Qualcomm Snapdragon 888
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: A Review of the Flagship Processor from 2021 in the Perspective of 2025
April 2025
Introduction
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, introduced at the end of 2020, became a symbol of the transition to 5G and artificial intelligence in mobile devices. Despite almost five years since its release, smartphones powered by this SoC (System-on-Chip) remain popular due to their balance of performance and energy efficiency. In this article, we will explore what makes the Snapdragon 888 noteworthy today, how it performs in real-world scenarios, and who should pay attention to it.
1. Architecture and Technology Process: Innovations in Miniature
CPU: Three-Cluster Structure
The Snapdragon 888 is built on an 8-core Kryo 680 architecture divided into three clusters:
- 1 Cortex-X1 core (up to 2.84 GHz) — for resource-intensive tasks: gaming, rendering, AI computations.
- 3 Cortex-A78 cores (up to 2.42 GHz) — provide high performance in multitasking.
- 4 Cortex-A55 cores (up to 1.8 GHz) — handle background processes and energy savings.
The overall amount of L2 cache is 1 MB, which speeds up access to frequently used data.
GPU: Adreno 660
The Adreno 660 graphics processor offers 35% higher performance compared to its predecessor (Adreno 650 in Snapdragon 865). It supports:
- Displays with refresh rates up to 144 Hz.
- Real-time ray tracing (relevant for gaming).
- 8K video decoding at 30 FPS and HDR10+.
Technology Process: 5 nm
The chip is manufactured using a 5-nm process (Samsung 5LPE), which has reduced power consumption by 25% compared to 7-nm processors. This is critically important for supporting 5G and ensuring long battery life.
2. Performance: From Gaming to AI
Gaming
- In 2025, the Snapdragon 888 still handles most mobile games at high settings: Genshin Impact — 50-60 FPS, Call of Duty: Mobile — 90 FPS.
- Support for Game Quick Touch technology reduces input lag to 10 ms.
- However, in advanced scenarios (such as rendering 4K graphics), noticeable heating occurs, requiring active cooling.
Multimedia
- Recording and playback of 8K video with HDR.
- Hardware acceleration for Dolby Vision and AV1 codecs.
- The Aqstic audio chip supports 32-bit sound and formats like aptX Adaptive.
Artificial Intelligence
- AI engine Hexagon 780 (6th generation) with performance up to 26 TOPS (trillions of operations per second).
- Enhanced algorithms for photography (autofocus, noise reduction) and voice assistants.
Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
- TDP is 10W — a moderate figure, but under load (gaming, 5G modem) the chip can consume up to 12-14W.
- In smartphones with passive cooling, throttling (frequency reduction) can occur after 15-20 minutes of intensive use.
3. Built-in Modules: Future Connectivity
Snapdragon X60 Modem
- Supports 5G (mmWave and sub-6 GHz) with peak speeds up to 7.5 Gbps.
- Compatibility with 4G LTE Advanced (Cat 24/22).
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi 6E (up to 3.6 Gbps) with low latency.
- Bluetooth 5.2 supporting aptX Adaptive and LE Audio codecs.
Navigation
- Dual-frequency GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou) with an accuracy of up to 1 meter.
- Support for Iridium satellite communication systems (emergency calls).
4. Comparison with Competitors
Previous Generation: Snapdragon 865
- CPU performance increase: 25%, GPU: 35%.
- More advanced AI engine (26 TOPS vs 15 TOPS).
Apple A14 Bionic
- Better results in Single-Core (1600+ in Geekbench 6), but lagging in Multi-Core (3200).
- No built-in 5G modem (an external one was used in iPhone 12).
Samsung Exynos 2100
- Similar architecture (Cortex-X1 + A78), but higher heat generation.
- Adreno 660 vs Mali-G78 MP14: Snapdragon wins in gaming optimization.
MediaTek Dimensity 1200
- Cheaper, but weaker in GPU (Mali-G77 MC9) and lacks mmWave 5G support.
5. Use Cases
Gaming
- Ideal for cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud, NVIDIA GeForce NOW) and mobile streaming.
- Devices with active cooling are recommended (for example, ASUS ROG Phone 5).
Everyday Tasks
- Instant app launches, smooth interface operation.
- Energy efficiency: up to 7-8 hours of screen time (with a battery capacity of 4500 mAh).
Photography and Videography
- Support for cameras up to 200 MP and simultaneous recording from three modules.
- AI enhancements: night mode, stabilization, scene recognition.
6. Advantages and Disadvantages
Strengths:
- High performance in gaming and multimedia.
- Full support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6E.
- Energy efficiency for its class.
Weaknesses:
- Heating under prolonged loads.
- In 2025, it lags behind new chips (Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Dimensity 9300) in AI tasks.
7. Tips for Choosing a Smartphone
- Cooling: Look for models with vapor chambers or heat sinks (Xiaomi Mi 11, OnePlus 9 Pro).
- Battery: At least 4500 mAh for comfortable use.
- Price: New devices with Snapdragon 888 in 2025 range from $400 (e.g., POCO F4) to $700 (flagships from previous years).
8. Final Conclusion: Who is Snapdragon 888 Suitable For?
This processor is an optimal choice for:
- Gamers who value the balance of price and performance.
- 5G enthusiasts in need of a future-proof device.
- Users prioritizing a quality camera.
Despite its age, the Snapdragon 888 remains a worthy option in the mid-range segment, especially if you're not ready to overpay for the top new models of 2025. Its key advantages are stability, proven optimization, and availability across a wide range of devices.