Qualcomm has introduced its latest flagship system-on-chip (SoC), the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which will soon power upcoming Android flagship devices. The company has opted for a name that suggests a leap in technology, as noted in a recent blog post. This SoC features a third-generation Oryon CPU, designed to enhance both single- and multi-core performance, alongside an upgraded Hexagon neural processing unit (NPU) that focuses on on-device AI capabilities.
The CPU configuration includes two prime cores with speeds reaching up to 4.6GHz and six performance cores up to 3.62GHz. Qualcomm reports a 35 percent improvement in power efficiency from the CPU, which contributes to an overall 16 percent efficiency increase for the SoC. The Adreno GPU has also been updated, claiming a 23 percent boost in gaming performance and a 20 percent reduction in power consumption.
The new Hexagon NPU is said to provide 37 percent faster performance compared to its predecessor, along with improved power savings. Qualcomm indicated that these advancements, in conjunction with the Snapdragon Sensing Hub, could facilitate more personalized AI experiences by continuously adapting to user behavior.
In terms of camera capabilities, the updated image signal processor (ISP) supports the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec and introduces a “computational video pipeline.” This feature enables AI-driven enhancements to video on a frame-by-frame basis. The ISP also supports context-aware autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance functionalities.
Additionally, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 incorporates an X85 modem that was announced earlier in the year, which is claimed to reduce gaming latency by 50 percent through AI-enhanced Wi-Fi. Devices featuring the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 are expected to be released soon by various manufacturers in the Android ecosystem.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/tech/784997/qualcomm-snapdragon-8-elite-gen-5