Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon 6 and 4 Gen 1 Mobile Platforms

Qualcomm today introduced its latest entries in the Snapdragon 6 and Snapdragon 4 series of mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC).

They are called Snapdragon 6 Gen 1(Opens in a new window) and Snapdragon 4 Gen 1(Opens in a new window), respectively, and both new SoCs hold the promise of more performance and features for entry-level and midrange devices. We also won’t be kept waiting too long to see them used in devices.

Snapdragon 4 Gen 1

First up we have the latest entry-level SoC. Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 is the first 6nm 4-series chip, offering a 15% Kryo CPU performance boost and 10% Adreno GPU boost compared to the existing Snapdragon 480. Qualcomm says we can expect entry-level devices using this new 4-series chip to demonstrate smoother multitasking and offer “immersive entertainment.”

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 uses a triple Image Signal Processor (ISP) for capturing from three cameras at once, and combines it with Multi-Frame Noise Reduction to allow for “crisp” 108MP photos. This counts as the best available photo capture in the 4-series range. There’s also Qualcomm’s AI Engine, which provides access to an always-on voice assistant while also offering echo and background noise suppression.

As for connectivity, a Snapdragon X51 5G Modem-RF System allows for 2.5Gbps peak 5G download speeds, while the FastConnect 6200 provides premium 2×2 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 1

The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 offers a bigger leap in performance for midrange devices, with a promised 40% faster Kryo CPU and 35% faster Adreno GPU compared to the Snapdragon 695. Add to that the 7th Gen Qualcomm AI Engine, which provides a 3x AI performance improvement allowing for AI-based activity tracking and access to an intelligent voice assistant.

Just like with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, Qualcomm included a triple ISP for 108MP photos, but there’s also the ability to capture video with computational HDR via staggered HDR image sensors. This is a first for the 6-series.

The improved CPU and GPU performance means this new SoC allows for 60fps gaming with HDR. The included Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System won’t keep you waiting long for downloads, as it provides 2.9Gbps peak 5G download speeds. A Qualcomm FastConnect 6700 provides 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E (another first for the Snapdragon 6 series) and Bluetooth 5.2.

Motorola and iQOO have already pledged support for these new Snapdragon chips, and they won’t have to wait long to use them. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 is expected to be available commercially in Q3, while the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 will be available in Q1 2023.

The iQOO Z6 Lite will be the first smartphone in the world to use the Snapdargon 4 Gen 1 later this year in India.

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