The new Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 offers enhanced CPU and GPU performance, along with optimized power efficiency, for affordable and lower mid-range devices. The camera and connectivity have also received notable upgrades, making it a well-rounded upgrade over last year’s Snapdragon 6s Gen 3.
However, the real question is how solid the upgrades are. Is the new chip just another name for 6s Gen 3 with minor changes, or are there some real upgrades? Let’s dive deep into benchmark numbers and real-world differences to find out.
Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 vs 6s Gen 3: Benchmark scores
The Geekbench 6 scores for the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 have been obtained from an alleged listing of the Moto G100s, which is said to have the same chipset. For the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, we tested the Moto G85 to get the benchmark scores.
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 scored 1,018 single-core points, which is about 11% higher than the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3’s 923 points. The gap between multi-core scores is even wider, with the Gen 4 achieving a solid 35% boost (2,893 vs 2,140).
| Geekbench 6 | Single core | Multi core |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 | 1,018 | 2,893 |
| Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 | 923 | 2,140 |
The Geekbench scores suggest higher responsiveness and faster processing on Snapdragon 6s Gen 4-powered devices than on 6s Gen 3 devices. The newer chip should also result in improved multitasking and higher performance in demanding tasks, where the software leverages multiple processor cores simultaneously.
Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 vs 6s Gen 3: Key differences that matter
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 is manufactured using Samsung’s 4nm process node, whereas the 6s Gen 3 utilizes TSMC’s 6nm process node. The former is more advanced and offers better performance and power efficiency.
CPU & GPU
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 features a 4+4 revised core configuration, which includes four Cortex-A78 performance cores and four Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The Gen 3 features just two Cortex-A78 performance cores, but six Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. The newer chip also benefits from a higher peak CPU frequency of 2.4 GHz (vs. 2.3 GHz on the Gen 3).
Qualcomm claims 36% improved CPU and 59% faster GPU performance for the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4. The Adreno GPU brings support for HDR gaming, OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, and Vulkan 1.1. It also integrates some Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including Variable Rate Shading (VRS) and Game Quick Touch, offering reduced touch latency and more efficient rendering.
Additionally, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 supports a 144Hz refresh rate, up from Gen 3’s 120Hz, to further improve the gaming experience on budget phones.
Camera & Imaging
The camera receives one of the biggest upgrades to the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4, now supporting up to 200MP single-camera resolution, up from 108MP on the Gen 3. It also supports dual 16MP sensors at 30fps with zero shutter lag.
The Gen 4 chip supports 2K HDR video recording at 30fps and 720 slow-mo video recording at 240fps. In contrast, the Gen 3 supports 1080p video recording at 60fps and 720p slow-mo video recording at 120fps.
Connectivity
The newer Snapdragon chip features a newer 3GPP Release 16 5G standard, which delivers higher connection speeds and advanced new features. It supports download speeds of up to 2.9 Gbps over a 5G connection, which is higher than Gen 3’s 2.5 Gbps. Additionally, it incorporates enhanced performance technologies, including Qualcomm Smart Transmit 2.0, Qualcomm 5G PowerSave 2.0, and Qualcomm AI-Enhanced Signal Boost, to further improve 5G connectivity.
Wi-Fi connectivity also receives several notable upgrades, including support for Wi-Fi 6E on the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4. In contrast, the Gen 3 supports Wi-Fi 5. In other words, the newer chip can also use 6GHz to achieve higher speed and improved latency.
The Gen 4 also features a newer Bluetooth 5.4 standard, while the Gen 3 uses Bluetooth 5.2.
Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 vs 6s Gen 3: Spec sheet
| Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Announced | October 2025 | June 2024 |
| Manufacturing | 4nm (Samsung) | 6nm (TSMC) |
| CPU | 4 x 2.4 GHz — Cortex-A78 4 x 1.8 GHz — Cortex-A55 | 2 x 2.3 GHz — Cortex-A78 6 x 2 GHz — Cortex-A55 |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno GPU Variable Rate Shading (VRS) Qualcomm Game Quick Touch | Adreno 619 GPU |
| NPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU |
| Memory | LPDDR5, up to 3.2GHz | LPDDR4x, up to 2.1 GHz |
| Storage | UFS 3.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Camera | Qualcomm Spectra dual ISPs (12-bit) up to 200MP single camera up to 32MP single camera at 30 fps with zero shutter lag up to 16+16MP dual cameras at 30 fps with zero shutter lag up to 2K HDR video recording at 30 fps 720p slow-mo video recording at 240fps Hardware-based noise reduction support | Qualcomm Spectra triple ISPs (12-bit) up to 108MP single camera up to 32MP single camera at 30 fps with zero shutter lag up to 25+13MP dual cameras at 30 fps with zero shutter lag up to 13MP triple cameras at 30 fps with zero shutter lag up to 1080p video recording at 60 fps 720p slow-mo video recording at 120fps |
| Connectivity | Qualcomm Release 16 5G modem peak speed: 2.9 Gbps Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.4 | Qualcomm Release 15 5G modem peak speed: 2.5 Gbps Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 5.2 |
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