On October 25, 2023, the Snapdragon Summit officially kicked off, igniting excitement each year as it showcases the next-generation mobile platforms that will drive flagship smartphones in the coming year. This year, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 takes center stage, but the 2023 summit brings some notable changes.
The highlight is the third-generation Snapdragon 8 mobile platform, Qualcomm's first designed specifically for generative AI. Built on advanced 4nm technology, it features the fastest device-side memory, LPDDR5X. Compared to its predecessor, it boasts a 98% increase in AI performance and a 40% boost in energy efficiency. The CPU reaches a peak frequency of 3.3GHz, improving performance by 30% and energy efficiency by 20%, while the GPU achieves a 25% performance increase, also enhancing energy efficiency by 25%.
Beyond smartphone chips, Qualcomm also unveiled its Snapdragon X Elite PC processor, leveraging the same 4nm technology. This 12-core CPU delivers performance twice that of competitive x86 processors, with a multi-thread peak performance 50% higher than Apple’s M2 chip. The GPU achieves 4.6 TFLOPS, and its AI processing speed is 4.5 times faster than competitors, supporting over 13 billion parameters for large models.
Additionally, the first-generation S7 and S7 Pro audio platforms were introduced, featuring Qualcomm's expanded personal area network (XPAN) technology and ultra-low-power Wi-Fi. These platforms achieve a nearly 100-fold increase in AI performance and a 6-fold boost in computational capability. They can effectively extend audio transmission distances in homes or buildings, supporting lossless audio quality up to 192kHz.
Qualcomm also launched a new cross-platform technology called Snapdragon Seamless, enabling seamless connectivity across smartphones, PCs, headphones, AR headsets, and more. This technology simplifies collaboration across different operating systems, allowing for easy sharing of peripherals and data. The Snapdragon 8 mobile platform, Snapdragon X Elite, wearable platforms, and audio platforms now support Snapdragon Seamless. Future expansions of this technology will encompass XR (extended reality), automotive, and IoT platforms. Companies such as Microsoft, Android, Xiaomi, ASUS, Honor, Lenovo, and OPPO are partnering with Qualcomm to create a multi-device experience powered by Snapdragon Seamless, which is set for global rollout this year.
The Snapdragon chips exemplify significant advancements in AI capabilities. Qualcomm has focused heavily on generative and hybrid AI, and the third-generation Snapdragon 8 supports multi-modal general AI models from Microsoft, OpenAI, Meta, Baidu, and others. Its generative speed is impressive, with the ability to generate images using AI in less than one second.
Qualcomm's advancements are further highlighted in the Snapdragon X Elite, whose AI processing power is 4.5 times that of competitors. The Snapdragon Hexagon NPU can achieve up to 45 TOPS INT4 AI computing, a 100-fold increase since 2017, while supporting generative AI models with over 13 billion parameters.
The first-generation S7 and S7 Pro audio platforms not only emphasize high performance and low power consumption but also demonstrate AI capabilities, providing an immersive and personalized audio experience in various scenarios, whether for meetings, gaming, or music.
As generative AI continues to gain traction since the surge of ChatGPT in late 2022, Qualcomm is taking decisive steps to lead in mobile edge generative AI applications. By leveraging its robust computational foundation and established user ecosystem, Qualcomm addresses the high costs and latency issues often associated with cloud computing.
In conclusion, the upgraded Snapdragon chips not only maintain their leadership in mobile chip performance but also provide robust technical support as AI integrates into more sectors. This integration translates to tangible benefits for consumers in daily activities, work, study, and entertainment, highlighting the transformative potential of AI in everyday life.
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