Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Chip Brings Faster Gaming, Better Photos and AI to Phones

Qualcomm is upping its game yet again in 2025. The chipmaker has officially unveiled the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, a high-performance mobile chipset designed to power the next wave of Android flagships from brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, Redmi, IQOO, and Meizu.

Announced on April 3, the new SoC (System-on-Chip) builds on the success of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3—but with a massive leap in performance, energy efficiency, AI capabilities, and mobile gaming features that position it as a premium-tier chip without the price tag of the “Elite” version.

A Performance Jump Where It Counts

While the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 doesn’t feature Qualcomm’s new Oryon cores—those are reserved for the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite—it still delivers impressive performance gains thanks to its updated Kryo CPU architecture.

According to Qualcomm:

CPU performance is up by 31%

GPU performance jumps by 49%

AI capabilities are improved by 44%

Energy efficiency is better by 39%

This makes the Gen 4 a noticeable upgrade over its predecessor, offering a solid middle ground between raw flagship power and battery-friendly optimization—ideal for premium mid-range and upper-mid-tier smartphones.

Next up: camera tech, AI, gaming, and connectivity updates...

Smarter Cameras and Better Photography with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

Qualcomm isn’t just chasing raw numbers—it's focusing on enhanced real-world experiences, especially when it comes to mobile photography. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 introduces an 18-bit triple image signal processor (ISP) capable of supporting:

Up to 320MP camera sensors

4K HDR video at 60 FPS

Real-time image enhancements across 250 distinct visual layers

That last one is particularly notable. It means the chip can analyze and optimize elements like skin tones, sky details, and lighting with impressive precision—even at 4K resolution.

Also new is Night Vision 2.0, Qualcomm’s ultra-low-light video recording tech that enables smooth 4K video capture at 30 FPS in near-darkness. So whether you're filming a concert or snapping portraits in dim lighting, this chipset promises to bring the clarity.

Bringing Console-Like Gaming to Mobile

Gamers, take note. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 includes Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, such as:

Snapdragon Game Super Resolution 2.0

Qualcomm Adaptive Performance Engine

Adreno Image Motion Engine 2.0

On-device ray tracing

These enhancements are built to deliver console-level graphics and frame rates, particularly in demanding mobile titles. Expect smoother gameplay, richer textures, and less battery drain—even during long sessions.

Whether you’re into competitive shooters or open-world RPGs, this chip aims to elevate the mobile gaming experience without overheating your device or killing your battery.

Next up: AI features, 5G modem, and expected phone launches...

Smarter Phones With On-Device AI

One of the most important aspects of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is its on-device AI processing power. With a next-generation NPU (Neural Processing Unit), this chip is built to support on-device Generative AI tasks, including running LLMs (large language models) directly on your phone.

That means faster, smarter AI features that don’t require cloud processing—which translates to better privacy, lower latency, and more real-time functionality. Think:

AI photo editing on the fly

Live voice translation

Smart assistants that understand more nuanced prompts

Real-time contextual search and recommendations

For users, this brings a more responsive and personal smartphone experience, whether you're managing productivity tasks, interacting with your camera, or simply swiping through apps.

Blazing-Fast Connectivity with 5G and Wi-Fi 7

The new chipset is equipped with the Snapdragon X75 5G modem, which offers:

Peak download speeds up to 4.2 Gbps

Support for sub-6GHz spectrum (note: no mmWave support here)

While it skips mmWave, the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 ensures the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 delivers top-tier wireless performance, suitable for streaming, cloud gaming, and high-speed file transfers.

This connectivity suite is a serious upgrade for devices aiming to balance speed and battery life while offering next-gen wireless capabilities.

Final thoughts and availability next…

Which Phones Will Feature Snapdragon 8s Gen 4?

You won’t have to wait long to see the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 in action. Qualcomm confirmed that several major OEMs will be the first to launch devices powered by the new chipset. Among them:

Xiaomi

Redmi

Oppo

IQOO

Meizu

These brands are expected to debut phones in the coming weeks, likely targeting markets across Asia and Europe. While specific models haven't been announced yet, we can expect the chip to appear in upper mid-range and premium smartphones priced just below flagship tier.

That means affordable performance phones with high-end features like 120Hz displays, high-resolution cameras, and advanced AI will soon be powered by this chip.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Is the Sweet Spot for 2025 Smartphones

With the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, Qualcomm is hitting the sweet spot between performance and efficiency. It may not have the sheer horsepower of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Elite, but it delivers flagship-like experiences in AI, gaming, and photography—without the flagship price.

From real-time image enhancements and 4K video to blazing-fast 5G and GenAI, this chip shows how far mobile processing power has come—and where it’s headed next.

As smartphones featuring this chip begin to roll out, expect a new wave of smarter, faster, and more capable Android phones—ready to compete with the best of 2025.