, we can expect phone makers to optimise it and make it more stable with software updates.
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a worthy chip if it’s featured on phones priced up to Rs 40,000. For devices priced higher, better alternatives are available, such as the Dimensity 9400e or even the top-end Dimensity 9400. You can also purchase the Realme GT 7 Pro with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip for Rs 50,000 (when bank offers are clubbed in). Additionally, the iQOO 13 is available at a similar price.
