Qualcomm might find it difficult to tame the power consumption of the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, despite the chipset reported on multiple occasions to be mass produced on TSMC’s 3nm ‘N3E’ node. Theoretically, an improved manufacturing process should mean that the flagship SoC will be energy-efficient, but a tipster hints that smartphone makers opting to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 in their models will add bigger batteries. Companies may compensate for the silicon’s increased power by incorporating bigger cells to deliver that record runtime.
Phone makers are rumored to use 5,500mAh batteries in flagships sporting the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4
A post by Digital Chat Station on Weibo talks about three flagships getting tested with a battery capacity of 5,500mAh. Since Chinese brands are well-known for adding massive cells to their handsets, we will not be surprised to hear that OPPO, Xiaomi, Vivo, or any other firm chose this component. However, the OnePlus 12 with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 also sports a 5,500mAh battery, so one of the devices being tested may be the OnePlus 13.
As for why Qualcomm could be tweaking the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 to consume more power, the company may wish its upcoming chipset to deliver unrivaled single-core and multi-core performance. We have reported that the SoC was tested earlier with clock speeds of 4.00GHz, with one instance said to have reached 4.30GHz. It is unconfirmed if these frequencies are sustainable, but in addition to cramming bigger batteries, Qualcomm’s partners will have to add larger vapor chambers to dissipate the heat effectively.
The high power draw of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 could also be explained by the lack of efficiency cores, as the silicon is rumored to ship with just performance cores in the ‘2 + 6’ configuration. MediaTek’s Dimensity 9300 followed this approach, and we have seen in various comparisons that the chipset consumes more watts than its competitors. Then again, since the rumor is not verified, it could be hot air, so readers should treat this information with a pinch of salt. According to a Qualcomm executive, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will launch in October, so we will provide any and all updates then.
News Source: Digital Chat Station
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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