Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 The mobile chip market is always competitive, and every year, the battle between Qualcomm and Apple intensifies. Both companies produce cutting-edge processors that power the world’s best smartphones, and their latest offerings—Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple A18—are no exception. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 arriving in late 2023 and powering flagship devices from brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and OnePlus, and the Apple A18 hitting the scene with the iPhone 16 series in September 2024, these two chips represent the pinnacle of mobile computing power.
But how do they compare? In this article, we’ll dive deep into the specifications, performance benchmarks, and key features of these two processors to determine which one has the edge.
Key Specifications at a Glance
Let’s start with a quick comparison of the major specifications:
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple A18 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | October 2023 | September 2024 |
| Process Technology | 4nm | 3nm |
| CPU Cores | 8 (1x Cortex-X4, 3x Cortex-A720, 2x Cortex-A720, 2x Cortex-A520) | 6 (2x high-performance, 4x energy-efficient) |
| Peak CPU Frequency | 3.3GHz (Cortex-X4) | 4.04GHz (High-performance cores) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 (Ray tracing support) | Apple 5-core GPU (Ray tracing support) |
| AI/ML Capabilities | Hexagon NPU (Up to 10B parameters) | 16-core Neural Engine (35 TOPS) |
| RAM Support | LPDDR5X (up to 4800MHz, 24GB) | LPDDR5X (up to 7500MHz, 8GB) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 |
CPU Performance: Apple A18’s Edge in Speed
The CPU is often the heart of a mobile processor, and in this battle, the Apple A18 takes the lead. With a 3nm architecture, Apple’s A18 outperforms Qualcomm’s 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in terms of raw CPU power. Apple’s CPU also features two high-performance cores clocked at a blistering 4.04GHz, while Qualcomm’s top Cortex-X4 core maxes out at 3.3GHz. This higher clock speed gives the A18 a noticeable edge, especially in tasks that demand sustained processing power.
When we look at benchmark scores, this difference is evident. In Geekbench tests, the Apple A18 achieves an impressive 3,258 single-core score and 7,894 multi-core points, compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which scores 2,287 (single-core) and 6,992 (multi-core). This shows that Apple’s A18 is more capable of handling intensive tasks with speed and efficiency, particularly in applications that rely heavily on CPU performance.
GPU Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Takes the Lead
When it comes to GPU performance, however, Qualcomm has the upper hand. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is equipped with the Adreno 750 GPU, offering robust support for graphics-intensive tasks like gaming and augmented reality. It also comes with Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, which boost the overall experience by reducing latency and enhancing visual fidelity, even supporting Unreal Engine 5.2 Lumen and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
The Apple A18, in contrast, uses a 5-core GPU that also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing. While Apple’s GPU is powerful, the Adreno 750 shows stronger performance in AnTuTu GPU tests. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 earned 663,679 GPU points, compared to Apple’s A18, which scored 711,513 points. Despite the A18’s stronger GPU score, Snapdragon’s overall GPU optimization, particularly for mobile gaming, gives it the edge in real-world gaming performance.
Memory and Connectivity: Apple A18’s Speedy RAM, Snapdragon’s Robust Connectivity
Memory plays a significant role in a chip’s performance. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports LPDDR5X RAM with speeds up to 4800MHz and can accommodate up to 24GB of RAM in high-end devices. On the other hand, the Apple A18 supports LPDDR5X RAM with speeds reaching up to 7500MHz, but with a cap at 8GB of RAM. While Apple’s A18 benefits from faster memory speeds, it might be limited in multitasking compared to the Snapdragon chip with higher RAM capacity.
Both chips come with Wi-Fi 7 and support the same downlink speed of 10Gbps and uplink speed of 3.5Gbps. However, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports Bluetooth 5.4, while the Apple A18 features Bluetooth 5.3—a slight difference that could impact wireless connectivity and device pairing performance.
AI and Machine Learning: Apple A18 Leads with Neural Engine
AI and machine learning are increasingly important in mobile processing, and here, Apple takes a decisive lead with its 16-core Neural Engine. Capable of performing up to 35 trillion operations per second (TOPS), the A18’s engine can execute complex AI tasks with incredible efficiency. Qualcomm’s Hexagon NPU on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is powerful as well, capable of running AI models with up to 10 billion parameters, but it falls short when compared to Apple’s neural engine in terms of raw operations.
Final Verdict: The Apple A18 vs. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Showdown
Both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple A18 are exceptional processors, but each has its strengths:
- Apple A18 excels in CPU performance, making it the better choice for tasks that require sustained processing power, like video editing, productivity tasks, and intense gaming.
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 shines in GPU performance, providing a smoother experience for mobile gaming and graphics-heavy apps, thanks to its superior GPU architecture and additional gaming features.
Overall, if raw CPU power and power efficiency are your priorities, the Apple A18 comes out on top. But if you’re more interested in gaming performance, multi-tasking capabilities, and a better GPU for demanding apps, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is likely the superior choice
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In summary, both processors are incredibly fast and efficient, with the choice between them ultimately depending on whether you prioritize CPU or GPU performance. For most users, both chips offer more than enough power for anything you throw at them. The real question is: Which one suits your needs the best?