What’s happened? Entry-level Android phones are about to get much better with day-to-day and gaming performance, as Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 with major CPU and GPU improvements.
- The octa-core CPU features four performance cores clocked at 2.4GHz and four efficiency cores at 1.8GHz. Altogether, the chipset offers up to 36% better CPU performance.
- The Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 4-powered Android phones will offer significant improvements in gaming performance (up to 59%), unlocking 144 FPS gameplay at FHD+ resolution (up from 120 FPS).
- There’s support for HDR gaming (10-bit color depth) and APIs like OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.1, unlocking high-quality visuals and smoother graphics performance in Android apps and games.
Qualcomm
Why is this important? Complementing the CPU and GPU upgrades is support for LPDDR5X memory (up to 3,200 MHz) and UFS 3.1 storage (vs. UFS 2.2), which will improve multitasking and app load times on budget Android phones.
- The chipset’s 12-bit Spectra ISP supports up to 200MP photo capture, a jump from 108MP on the previous-generation chip, and adds support for 2K HDR video (30 fps) for the first time, resulting in sharper, more detailed videos and better low-light photography.
- While the cellular connectivity options remain the same (Sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G), the new chip offers a slightly higher downlink capacity of up to 2.9 Gbps (up from 2.5 Gbps).
- Additionally, smartphones powered by the chip can leverage Wi-Fi 6E for faster wireless speeds, and Bluetooth has been upgraded from version 5.2 to 5.4. Location accuracy has also improved. Instead of lane-level GPS precision, the chipset now delivers sidewalk-level accuracy.
- Importantly, it’s the first Snapdragon 6-series chip built on TSMC’s advanced 4nm process, improving performance, efficiency, and thermal management.
Why should I care? The latest entry-level chipset marks a turning point for Qualcomm’s mid-tier 6-series.
- It’s the most capable yet across CPU, GPU, connectivity, and imaging performance, all while consuming less power than its predecessor.
- For budget-conscious Android buyers, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 brings meaningful improvements across the spec sheet, making affordable smartphones in the $200 to $300 price range faster, smoother, and more responsive.
- For context, the chipset outperforms the Exynos 1280 found in the $299.99 Galaxy A25 5G and the Dimensity 6300 powering the $199.99 Motorola Moto G 2025.
Qualcomm
OK, what’s next? In the coming months, expect to see new entry-level 5G and affordable gaming smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4.
- In the United States, Motorola is likely to be among the first adopters with a sub-$300 smartphone, while in other markets such as India, brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo could follow suit.
- The chip’s debut may also push MediaTek to introduce a competitive alternative in the same category.
