The battle between Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 highlights the gap between flagship and mid-range processors. While both chips were released just a month apart—the 8 Gen 3 in October 2023 and the 7 Gen 3 in November 2023—their performance levels are significantly different.
Built on TSMC’s 4nm process, both chips offer efficiency and power but cater to different market segments. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is designed for high-end flagship devices, while the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 powers upper mid-range smartphones.
But how much of a performance gap exists between these two chipsets? Let’s break it down with benchmark results, gaming capabilities, connectivity, and real-world differences.
Benchmark Comparison: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs. Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
Benchmark tests help us quantify the raw power of these chips, showing how they handle real-world usage, gaming, and multitasking.
AnTuTu Scores: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Crushes the Competition
AnTuTu measures overall performance, including CPU, GPU, memory, and user experience (UX).
| Processor | AnTuTu v10 Score | CPU | GPU | Memory | UX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 1,753,326 | 370,873 | 750,494 | 350,215 | 281,744 |
| Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 | 819,655 | 269,334 | 256,584 | 129,961 | 163,776 |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 scores more than twice as high as the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3, mainly due to its superior CPU and GPU. The GPU alone delivers a 190% boost, making it a powerhouse for gaming.
Geekbench Scores: Raw CPU Performance
Geekbench 6 evaluates single-core and multi-core CPU performance.
| Processor | Single-Core Score | Multi-Core Score |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | 2,130 | 6,175 |
| Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 | 1,154 | 3,018 |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is 84% faster in single-core tasks and 104% faster in multi-core performance, making it significantly better for multitasking and demanding applications.
Key Differences Between Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
While both processors have eight cores, their configurations are vastly different.
1. CPU Architecture and Clock Speeds
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Prime Core | 1x Cortex-X4 @ 3.3GHz | 1x Cortex-A715 @ 2.63GHz |
| Performance Cores | 3x Cortex-A720 @ 3.15GHz2x Cortex-A720 @ 2.96GHz | 3x Cortex-A715 @ 2.4GHz |
| Efficiency Cores | 2x Cortex-A520 @ 2.27GHz | 4x Cortex-A510 @ 1.8GHz |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has higher clock speeds and a more performance-focused core arrangement, making it much faster in CPU-intensive tasks.
2. GPU Performance: Adreno 750 vs. Adreno 720
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 720 |
| Ray Tracing | ✅ Yes (hardware-accelerated) | ❌ No |
| Unreal Engine 5.2 Support | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s Adreno 750 GPU is miles ahead of the 7 Gen 3’s Adreno 720, offering real-time ray tracing, better graphics rendering, and higher frame rates in demanding games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty Mobile.
Connectivity: 5G and Wi-Fi Differences
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs. Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 Modem Comparison
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 5G Modem | Snapdragon X75 | Snapdragon X63 |
| Max Download Speed | 10Gbps | 5Gbps |
| Max Upload Speed | 3.5Gbps | 3.5Gbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (5.8Gbps) | Wi-Fi 6E (2.9Gbps) |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is more future-proof, with Wi-Fi 7 and a 10Gbps 5G modem, while the 7 Gen 3 is limited to Wi-Fi 6E and 5Gbps speeds.
Camera and Imaging Capabilities
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| ISP | Spectra Cognitive Triple 18-bit | Spectra Triple 12-bit |
| Max Camera Resolution | 200MP | 200MP |
| Zero Shutter Lag (ZSL) | ✅ Yes, up to 108MP | ✅ Yes, up to 64MP |
| Real-Time Semantic Segmentation | ✅ Yes (12 layers) | ❌ No |
| Max Video Resolution | 8K @ 30fps | 4K @ 60fps |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 features superior camera processing, with real-time semantic segmentation, better noise reduction, and 8K video recording.
Memory and Storage Support
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| RAM Type | LPDDR5x @ 4.8GHz | LPDDR5 @ 3.2GHz |
| Storage | UFS 4.0 | UFS 3.1 |
???? Key Takeaway: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has faster RAM and storage speeds, leading to better multitasking and faster app load times.
Conclusion: Which Chipset Is Right for You?
| Feature | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Flagship users, gamers, content creators | Mid-range users, casual gamers |
| Performance | ???? Extreme | ✅ Good |
| Gaming | ???? Ultra settings, 120fps, ray tracing | ???? Medium-High settings |
| Connectivity | ???? 10Gbps 5G, Wi-Fi 7 | ???? 5Gbps 5G, Wi-Fi 6E |
| Camera | ???? Pro-level, 8K video | ???? Good, 4K video |
Final Verdict
✅ Choose Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 if you want the best performance, gaming, and camera capabilities.
✅ Choose Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 if you want a solid mid-range chip for everyday use and light gaming.