Qualcomm is likely gearing up to launch its newest Snapdragon 7 series SoC, details of which have been leaked online. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor will be the successor to the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2, which was announced in March this year.
The leak suggests that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 will not be a complete upgrade to its predecessor in terms of specifications, rather its cores could be clocked lower. Meanwhile, the launch timeline of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 was leaked as well. We look at what we know about the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC so far:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Specifications (Leaked)
As per a post by tipster ‘Digital Chat Station’ (translated from Chinese) on the Chinese social networking site Weibo, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC will be placed below the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 in terms of specifications.
Further, the upcoming mobile platform is said to bear model number SM7550. The leak points out that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, which will be manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm process, is currently being tested. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is expected to be coupled with the Adreno 720 GPU.
The SoC is said to be designed with the same 1+3+4 architecture as its predecessor. This includes one prime core, three performance cores, and four efficiency cores. The prime core is said to be clocked at 2.63GHz, while the performance cores could be clocked at 2.4GHz. Meanwhile, the efficiency cores will be clocked at 1.8GHz. The configuration could be powered by an ARM Cortex-A715.
In comparison, the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 includes a prime core clocked at 2.91GHz, three performance cores clocked at 2.49GHz, and four efficiency cores clocked at 1.8GHz. The SoC comes coupled with the Adreno 725 GPU for graphics performance.
The specifications of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 could be downgraded slightly to make it more affordable for the OEMs. It is likely that due to its price point, the SoC could be seen in more upcoming mid-range smartphones.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Launch Timeline (Expected)
The launch timeline for the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 has been tipped as well. As per a post by tipster Yogesh Brar on X, the first smartphones with the SoC could launch in the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24). Xiaomi’s sub-brand Redmi is said to partner with Qualcomm to unveil the first smartphone with Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 in 1Q24.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is looking solid so far. That said, Qualcomm needs to set the pricing strategy right this time.
Redmi will likely be the launch partner again with a Q1' 24 release.
Also this time there are more brands that have shown interest in this chip..
— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) November 13, 2023
Redmi along with Realme were among the first OEMs to adapt the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 SoC as well. Some smartphones that pack the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 include the Redmi Note 12 Turbo, Realme GT Neo5 SE, and more.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 series also includes the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, which was announced in September this year for mid-range smartphones. It is also built on a 4nm process and includes four Cortex-A78 and four Cortex-A55 cores.
If we go by the leaks, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 could downgrade some specifications when compared to the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2, but it will be an upgrade to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. Of course, we will need to wait for more details to know the full specifications. Also, do keep in mind that the company itself has not revealed any details so the leaks need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
