Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 chipset, which will power a new generation of powerful yet efficient budget phones. According to the announcement, this new chipset is said to deliver a better, smoother gaming experience, unlock the use of an astonishingly high-resolution camera, and enable faster network connectivity. So, let's take an in-depth look at how this SoC will bring a series of amazing upgrades to your next value-packed phone.
For clarity, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 processor succeeds the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 SoC, which powered smartphones priced under Rs 15,000. It is expected that this new chipset is likely to make its way into similarly budget-friendly devices. Despite its affordable price, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 SoC delivers substantial performance gains, including faster CPU and GPU performance.
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 processor features a faster 2.4 GHz clock speed compared to the previous generation, which, as per the company, will result in a 36% increase in CPU performance. On the GPU side, it now incorporates more APIs, including OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1, which allow apps and games to communicate with the GPU more efficiently. This reduces the extra processing power that would otherwise slow down the process. As a result, graphics performance improves by 59%. With these two advancements combined, users will enjoy swift app loading, smoother multitasking, and better overall performance.
To offer a better gaming experience, Qualcomm has laid the groundwork for an impressive 144FPS smooth gaming at FHD+ resolution. Furthermore, it has utilised Variable Rate Shading technology, which renders the central element at full resolution and the rest at lower resolution, enhancing game load times without sacrificing quality. The addition of the Game Quick Touch mechanic enables gamers to interact with game elements more quickly than ever before.
However, the feature that deserves the spotlight is hands down the ability to use a 200-megapixel photograph. There's more to camera upgrades. Qualcomm has empowered the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 processor with a new hardware-accelerated Multi-Frame Noise Reduction algorithm, allowing smartphone cameras to produce more detailed low-light photos.
On the network front, this new Qualcomm processor supports Release 16 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, enabling uninterrupted streaming capabilities, low-latency online gaming, and faster download speeds.
Competitive Landscape
With the launch of the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, Qualcomm seems to be catching up to MediaTek in the budget processor segment. MediaTek had led the way with the Dimensity 7300 SoC, which offered faster network connectivity through Wi-Fi 6E and Release 16 5G, along with smoother visuals thanks to a 144Hz refresh rate at Full-HD+ resolution. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, however, struggled to match this performance. The new Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 has finally closed the gap, bringing comparable CPU and GPU capabilities, high-resolution camera support, and improved connectivity. That said, Qualcomm still has ground to cover, as the Dimensity 7400 SoC, the successor to the 7300, boasts a higher 2.6GHz clock speed and even greater 5G network bandwidth.
Ultimately, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 is a meaningful step forward for Qualcomm in the budget segment. It delivers faster CPU and GPU performance, improved gaming, high-resolution camera support, and enhanced connectivity. While Qualcomm still has ground to cover compared to MediaTek's Dimensity 7400, the new chipset introduces significant upgrades. Its launch also shows the benefits of healthy competition. Rival chipsets have pushed Qualcomm to raise its game, which is a win for consumers. More capable, feature-rich, and future-ready budget smartphones are now within reach, making everyday tasks and gaming smoother than ever.
