Qualcomm Inc (QCOM)

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Qualcomm to unveil two variants of Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset next month
By: Investing | September 25, 2023

In a series of recent developments, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) is preparing to announce the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset at the upcoming Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii. The semiconductor giant plans to reveal two versions of the processor, according to leaked email conversations between Qualcomm and its partners, including Samsung (KS:005930). The documents were made public by South Korean blog gamma0burst on Monday.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset will arrive in two variants, both manufactured under Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's (TSMC) process nodes. One will be produced using TSMC's 4nm N4P node, while the other, expected to be more powerful and energy-efficient, will use TSMC's enhanced 3nm N3E node.

The two variants are anticipated to have the same CPU combination structure. However, there could be notable differences in performance and power efficiency due to the different manufacturing processes used. This combination includes ARM's latest Cortex X4, Cortex A720, and Cortex A520 CPU cores.

Although both versions bear similar CPU combos, it remains uncertain whether they will be distinguished as non-Plus and Plus versions. This ambiguity arises from the fact that in 2022, Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 with identical CPU combinations.

The new processors are expected to offer improved efficiency and overheating prevention compared to their predecessors. The 3nm variant, in particular, is anticipated to be more powerful and energy-efficient due to its smaller feature set and transistors. Presently, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)'s A17 Pro is the only other 3nm mobile chip globally.

Unlike in 2022 when Qualcomm replaced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, the company plans to unveil both variants of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset simultaneously this year. The launch event is scheduled for October 24 at the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii.

As Qualcomm gears up for the release of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it is expected to be a significant event for Android flagships in 2024. However, given past experiences, it could be an unpredictable journey for these flagships.

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