Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 vs. Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2: Why 2.9 GHz Doesn't Mean Higher Speed

From its name, Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 may seem like a newer and faster model. However, it is a budget LTE chip, closely related to the Snapdragon 680 and 685. Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, on the other hand, is positioned significantly higher: it features Cortex-A78 cores, more powerful graphics, fast memory, and a 5G modem. The 2.9 GHz frequency of the lower-end model does not compensate for this difference.

Key Differences

Why 2.9 GHz Doesn't Make Snapdragon 6s Faster

At first glance, the clock speed might give an advantage to the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2: 2.9 GHz versus 2.4 GHz. However, these figures refer to cores from different generations and are not directly comparable.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 combines four Cortex-A78 cores with four Cortex-A55 cores. In contrast, Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 is built on older Cortex-A73 and Cortex-A53 cores. The increased frequency does not make up for the lower performance per clock cycle and the slower memory subsystem.

In Geekbench 6, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is approximately twice as fast:

Currently, there are few results for Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2, so average values could change. However, the nearly two-fold gap is explained by architecture: Cortex-A78 is faster than the older Cortex-A73, even at a lower frequency. This is particularly noticeable in resource-intensive applications, photo processing, and multitasking.

In Gaming, Adreno 610 Is the Main Limitation

In games, the differences in graphics blocks are most pronounced. Adreno 710 in Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is significantly more powerful and handles modern games better.

Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 uses Adreno 610, a graphics unit from previous budget Qualcomm chips. The increased clock speed slightly speeds it up, but it still falls significantly short of Adreno 710.

In AnTuTu 11, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 scores about 800-850 thousand points compared to 523 thousand for the first smartphone tested with Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2. In the graphics test, the difference is even more noticeable: approximately 127 thousand versus 30 thousand points.

Casual games run fine on both chips. In demanding titles, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 can handle higher settings and maintains frame rates more consistently. Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 often requires lower graphics settings and reduced rendering resolution.

Both processors support FHD+ displays at 120 Hz. In a budget smartphone, such a panel will provide smooth scrolling of the interface, but it won't make games run at 120 FPS.

Memory Further Increases the Gap

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 works with LPDDR5 and supports up to 12 GB of RAM. Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 is designed for LPDDR4X with a capacity of up to 8 GB.

The storage standard also differs. Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 supports UFS 3.1, while Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 is limited to UFS 2.2. In a smartphone with fast memory chips, this reduces installation times for apps and the time to copy large files.

Real speed depends on the components chosen by the manufacturer. Support for UFS 3.1 does not guarantee a fast storage solution by itself, but the older chip cannot go beyond UFS 2.2.

Cameras: Difference Beyond Megapixels

Both chips are equipped with a triple ISP for simultaneous data processing from multiple cameras. Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 works with sensors up to 108 MP and records video in 1080p at 60 frames per second.

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 supports cameras up to 200 MP and 4K HDR video recording at 30 frames per second. The more powerful ISP is also better suited for multi-frame noise reduction, night shooting, and digital zoom.

The SoC itself does not guarantee a good camera; the sensor, optics, and processing algorithms are equally important. However, Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 supports higher camera resolutions and 4K video recording, which the lower chip does not offer.

5G vs. LTE

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 supports Sub-6 and mmWave 5G networks, works with multiple SIMs in 5G, and offers download speeds of up to 2.9 Gbps. For local networks, Wi-Fi 6E with a 6 GHz band is provided.

Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 is limited to LTE: up to 390 Mbps for downloads and up to 150 Mbps for uploads. It supports Wi-Fi 5 in a 1×1 configuration.

Where 5G is not yet available, the difference in mobile connectivity is less significant. However, Wi-Fi 6E and a faster modem remain advantages for Snapdragon 6 Gen 3.

What About Battery Life?

Battery life cannot be determined by process technology alone. Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 is produced using a more advanced 4nm process, but battery life is more affected by the display, battery capacity, firmware, and modem settings.

Which Processor to Choose

Choose Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 for:

• Higher speed in applications and games;
• 5G and Wi-Fi 6E;
• 4K video recording;
• LPDDR5 and UFS 3.1;
• More stable performance under heavy loads.

Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 makes sense if:

• The smartphone is significantly cheaper;
• 5G is not needed;
• Primary tasks are communication, video, navigation, and messaging;
• Gaming is limited to less demanding projects.

Conclusion

Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 belongs to a higher class: it is noticeably faster in CPU and GPU tasks, supports 5G, LPDDR5, UFS 3.1, and 4K video recording. The 2.9 GHz frequency does not help Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 compensate for the older Cortex-A73 and Adreno 610.

At a similar price, it is advisable to choose Snapdragon 6 Gen 3. Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 is justified only in significantly cheaper LTE smartphones for communication, video, navigation, and simple applications.