Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 vs Google Tensor: Which chip is better?

Hither are all the means that the Snapdragon viii Gen 1 flake differs from Tensor, the start mobile platform made past Google for its latest smartphones.

Qualcomm'southward merely unveiled its latest chipset, the Snapdragon viii Gen 1, which is here to replace the previous Snapdragon 888 flagship and be the go-to fleck for premium Android phones in 2022.

While we haven't had the chance to test out the latest flake just yet, here is everything nosotros know about Qualcomm's chip and how it compares to the already bachelor Google Tensor, which made its debut in Google'southward Pixel vi line of smartphones.

CPU

The latest Qualcomm chipset is now the 2d mobile platform that has been manufactured using the 4nm process, while Google Tensor is all the same using Samsung'south previous-generation 5nm arrangement.

Smaller processes suggest that the Snapdragon 8 Gen i could see potentially run across amend efficiency than Google Tensor.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is too based on ARM v9 architecture, which is likely to offering improved thermals compared to Snapdragon 888, which was known for overheating issues. While nosotros won't have a concluding verdict until a Snapdragon viii Gen 1-powered phone comes in for testing, we tin expect that ARM v9 compages volition be more efficient than Tensor.

GPU

Snapdragon eight Gen 1 comes packed with the re-architectured Qualcomm Adreno GPU, which offers upwardly 30% more power and 25% more efficiency than its predecessor.

Google Tensor meanwhile uses a 20-core variant of ARM Mali-G78 MP20 GPU, which is an integrated high-stop graphics adaptor.

We will run the numbers on the Snapdragon 8 when we get the run a risk, but we exercise know that the Tensor scores half-dozen,300 points in the 3DMark Wildlife Benchmark examination, so nosotros'll have to see how Qualcomm compares.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Block Diagram — Snapdragon eight Gen 1

Camera

The latest chip from Qualcomm is the company's first-ever eighteen-flake Paradigm Signal Processor (ISP) that can capture over 4000x more camera information than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 888 had a 14-fleck ISP, meaning information technology can't capture as much data every bit quickly.

Snapdragon Sight is the branding for the new ISP; it can capture up to three.2Gbps, as well as record 8K HDR video at 30fps. You tin can record in 4K too, at a college charge per unit of 120fps.

On the other hand, Google Tensor features the HDRnet algorithm for processing Live HDR+ videos. It tin can record in 4K at 60fps, but that's where it caps out. However, Tensor does bring other things to the tabular array in terms of its photographic camera, with the Magic Eraser tool that allows users to remove unwanted objects or people from their photos.

Some other new features include Existent Tone, which better depicts diverse peel tones in video and photographs. Since we haven't tested Snapdragon viii still we can't make any definitive conclusions, but it looks like Qualcomm is more than interested in making improvements under the hood while Google is looking to create an experience for its users.

AI

Snapdragon 8 Gen one is packing the 7th-generation Qualcomm AI Engine, which at present offers 2x faster tensor accelerator and shared memory than the Snapdragon 888 bit could.

Qualcomm likewise updated its Sensing Hub; this third-generation model processes more than data and has better AI-enabled imaging capabilities, as was mentioned previously in the photographic camera capabilities.

The new flake besides features Face up Hugging, which can analyse and prioritise your notifications for a more than streamlined experience. Sonde Health's on-device AI tin also analyse the user's phonation, which in plow can check for possible health conditions, such every bit asthma, depression or Covid-19.

In the aforementioned vein as before, Google Tensor is offering upwardly features of its own, such as Live Translate, which translates your speech in existent time into your chosen language. At that place'south likewise Motion Mode, which allows users to snap long exposure and activeness pan shots. Combining these features results in a still image that retains its dynamic move without looking blurry.

Google Tensor image — Google'due south Tensor SoC

5G

Qualcomm is now using the Snapdragon X65 5G modem. The visitor hasn't yet revealed the upload speed, but the modem is capable of offering download speeds of up to 10Gbps.

We know that Google Tensor is using Samsung'southward Exynos 5123 modem, which offers seven.35Gbps, and peak download and upload speeds of iii.67Gbps.

Both chips besides support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, also as Bluetooth 5.2.

Verdict

Until we can run some in-house tests, it is a little too early to say which chipset is definitively meliorate. However, if Qualcomm is to be believed on these specs, the Snapdragon 8 Gen i massively outpaces the Google Tensor chipset.

Tensor is still in the aforementioned league every bit the Snapdragon 888 at the moment, since they both share the same 5nm architecture. It seems that Google is more interested in creating experiences for users and assuasive them to go creative with their phones, while Qualcomm is looking to make specific improvements in unlike areas of the fleck to create an overall more powerful device.