Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 promises superior performance in 2024

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:) has announced its upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chipset, set to revolutionize mobile technology in 2024. The new chip employs TSMC’s N3E low-power-optimized process, which boasts higher yields than Apple (NASDAQ:)’s A17 Pro’s N3B process. With a combination of a 3nm process and a self-researched architecture, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 promises superior CPU and GPU performance.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 will feature Nuvia-based Oryon CPU cores, expected to deliver a significant performance boost. It will also be equipped with an Adreno 830 GPU, aimed at providing superior Android graphics capabilities. Benchmark scores from X/@Tech_Reve on Geekbench 5 and 6 predict impressive results, with the Snapdragon’s GPU expected to surpass Apple’s M2 PC chipset by 10% in the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm’s current flagship chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, is set to power most high-end Android phones from late 2023 through most of 2024. Brands like Xiaomi (OTC:) have already announced devices featuring this chip, including Xiaomi’s 14 series. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 offers significant performance and efficiency improvements over its predecessor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Qualcomm claims a 20% increase in CPU efficiency despite higher clock speeds across all cores. The chip also marks an end to support for older Android apps running on a 32-bit architecture as it is a 64-bit-only chipset.

Benchmark tests on Geekbench 6 have shown that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 surpasses Qualcomm’s performance claims, with substantial increases in multi-core and single-core performance compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. However, concerns about sustained performance have been raised due to early test results showing a drop in peak performance after repeated runs of the demanding 3DMark Wildlife Stress Test.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 introduces several new features, including support for Dolby HDR photo capture with 10-bit color depth. It also offers enhanced AI capabilities, with Qualcomm stating that the chip’s Hexagon NPU offers nearly double the performance and is 40% more efficient than its predecessor. The SoC can run large language models on-device and supports multi-modal models for handling text, image, and speech locally.

Despite the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Gen 4, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains a viable option for powering smartphones in the near future due to its robust capabilities. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is expected to power many high-end smartphones throughout 2024, including big names like Samsung (KS:)’s Galaxy S24 family.

InvestingPro Insights

As Qualcomm continues to innovate in the mobile technology space, it’s worth noting some key insights from InvestingPro. Qualcomm (QCOM) has a reputation for yielding high returns on invested capital, as seen in InvestingPro Tip 0, and has maintained its dividend payments for 21 consecutive years (InvestingPro Tip 9). This consistent performance could be indicative of the company’s ability to generate steady cash flow, even as it invests in cutting-edge technologies like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

From a financial perspective, Qualcomm’s Market Cap stands at 133.03B USD, with a P/E Ratio of 18.33, and a Price / Book ratio as of Q4 2023 of 6.16 (InvestingPro Data). These metrics suggest that the company is valued fairly in the market. Furthermore, Qualcomm has demonstrated a noteworthy return over the last week (InvestingPro Tip 4), which might be a positive signal to potential investors.

In conclusion, Qualcomm’s sustained dividend payments and attractive financial metrics, combined with its commitment to innovation, make it a company to watch. For more in-depth analysis and additional tips, consider exploring the InvestingPro platform, which offers a wealth of insights into companies like Qualcomm.

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