In a recent comparison of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it became apparent that there exists a notable disparity in performance between the two chipsets. The former, sadly, failed to deliver the pinnacle of flagship-tier performance. Further analysis involved pitting the newly unveiled Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 against its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, to gauge their respective capabilities.
Upon a more objective examination, it was determined that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 aligns more closely in performance with the SD 7+ Gen 3 and SD 8 Gen 2. Thus, a thorough benchmark comparison was conducted between the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, encompassing assessments such as Geekbench, AnTuTu, CPU Throttling tests, and beyond.
It’s essential to note that these tests were carried out on the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro, powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, and the OnePlus 12R, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
### Specs Comparison
Before delving further, let us first peruse the specifications of both the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. A comprehensive understanding of these specs is crucial before proceeding with the assessment.
### Geekbench 6 CPU Score
As per the discerning eye of the Geekbench 6 CPU test, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 showcases performance akin to that of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Notably, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 achieves a commendable single-core score of 1,999 points and 5,273 in the multi-core test.
Contrastingly, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 notched 1,934 in the single-core assessment and 5,367 in the multi-core analysis. Despite the modest core frequency, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 rivals the CPU of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 owing to the presence of newer cores within the former.
| Geekbench 6 CPU | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| ————— | ——————– | ——————- |
| Single-core | 1,999 | 1,934 |
| Multi-core | 5,273 | 5,367 |
### AnTuTu Benchmark Score
Moving on to the AnTuTu benchmark test, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 continues to forge a close competition with Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 secured a notable score of 1,523,930 in the AnTuTu test, whereas the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 garnered 1,535,770 points.
In the realm of CPU testing, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 exhibited slightly superior results compared to the SD 8 Gen 2. Meanwhile, the GPU performance on the 8 Gen 2 stood marginally higher.
| AnTuTu Benchmark | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| —————–| ——————— | ——————- |
| AnTuTu Score | 1,523,930 | 1,535,770 |
| CPU | 391,196 | 388,627 |
| GPU | 520,531 | 605,405 |
| Memory | 344,714 | 256,269 |
| UX | 267,489 | 285,469 |
### CPU Throttling Test
In the domain of the CPU Throttling test, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 outshined the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 by a significant margin. Empowered by newer cores boasting enhanced efficiency, the 8s Gen 3 demonstrated its ability to sustain a high workload on its CPU without compromising performance.
Over a span of 15 minutes, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 gracefully throttled to 94% of its peak performance, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 succumbed to a 75% reduction. It’s vital to acknowledge the influence of OEMs’ cooling systems on these results.
### Geekbench GPU Test
Given the technical constraints encountered with 3DMark, the Geekbench GPU test emerged as a worthy alternative to examining the performance disparity between the Adreno GPUs present in both chipsets. The Adreno 735 GPU on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 attained 8,838 in the OpenCL test and 10,154 in the Vulkan test.
Contrastingly, the Adreno 740 GPU integrated into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC scored marginally higher in the OpenCL test, achieving 9,133 points. However, in the Vulkan test, the 8 Gen 2 showcased 9,109 points. Both GPUs exhibit adept capabilities, supporting hardware-accelerated ray tracing and offering a closely matched performance.
| Geekbench 6 GPU | Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| ————— | ——————– | ——————- |
| OpenCL | 8,838 | 9,133 |
| Vulkan | 10,154 | 9,109 |
### AI Performance Test
Finally, in the realm of AI performance evaluation, the Geekbench ML app served as a valuable tool to ascertain the NPU performance of both chipsets. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 secured a respectable score of 612, while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 garnered 383 points. It’s worth noting that the relatively low scores of both chipsets can be attributed to Qualcomm’s current lack of comprehensive support for the NNAPI backend. Despite attempts to utilize other AI benchmarking apps, the Xiaomi Civi 4 Pro declined to launch these applications.
### The Verdict: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
In summary, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 from Qualcomm stands shoulder to shoulder with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 across various performance metrics. If one were to make a choice between the two chipsets, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 would undoubtedly emerge as the preferred selection. This preference stems from the chipset’s incorporation of slightly underclocked yet newer ARM cores, promising enhancements in battery life and thermal efficiency.
Ultimately, the decision rests upon personal preferences and considerations. What are your thoughts on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3? Would you opt for it over the preceding Snapdragon 8 Gen 2? Share your insights with us in the comments below.
