Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite: Why They Are Not Two Different Processors

At first glance, this seems like a typical comparison of two Qualcomm flagships. However, there's nothing to compare here: Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 did not release as a separate chip. This was the expected name following the logic of previous generations, but the real flagship has a different name - Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Therefore, comparing Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Snapdragon 8 Elite as different platforms is not appropriate. If we are talking about the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the correct name is Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Where the Name Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 Came From

After Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, it was logical to expect Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. This was how it was referred to in leaks, early news, and specification databases. However, Qualcomm changed its naming scheme: the flagship was released as Snapdragon 8 Elite.

It's not just about the name. Snapdragon 8 Elite has become a pivotal chip for Qualcomm's mobile lineup: the company has moved away from the previous Kryo/Cortex structure and transitioned to its own Oryon cores. The new name was meant to indicate that this is not just another Snapdragon 8 Gen but a platform shift.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 is an early anticipated name. Snapdragon 8 Elite is the official name of the chip.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 and Snapdragon 8 Elite: What’s the Difference?

In short: none, if by Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 you mean Qualcomm's flagship of 2024. The difference is only in the name.

In processor databases, smartphone cards, and articles, it's better to specify Snapdragon 8 Elite. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 should only be mentioned as an early expected name to clarify the confusion.

The Main Trap - Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

A more significant confusion is that Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 can easily be mistaken for Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 exists, but it is not Snapdragon 8 Elite. This is a lower-tier platform: fast, but not a top-tier replacement for Snapdragon 8 Elite.

This is critical for buyers. The product card might state "Snapdragon 8 Gen 4," and a person might assume it's about the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite. However, if the seller confused the name with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, it’s a smartphone of a different class.

Performance: What Really Needs to be Compared

Tests of “Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite” are pointless because we are talking about one flagship. It’s more useful to compare Snapdragon 8 Elite with actual competitors and neighboring chips.

Comparison should be done like this:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 - to understand the leap from the previous flagship;
• Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 - to avoid confusing flagship with sub-flagship;
• Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Dimensity 9400/9500 - to compare Qualcomm and MediaTek flagships;
• Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 - to understand differences between Elite generations.

Snapdragon 8 Elite is a flagship platform, but the final speed depends on the smartphone. One device using this chip might sustain high frequencies for long periods, while another might throttle faster due to a thin case or inadequate cooling.

Therefore, when choosing a smartphone, it’s important to consider not only the SoC name but also the cooling system, manufacturer power settings, firmware, and battery capacity.

What Snapdragon 8 Elite Offers in Gaming

In gaming, Snapdragon 8 Elite is interesting not only because of benchmarks. More importantly, it features new Adreno graphics, high power reserves, and improved energy efficiency. Qualcomm also stated support for technologies like hardware ray tracing.

However, in real gameplay, the peak performance is not the only concern. After 10-20 minutes of load, the advantage goes to the smartphone that dissipates heat better. Therefore, two devices using Snapdragon 8 Elite can behave differently: one may maintain smooth performance while the other starts to drop frequencies.

So the question should be framed differently: which smartphone best unlocks the potential of Snapdragon 8 Elite?

What About AI and Neural Networks

Snapdragon 8 Elite is also designed for local AI tasks - directly on the device, without mandatory cloud connectivity. This is managed by the updated Hexagon NPU.

In practice, this impacts local AI functions: photo and video processing, speech recognition, and the operation of models directly on the smartphone. However, the name Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 does not change anything here. If a smartphone has Snapdragon 8 Elite, it gets this NPU. If it has Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 inside, the level of capabilities will be lower.

Conclusion

Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 8 Elite is not a duel between two processors. Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 was an anticipated name, but the official chip was released as Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Thus, in specifications, databases, and articles, it is better to use Snapdragon 8 Elite. Meanwhile, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is a separate, lower-tier platform that cannot be equated with Elite: this is the main error that might cause a buyer to choose a smartphone of the wrong class.