Qualcomm Snapdragon 675
Qualcomm Snapdragon 675: A Balance Between Price and Performance in 2025
April 2025
In the world of mobile technology, the choice of processor often determines how comfortable the use of a smartphone will be. Despite its architectural age, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 remains a popular choice for budget and mid-range devices. Let's explore the advantages and disadvantages of this SoC, who it is suitable for, and how it compares to competitors in 2025.
1. Architecture and Manufacturing Process: The Foundation of Stability
The Snapdragon 675 is built on an 11-nanometer manufacturing process — a standard that has become outdated by 2025 (modern flagship devices are utilizing 3–4 nm). However, this technology reduces manufacturing costs, making the chip attractive for devices priced up to $300.
CPU: 8 Cores with a Focus on Efficiency
The processor includes two clusters:
- 4 high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked up to 2 GHz for resource-intensive tasks.
- 4 energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores clocked at 1.7 GHz for background processes.
This architecture (big.LITTLE) provides a balance between speed and power efficiency. The L2 cache size of 256 KB per cluster accelerates data processing, but compared to newer chips (like the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, which has 1 MB of L2), it may be insufficient for complex computations.
GPU: Adreno 612
The graphics processor supports resolutions up to Full HD+ (2520×1080) and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It is compatible with API Vulkan 1.1 and OpenGL ES 3.2, allowing for mobile gaming at medium settings. However, it lacks the power for projects involving ray tracing or 4K rendering.
2. Performance: What Can Snapdragon 675 Do in 2025?
Gaming
The Adreno 612 can handle popular games like Genshin Impact at low or medium settings (25–30 FPS), but in projects of the level of Honkai: Star Rail, framerates may drop to 20 FPS. For casual games (Candy Crush, Among Us), the performance is more than sufficient.
Multimedia
The chip supports 4K video encoding/decoding at 30 FPS (H.265/HEVC), as well as HDR10 playback. This makes it suitable for streaming and movie watching. However, the lack of hardware support for AV1 is a drawback, given the growing popularity of this codec.
Artificial Intelligence
The Snapdragon 675 does not have a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit). AI tasks (photo processing, voice assistants) are handled through the Hexagon 685 DSP and CPU. This slows down applications like Google Lens or Adobe Lightroom Mobile, but is adequate for basic functions.
Power Consumption and Heating
With a TDP of 6 W and an 11-nm manufacturing process, it maintains moderate heating even under prolonged stress. In smartphones with passive cooling (like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13E), the temperature rarely exceeds 40°C. Battery life depends on capacity: devices with a 5000 mAh battery can last 1.5–2 days with moderate use.
3. Integrated Modules: Connectivity and Navigation
- Modem: Snapdragon X12 LTE (up to 600 Mbps download) — 5G is not supported. In 2025, this is a significant drawback as operators are actively expanding fifth-generation networks.
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.1 — sufficient for connecting wireless headphones and home internet but slower than Wi-Fi 6/7.
- Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou — positioning accuracy within 3–5 meters.
4. Comparison with Competitors
Snapdragon 678 (previous generation):
- Higher CPU frequencies (2.2 GHz vs 2.0 GHz), but the difference in real-world scenarios is barely noticeable.
- AnTuTu 10: ~345,000 vs 327,766.
MediaTek Dimensity 810:
- Supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and has higher GPU performance (Mali-G57 MC2).
- AnTuTu 10: ~400,000. Smartphones with Dimensity 810 start at $250.
Unisoc Tiger T618:
- Cheaper but weaker in gaming (AnTuTu 10: ~220,000). Devices with this chip start at $150.
Conclusion: The Snapdragon 675 lags behind modern alternatives in speed and functionality but gains points for stability and optimization.
5. Use Cases
- Gaming: Only suitable for casual games. For PUBG Mobile or CoD Mobile, minimal settings are required.
- Daily Tasks: Social media, browsing, office applications — everything runs smoothly.
- Photo and Video: Supports cameras up to 48 MP (single) or 16+16 MP (dual). 4K recording is possible, but without advanced stabilization.
6. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low device cost ($180–$300).
- Good energy efficiency.
- 4K video support.
Cons:
- No 5G or Wi-Fi 6.
- Weak GPU for modern gaming.
- Lack of NPU.
7. Practical Tips When Choosing a Smartphone
- RAM: At least 6 GB for comfortable operation.
- Display: IPS or AMOLED with a 90 Hz refresh rate — Adreno 612 won't handle 120 Hz in games.
- Battery: At least 5000 mAh for long battery life.
Examples of 2025 Models:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 13E ($220): 6/128 GB, 6.5" IPS 90 Hz.
- Realme C67 ($190): 4/64 GB, 6.4" AMOLED.
8. Final Conclusion: Who Is the Snapdragon 675 Suitable For?
This processor is a choice for those who:
- Are not willing to pay extra for 5G.
- Use their smartphone for basic tasks: calls, social media, YouTube.
- Are looking for a device with good battery life.
The main benefits are low price, stability, and a proven architecture. However, if you need AAA-level gaming or work with neural networks, it's better to consider the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 or MediaTek Dimensity 8300.
In 2025, the Snapdragon 675 remains a niche solution, but for its segment, it continues to offer a worthy balance of capabilities and cost.