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Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Specs, Speed & Benchmarks

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Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Specs, Speed & Benchmarks

This article explains the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s specifications, real-world speed, and benchmark results. You’ll learn how it compares to its predecessor and rivals, what the numbers mean in daily use, and whether it’s still a good choice in 2024. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a 4nm mobile platform that delivers roughly 10% faster CPU and GPU performance than the original Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while also improving power efficiency by about 30%.

Background and Positioning

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in May 2022 as a mid-cycle refresh of its flagship chip. The key change was moving production from Samsung’s 4nm process to TSMC’s 4nm node. This single shift addressed the thermal and efficiency complaints that plagued the original 8 Gen 1, which ran hot and throttled under sustained load. The 8+ Gen 1 appeared in phones like the Asus ROG Phone 6 Pro, OnePlus 10T, and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4. It was later succeeded by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in late 2022, but it remained a popular choice for flagship and upper-midrange devices through 2023.

Key Specifications

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 uses a 1+3+4 CPU layout based on ARM’s v9 architecture:

  • Prime core: 1x Cortex-X2 at up to 3.2 GHz
  • Performance cores: 3x Cortex-A710 at up to 2.75 GHz
  • Efficiency cores: 4x Cortex-A510 at up to 2.0 GHz
  • GPU: Adreno 730 (no official clock speed, but roughly 10% faster than the 8 Gen 1’s Adreno 730)
  • Modem: Snapdragon X65 5G (up to 10 Gbps downlink)
  • ISP: Spectra 680 (supports 200MP photos, 8K video at 30fps)
  • Memory: LPDDR5 up to 6400 Mbps, UFS 3.1 storage
  • Process: TSMC 4nm (N4)

Compared to the original 8 Gen 1, the prime core clock rose from 3.0 GHz to 3.2 GHz, and the GPU got a modest bump. The real improvement was efficiency: Qualcomm claimed a 30% reduction in power consumption for the same workload.

Benchmark Results

Benchmarks measure raw performance, but real-world speed depends on cooling, software, and how the phone manufacturer tunes the chip. Here are typical results from major benchmark suites:

  • AnTuTu 9: Around 1.05 million to 1.1 million points. The original 8 Gen 1 scored about 1.0 million. The 8+ Gen 1’s advantage is consistent, especially in the GPU and memory subtests.
  • Geekbench 5: Single-core scores around 1,300–1,350; multi-core around 4,200–4,400. The original 8 Gen 1 scored about 1,200 single and 3,800 multi. The 8+ Gen 1’s multi-core improvement is more noticeable due to better sustained performance.
  • 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: Scores around 2,700–2,900. This stress test shows the 8+ Gen 1 maintaining higher frame rates for longer than the 8 Gen 1, which often throttled.
  • GFXBench Aztec Ruins (1080p offscreen): Around 140 fps in the high tier, which is about 10% faster than the 8 Gen 1.

These numbers are averages from flagship phones with adequate cooling. A gaming phone like the ROG Phone 6 Pro will score higher than a slim phone that doesn’t have a vapor chamber.

Real-World Speed and Efficiency

In daily use, the 8+ Gen 1 feels fast. App launches are instant, scrolling is smooth, and heavy games like Genshin Impact run at high settings with fewer frame drops than the 8 Gen 1. The most noticeable difference is temperature: the 8+ Gen 1 runs noticeably cooler under load. For example, a 30-minute gaming session on a phone with the 8+ Gen 1 might see the back reach around 40°C (104°F), whereas the 8 Gen 1 could hit 45°C (113°F) and start reducing brightness. Battery life also improves by roughly 15–20% in mixed usage because the efficiency cores handle lighter tasks better.

However, the 8+ Gen 1 is not a giant leap over its predecessor. If you’re upgrading from a phone with the 8 Gen 1, you won’t notice a huge difference outside of gaming and thermal performance. The bigger jump came with the 8 Gen 2, which introduced a new CPU layout and a more powerful GPU.

Comparison with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, released in late 2022, is a more significant upgrade. It uses a 1+2+2+3 CPU layout with a Cortex-X3 prime core at 3.2 GHz, and the Adreno 740 GPU is about 25% faster than the 8+ Gen 1’s. In Geekbench 5, the 8 Gen 2 scores around 1,500 single and 5,000 multi. In AnTuTu 9, it reaches 1.2 million or higher. The 8 Gen 2 also supports newer features like Wi-Fi 7 and ray tracing on mobile. If you’re choosing between a phone with the 8+ Gen 1 and one with the 8 Gen 2, the latter is clearly better for gaming and future-proofing. The 8+ Gen 1 is still fine for everyday tasks, but it’s now a midrange-to-upper-midrange chip rather than a flagship.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that the 8+ Gen 1 is a completely new chip. It’s actually the same architecture as the 8 Gen 1, just on a better manufacturing process. Another issue is throttling: even with TSMC’s process, phones with poor cooling will still reduce performance after 10–15 minutes of heavy load. This is normal and affects all smartphones. Some users also report that the 8+ Gen 1 gets warm during fast charging, but that’s more related to the phone’s charging circuitry than the chip itself. Finally, don’t confuse the 8+ Gen 1 with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, which is a midrange chip with similar naming but much lower performance.

How to Choose a Phone with This Chip

If you’re looking at a phone with the 8+ Gen 1, consider these factors:

  • Cooling system: Phones with vapor chambers or active fans will sustain higher performance for longer.
  • Battery capacity: A 4,500 mAh battery is typical; larger batteries (5,000 mAh) give better endurance.
  • Software updates: Check how long the manufacturer promises OS and security updates. The 8+ Gen 1 is already a few years old, so some phones may only get one more major Android update.
  • Price: As a last-gen flagship chip, phones with the 8+ Gen 1 can be good value if priced lower than current flagships.

For most users, the 8+ Gen 1 is still capable for 2–3 more years of smooth performance. But if you plan to keep your phone for 4+ years, a newer chip like the 8 Gen 2 or 8 Gen 3 will age better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 good for gaming?

Yes, it’s excellent for gaming. The Adreno 730 GPU handles most modern games at high settings with stable frame rates. The improved efficiency means less thermal throttling, so you can play longer without performance drops. It’s not as powerful as the 8 Gen 2’s GPU, but it’s still above the midrange tier.

How long will the 8+ Gen 1 receive software updates?

That depends on the phone manufacturer. Qualcomm provides driver and security support for at least 4 years from the chip’s release, but phone makers decide how long they push updates. Many 8+ Gen 1 phones launched in 2022 will get 3–4 years of OS updates, so some may stop receiving major updates after 2025 or 2026.

Does the 8+ Gen 1 support 5G and Wi-Fi 6E?

Yes, it has the Snapdragon X65 5G modem that supports sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G. It also supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with a separate antenna. It does not support Wi-Fi 7, which is a feature of the newer 8 Gen 2.

Is the 8+ Gen 1 better than the Snapdragon 888?

Yes, significantly. The 8+ Gen 1 is about 20–30% faster in CPU and GPU performance than the 888, and it’s much more efficient. The 888 was known for heating issues on Samsung’s 5nm process, while the 8+ Gen 1 on TSMC’s 4nm runs cooler and uses less power.

Can I use a phone with the 8+ Gen 1 for 4K video editing?

Yes, the Spectra 680 ISP supports 8K video recording and playback, and the CPU/GPU can handle 4K editing in apps like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush. However, rendering long 4K projects will cause the phone to warm up, and export times will be slower than on a laptop.

What is the difference between the 8 Gen 1 and 8+ Gen 1?

The 8+ Gen 1 has a higher clock speed (3.2 GHz vs 3.0 GHz), a slightly faster GPU, and is manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm process instead of Samsung’s. The main difference is efficiency: the 8+ Gen 1 consumes about 30% less power for the same performance, leading to better battery life and less heat.

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