The topic Qualcomm says its new Snapdragon chips will have less lag on mid-range Android phones is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
While mid-range Android phones have gotten way better over the years, lag spikes are still remarkably common. With its new Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 chips, Qualcomm says lag should be cut down alongside some other improvements.
Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 are the latest versions of Qualcomm’s mid-range chipsets. These are the sorts of chips you’d expect to find in something like a Moto G, Nothing Phone A-series, and so on.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 packs a 2+6 core setup consisting of two performance cores at up to 2.4GHz and six efficiency cores at up to 2.0GHz. The chip supports displays at FHD+ up to 144Hz, sub-6GHz 5G networks, Wi-Fi 5, and cameras up to 108MP. Some notable upgrades this year include the GPU, which Qualcomm says has 77% better performance compared to the last generation and support for 90Hz gameplay. On the networking side, it supports Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) 5G + 5G/4G connectivity.
As for Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, the chip has a 4+4 core setup with four performance cores at up to 2.6GHz and four efficiency cores at up to 2.0GHz. It supports Wi-Fi 7, FHD+ displays at up to 144Hz, and cameras up to 200MP. It also supports AI night vision for the camera as well as Bluetooth 6.0. Qualcomm calls out support for the Adaptive Performance Engine 4.0 which enables “smooth, long-lasting play” from the 21% more powerful GPU.
Qualcomm also notes that both of these chips introduce “Snapdragon Smooth Motion UI,” a new improvement on the chipset level that Qualcomm says will deliver “lag-free navigation.” Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 benefits from 20% faster app launches and 18% less screen stutter, while Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 sees bigger improvements at 43% and 25%, respectively.
Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 will show up in devices from Honor and Redmi first, while Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 will appear in Oppo, Realme, and Redmi devices.