Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820: Retrospective and Relevance in 2025
An analysis of the legendary processor that transformed the mobile industry, and an assessment of its place in today's technological landscape.
Introduction
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, released in 2015, became a symbol of breakthrough mobile technology. Although a decade has passed since its launch, many still remember it as a benchmark for stability and performance in its time. By 2025, this chip will no longer be found in new smartphones, but it remains an interesting subject for analysis: how does it compare to modern solutions? Who could still find it useful today? Let’s delve into this.
1. Architecture and Fabrication Process: Innovations of Its Time
Cores and Frequencies
The Snapdragon 820 was based on the 64-bit Kryo architecture—the first fully custom core from Qualcomm. The chip included 4 cores divided into two clusters:
- 2 high-performance cores running at 2.15 GHz;
- 2 energy-efficient cores running at 1.6 GHz.
This approach (big.LITTLE) allowed for a balance between power and battery life, although in modern standards, 4 cores seems quite modest (compared to 8-12 cores in chips from 2025).
Fabrication Process
The 14 nm process (Samsung LPP) was considered cutting-edge in 2015. In contrast, modern flagships (such as Snapdragon 8 Gen 4) use 3 nm technology, which offers 2-3 times better energy efficiency.
GPU Adreno 530
The Adreno 530 graphics accelerator was revolutionary: it supported Vulkan API, OpenGL ES 3.1, and demonstrated 40% better performance than the Adreno 430 in Snapdragon 810. In 2025, such a GPU would only be suitable for simple games like Candy Crush or Among Us, but certainly not for projects at the level of Genshin Impact.
Cache and Memory
- L2 Cache: 1 MB (compared to 4-8 MB in modern chips);
- RAM support: LPDDR4-1866 MHz (the standard in 2025 is LPDDR5X-8533 MHz).
2. Performance in Real Tasks: What It Could and Couldn’t Do
Gaming
Between 2016 and 2018, the Snapdragon 820 easily handled Asphalt 8 and PUBG Mobile at medium settings. However, by 2025, even optimized games like Honkai: Star Rail would only run at low graphics settings at frame rates of up to 30 FPS.
Multimedia
- Displays: 4K@60 fps support (relevant for VR applications of that time);
- Audio: 24-bit/192 kHz, Qualcomm Aqstic—still a decent standard for music enthusiasts;
- Video Recording: 4K@30 fps, but without HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.
Artificial Intelligence
The Snapdragon 820 did not have a dedicated NPU (neural processing unit). AI tasks (like facial recognition, photo processing) were handled via the Hexagon 680 DSP, which appears archaic in 2025. For instance, processing a single photo in a neural network style (like Prisma) took 3-5 seconds, whereas modern chips accomplish this in 0.1 seconds.
Power Consumption and Heating
With a TDP of 11 W, it was a high figure even for its time. In stress tests (like the AnTuTu benchmark), the chip quickly overheated, causing throttling. By 2025, smartphones with such a processor would require passive cooling (heat sinks) for stable operation.
3. Built-in Modules: Connectivity and Communication
Modem
- 4G LTE Cat 12/13 (maximum speed of 600 Mbps). In the age of 5G (speeds up to 10 Gbps), this seems laughable, but it's sufficient for basic tasks (social media, HD streaming).
- Lack of 5G — a major downside for 2025.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi 802.11ac (maximum speed of 433 Mbps), while Wi-Fi 7 (in 2025) offers up to 40 Gbps;
- Bluetooth 4.1 — lacks support for LE Audio, and multi-streaming connectivity.
Navigation
Support for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou is still relevant today, but lacks improvements like Dual-Frequency GNSS (modern chips offer accuracy up to 10 cm).
4. Comparison with Competitors: Then and Now
2016 Generation
- Apple A9 (iPhone 6s): lagged in GPU performance but excelled in energy efficiency;
- Samsung Exynos 8890: similar performance but poorer optimization;
- HiSilicon Kirin 950: superior in multi-threaded tasks due to 8 cores.
Modern Analogues (2025)
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: 4 times higher performance in AnTuTu (1.2 million points), support for AI accelerators;
- MediaTek Dimensity 9400: 3 nm fabrication process with built-in 5G modem;
- Google Tensor G4: focus on machine learning and camera capabilities.
Conclusion: The Snapdragon 820 today compares to budget chips like the Snapdragon 4 Gen 3 (2024), but it falls short in energy consumption.
5. Use Cases: Who Is It Relevant for in 2025?
Gaming
Only suitable for retro games or cloud gaming (like Xbox Game Pass). Modern titles require Adreno 730 and above.
Everyday Tasks
- Social media, messaging, web surfing — function without lag;
- Multitasking (2-3 apps in the background) — possible, but with tab reloads.
Photo and Video
- Cameras up to 25 MP — acceptable quality in daylight;
- Night photography — noise and lack of detail;
- 4K video — without stabilization and HDR.
6. Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Proven reliability: the chip rarely malfunctioned;
- Support for Quick Charge 3.0 (charging up to 50% in 30 minutes);
- Good optimization for Android (relevant for custom ROMs).
Weaknesses
- High power consumption;
- No 5G, Wi-Fi 6, or Bluetooth 5.0;
- Limited performance in 2025.
7. Practical Advice: Is It Worth Considering?
What to Look For
- Price: No new devices with Snapdragon 820 are being released in 2025. Older models (like the Xiaomi Mi 5, LG G5) can be found on sales for $50-$80, but they do not receive OS updates.
- Battery: Due to battery wear, autonomy rarely exceeds 3 hours of screen time.
- Customization: Enthusiasts may install Android 13 via LineageOS, but some functions (NFC, VoLTE) may not work.
Types of Devices
- Used smartphones;
- Smart devices (like media players, POS terminals).
8. Final Conclusion: Who Is Snapdragon 820 Suitable For?
This processor in 2025 is a choice for:
1. Undemanding users, who need a cheap phone for calls and messaging.
2. Enthusiasts, building retro gadgets.
3. Industrial solutions, where stability is prioritized over power.
Main Benefits: Minimal price, availability of spare parts, ease of repair. However, for modern tasks (AI, 5G, gaming), the Snapdragon 820 is hopelessly outdated.
Conclusion
The Snapdragon 820 represents an important milestone in the history of mobile technologies. It demonstrated how Qualcomm could combine power and innovation, but time does not stand still. In 2025, this chip should be seen as a monument to engineering thought rather than a practical solution. For those seeking relevant devices, it is better to look at the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or budget series Snapdragon 6/7 Gen 4.