Qualcomm is gearing up to launch the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in early April 2025, bringing another powerful mid-range chipset into the spotlight. But here’s the catch—Qualcomm is ditching the “Elite” branding for this one, keeping it simple yet packing some serious firepower.
With flagship-like architecture and promising benchmark scores, is this the next king of mid-tier chipsets? Let’s break it down.
Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Key Specs & Performance
Built on TSMC’s 4nm process, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 embraces an all-big-core CPU setup, rivaling the MediaTek Dimensity 8400. Expect flagship-like efficiency but with toned-down raw power.
Here’s how the CPU is structured:
- 1x Cortex-X4 at 3.21GHz
- 3x Cortex-A720 at 3.01GHz
- 2x Cortex-A720 at 2.8GHz
- 2x Cortex-A720 at 2.02GHz
Handling graphics is the Adreno 825 GPU, a step below the Adreno 830 found in the premium Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 series. But don’t let that fool you—early AnTuTu benchmarks are soaring past 2 million, signaling solid gaming and multitasking performance.
Other notable specs:
- 6MB SLC + 8MB L3 cache for better efficiency
- Optimized power management to prevent overheating
- AI-driven performance tweaks for smoother app usage
No More “Elite” Branding—Why?
If you’ve been following Qualcomm’s naming schemes, you might have expected a Snapdragon 8s Elite Gen 4. But Qualcomm has scrapped the “Elite” tag, reserving it exclusively for true flagship processors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite.
This move makes sense—having multiple “Elite” chips in different tiers might have caused confusion. Now, 8s Gen 4 takes the spotlight in the upper mid-range, while “Elite” stays premium.
Which Phones Will Get It First?
Rumors suggest Xiaomi will be the first to rock the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, potentially in the upcoming Xiaomi Civi 5 Pro. This aligns with Xiaomi’s trend of bringing high-performance Qualcomm chips into its mid-premium lineup.
Expect other brands like Realme, iQOO, and OnePlus to follow suit, packing this chipset into their next-generation upper mid-range devices.
A True Mid-Tier Flagship?
With a flagship-style CPU setup, solid GPU performance, and high-end efficiency, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is shaping up to be a beast for mid-tier smartphones. The branding shift makes things clearer, and if manufacturers price their phones right, this chip could dominate the segment.
The big question: Will the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 be the go-to choice for power users who don’t want to splurge on a true flagship?
If you liked this article, check out our other articles on Snapdragon Series.