Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Qualcomm Snapdragon 680: Balance of Performance and Energy Efficiency in 2025
(April 2025)
Introduction
In the world of mobile technology, the choice of processor often determines the fate of a smartphone: from its speed to its battery life. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680, released in 2021, remains a popular choice for budget and mid-range devices. Despite lacking 5G support, this chip continues to attract attention due to its balanced performance and affordability. In this article, we will explore why the Snapdragon 680 is still relevant in 2025, who it is suitable for, and what nuances to consider.
1. Architecture and Process Technology: The Foundation of Stability
The Snapdragon 680 is built on a 6nm process, ensuring an optimal balance between power consumption and performance. This is especially important for devices that need to run for extended periods without a recharge.
CPU: 8 Cores Focused on Efficiency
The processor utilizes a hybrid Kryo 265 architecture with two clusters:
- 4 high-performance Cortex-A73 cores clocked up to 2.4 GHz for resource-intensive tasks.
- 4 energy-efficient Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz for background processes.
This configuration enables the smartphone to switch quickly between tasks, saving battery life. However, in 2025, this architecture appears outdated compared to modern solutions with Cortex-A75/A55 or even Cortex-A78 cores.
GPU: Adreno 610
The Adreno 610 GPU supports resolutions up to Full HD+ (1080 × 2520 pixels) and refresh rates of 90 Hz. It is compatible with APIs like Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL ES 3.2, and OpenCL 2.0, ensuring smooth performance in less demanding games and applications. However, its power is insufficient for modern AAA projects with advanced graphics.
6nm Process: Where Is It Noticeable?
Compared to 8nm chips, the Snapdragon 680 demonstrates 10-15% better energy efficiency. This directly impacts battery life: smartphones with a 5000 mAh battery can last up to 2 days with moderate use.
2. Performance in Real-World Tasks
Gaming: Comfort at Medium Settings
The Adreno 610 handles mobile hits from 2023-2024, but in 2025, its capabilities are limited:
- Genshin Impact: low settings, 25-30 FPS, possible drops in fights.
- PUBG Mobile: medium settings (HD, 30 FPS).
- Honkai: Star Rail: minimum settings for stable performance.
For casual games (Candy Crush, Among Us), the processor is ideal: no lags or overheating.
Multimedia: 4K Without Problems
The chip supports 4K video encoding and decoding at 30 FPS, as well as output to external displays via USB-C. This makes it a good choice for series and YouTube enthusiasts.
AI Applications: Basic Capabilities
The Snapdragon 680 features a modest Hexagon 686 AI accelerator that handles:
- Photo processing (HDR, noise reduction).
- Voice recognition (Google Assistant, voice dialing).
- Simple AR effects in social media.
However, for complex tasks, such as generating images through Stable Diffusion, it lacks sufficient power.
Energy Consumption and Heating
Thanks to its 6nm process and optimized architecture, the chip hardly heats up even under prolonged load. This allows manufacturers to skip complex cooling systems, keeping the weight and thickness of the device down.
3. Built-in Modules: Connectivity and Communication
- Snapdragon X11 LTE Modem: supports 4G Cat 13 (speed up to 390 Mbps). The lack of 5G is becoming a noticeable downside in 2025.
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): up to 433 Mbps. No support for Wi-Fi 6/6E.
- Bluetooth 5.1: stable connection with headphones and smartwatches.
- Navigation: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou. There is no satellite communication (as seen in iPhone 14/15).
These characteristics place the Snapdragon 680 on par with budget MediaTek Helio G series chips, but it lags behind more advanced solutions like Snapdragon 7 Gen 3.
4. Comparison with Competitors
MediaTek Helio G96 (6nm):
- Better graphics (Mali-G57 MC2).
- Supports displays with 120 Hz refresh rates.
- However, it has higher power consumption.
Unisoc Tiger T616 (12nm):
- Cheaper, but poorer gaming performance.
- Lack of optimization for popular applications.
Snapdragon 695 (6nm):
- 5G support.
- More powerful GPU (Adreno 619).
Conclusion: The Snapdragon 680 is a choice for those who prioritize stability and battery life over maximum power or 5G.
5. Use Cases
Gaming:
Suitable for casual games and older titles. For modern AAA games, it’s better to choose devices with Snapdragon 7 Gen 2 or Dimensity 9000.
Daily Tasks:
Social media, messaging, online banking, streaming video — all work smoothly without lag.
Photo and Video Recording:
The chip supports cameras up to 64 MP (single sensor) or dual 16 MP. Features like night mode or portrait blurring work, but the quality lags behind flagships. 4K@30FPS video recording is stable, but electronic image stabilization (EIS) can falter in dynamic scenes.
6. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low power consumption.
- 4K video support.
- Affordable device pricing ($200-300).
- Stability and optimization.
Cons:
- No 5G support.
- Weak GPU for modern gaming.
- Limited AI capabilities.
7. Practical Tips When Choosing a Smartphone
- RAM: at least 6 GB for multitasking.
- Screen: IPS or AMOLED with a 90 Hz refresh rate (Adreno 610 can handle it).
- Battery: at least 5000 mAh for 2 days of operation.
- Cooling: even a passive heatsink will improve performance.
Examples of Devices in 2025:
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 (4G) — $249.
- Realme 11 — $229.
- Samsung Galaxy A25 — $279.
8. Final Conclusion: Who Is the Snapdragon 680 Suitable For?
This processor is an ideal choice for:
- Budget users who do not need 5G.
- Students and teenagers who value battery life.
- Older adults using smartphones primarily for calls, photos, and social media.
The main benefits are stability, long battery life, and affordability. If you are not chasing after cutting-edge technology, the Snapdragon 680 will remain a reliable companion for the next 2-3 years.
P.S. Despite its age, the Snapdragon 680 proves that good optimization and energy efficiency can sometimes outweigh "synthetic benchmark numbers." In 2025, it still occupies its niche, offering what most people need — reliability without overspending.