Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2: 4nm Chip with Boosted RAM, CPU, and 5G Capabilities
Qualcomm has made an exciting announcement with the unveiling of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (SM4450), the successor to last year’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. This new chip brings notable enhancements to the series, including support for the improved 3GPP Release 16 version of 5G and being the first 4nm chip in the Snapdragon 4-series. With improved performance, faster RAM, upgraded storage options, and advanced camera capabilities, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 promises to deliver an enhanced user experience. Let’s dive into the specifications and features of this new chip.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 introduces a more efficient 4nm manufacturing process, although Qualcomm hasn’t disclosed the specific foundry responsible. This advancement ensures improved overall efficiency compared to its predecessor, which was fabricated at 6nm (TSMC). The new chip features two performance cores clocked at 2.2GHz and six efficiency cores clocked at 2.0GHz. This configuration offers a 10% performance boost over the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. While details about the Adreno GPU are yet to be revealed, the display support remains the same, with FHD+ resolution at a smooth 120fps.
One significant upgrade in the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is the adoption of LPDDR5x RAM, which supports speeds of up to 3,200MHz. This faster RAM enables snappier multitasking and smoother overall performance. Additionally, manufacturers have the option to equip phones with UFS 3.1 (2-lane) storage, further enhancing data transfer speeds and improving the user experience.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Process | 6nm (TSMC) | 4nm (?) |
| CPU | 2x 2.0GHz + 6x 1.8GHz | 2x 2.2GHz + 6x 2.0GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | ? |
| RAM | LPDDR4x 2,133MHz | LPDDR5x 3,200MHz |
| Storage | UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.1 (2-lane) |
| Display | Up to FHD+ @ 120fps | Up to FHD+ @ 120fps |
| ISP | Triple | Dual (12-bit) |
| Camera | up to 108MP | up to 108MP, up to 32MP Zero Shutter Lag |
| Video | up to 1080p @ 60fps | up to 1080p @ 60fps, EIS |
| Modem | X51 (2.5Gbps down, 800Mbps up) | X61 (Rel. 16, 2.5Gbps down, 900Mbps up) |
| Local | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX) | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 (aptX) |
| USB | 3.2 Gen 1 | 3.2 Gen 1 |
| Charging | Quick Charge 4+ | Quick Charge 4+ |
Although the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 features a dual-ISP (Image Signal Processor), it introduces an exciting new capability called Multi-Camera Temporal Filtering (MCTF). This feature enhances noise reduction for videos, resulting in improved video quality. Video capture remains limited to 1080p at 60fps, but the chip now supports Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) for smoother footage. The chip can handle cameras up to 108MP or up to 32MP resolution for Zero Shutter Lag, delivering fast autofocus and exceptional image quality.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is equipped with the Snapdragon X61 modem, enabling support for the advanced 3GPP Release 16 version of 5G. This modem supports 4×4 MIMO with up to 100MHz bandwidth and offers impressive downlink speeds of up to 2.5Gbps and uplink speeds of up to 900Mbps. On the local connectivity front, the chip supports Wi-Fi 5 (ac) at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, along with Bluetooth 5.1 featuring aptX for high-quality audio streaming.
The first smartphones featuring the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip are expected to arrive in the second half of this year. Leading the charge will be Xiaomi’s Redmi and vivo, as they bring innovative devices powered by this new chipset to the market.
Pokdepinion: With the introduction of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, Qualcomm continues to push the boundaries of smartphone performance and connectivity. The enhanced 4nm chip, support for faster RAM and storage, advanced camera capabilities, and improved 5G connectivity highlight the impressive features of this new offering. We’re going to see a good boost in performance for more affordable devices.
