Snapdragon 8 Elite vs 8 Gen 4: Which Chip Powers Your Phone?

Smartphone performance is heavily influenced by the processor inside. Qualcomm has recently redefined its flagship offerings with the introduction of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 processors. If you're a tech enthusiast, gamer, or someone looking to buy a new flagship phone, understanding the difference between these two chips is crucial. This guide compares the Snapdragon 8 Elite and 8 Gen 4, highlighting their performance, features, and real-world benchmarks.

Overview: Snapdragon 8 Elite vs 8 Gen 4

Qualcomm initially launched the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, which later evolved into the Snapdragon 8 Elite. While both chips aim for flagship performance, the 8 Elite stands out as the top-tier model, boasting advanced CPU and GPU architecture. Meanwhile, the 8 Gen 4 offers solid performance for premium devices, making it slightly more accessible.

Key differences lie in processing power, graphics capabilities, and energy efficiency. The 8 Elite is built on TSMC's 3nm process, while the 8 Gen 4 uses a 4nm process. This difference alone contributes to better performance and reduced power consumption in the 8 Elite.

CPU Performance Comparison

The Snapdragon 8 Elite features an 8-core Oryon CPU, comprising 2 high-performance cores operating at 4.32GHz and 6 efficiency cores running at 3.53GHz. In contrast, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 features an 8-core Kryo CPU, with the prime core running at 3.21 GHz.

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 Single-Core:

• 8 Gen 4: 2,154
• 8 Elite: 3,155 (+46%)
• Geekbench 6 Multi-Core:
  • 8 Gen 4: 6,880
  • 8 Elite: 9,723 (+41%)

These results indicate that the Snapdragon 8 Elite is significantly faster, especially for multi-threaded tasks such as video editing, gaming, and productivity apps. The higher clock speeds and improved core architecture give the 8 Elite a clear advantage.

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GPU and Gaming Performance

Both chips include powerful GPUs, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite's Adreno 830 is a generation ahead of the Adreno 825 in the 8 Gen 4. This difference translates into better graphics performance and higher frame rates in demanding games.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test:

• 8 Gen 4 Best Loop: 2,845
• 8 Elite Best Loop: 6,052

The 8 Elite’s GPU is over 2x faster, delivering smoother gaming experiences with support for Ray Tracing and advanced graphics rendering.

Memory and Storage

The Snapdragon 8 Elite also supports higher memory bandwidth and faster storage access.

• Memory: LPDDR5X up to 5.3GHz (Elite) vs 4.8GHz (Gen 4)
• Storage: UFS 4.1 vs UFS 4.0

This allows the 8 Elite to handle heavy multitasking, high-resolution game assets, and faster app launches compared to the 8 Gen 4.

AI and Imaging

Both chips feature powerful AI engines, but the 8 Elite's Hexagon AI offers superior real-time image processing, voice recognition, and on-device AI capabilities. The 8 Elite also supports higher-resolution cameras and 8K HDR video recording, while the 8 Gen 4 handles 4K HDR video with slightly lower AI-assisted enhancements.

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Connectivity

Both processors support 5G, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0, but the Snapdragon 8 Elite offers higher peak download and upload speeds thanks to its X80 5G modem. This makes it ideal for high-speed internet streaming, cloud gaming, and ultra-low-latency online multiplayer games.

Real-World Performance

• AnTuTu Benchmark:
• 8 Gen 4: 2,056,633
• 8 Elite: 2,721,951 (+32%)
• Speedometer 3.0 (Web Performance):
  • 8 Gen 4: 12.5
  • 8 Elite: 21.4 (+71%)

In everyday usage, the Snapdragon 8 Elite delivers better app responsiveness, smoother UI navigation, and faster load times, making it the preferred choice for flagship devices.

Conclusion

When comparing the Snapdragon 8 Elite to the 8 Gen 4, it's clear that the 8 Elite is the superior processor in every major aspect — CPU, GPU, AI, connectivity, and real-world performance. However, the 8 Gen 4 still offers excellent performance and is suitable for most high-end smartphones at a slightly lower price.

If you're buying a flagship smartphone and want the best performance for gaming, content creation, and AI features, the Snapdragon 8 Elite is the processor to go for.

FAQs

1. Which is better, Snapdragon 8 Elite or 8 Gen 4?

The Snapdragon 8 Elite outperforms the 8 Gen 4 in CPU, GPU, AI, and connectivity, making it ideal for flagship devices.

2. Can Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 handle high-end gaming?

Yes, the 8 Gen 4 is capable of running high-end games smoothly, but the 8 Elite offers higher frame rates and better graphics.

3. What devices use Snapdragon 8 Elite?

Most upcoming flagship smartphones from brands like OnePlus, Realme, and Xiaomi are expected to use the 8 Elite.

4. How much faster is the Snapdragon 8 Elite in benchmarks?

The 8 Elite scores roughly 32% higher in AnTuTu and 71% faster in Speedometer web tests compared to the 8 Gen 4.

5. Does Snapdragon 8 Elite improve battery efficiency?

Yes, thanks to the 3nm process, the 8 Elite is more power-efficient while delivering higher performance.

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