Qualcomm has quietly introduced two new chipsets targeting entry-level and mid-range smartphones: the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4. These processors continue to emphasize affordability and performance for devices relying on 4G and 5G connectivity.
The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 features a Kryo CPU clocked up to 2.9GHz, delivering up to 51% faster performance compared to its Gen 1 predecessor. Its unnamed Adreno GPU offers up to 20% increased speed and supports 1080p+ displays with refresh rates up to 120Hz.
The chip is produced using a 6nm fabrication process, a notable improvement over the Gen 1's 11nm technology. It supports up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM at 2,133MHz and uses UFS 2.2 storage. Connectivity includes a USB port capable of USB 3.1 speeds and Quick Charge 3 technology, enabling about 80% battery charge in 35 minutes (battery capacity unspecified).
Camera capabilities reach up to 108MP resolution, with a 12-bit triple ISP that can process 13+13+5MP cameras simultaneously or 16+16MP cameras in dual setups with zero shutter lag. The chipset captures HEIC photos and HC videos, limited to 1080p at 60fps.
As indicated by its name, the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 supports only 4G LTE networks with download speeds up to 390Mbps and upload speeds of 150Mbps. Local connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band ac) and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive. For navigation, it provides dual-band GPS along with GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, and NavIC. It also features Qualcomm’s sensor-assisted positioning technology for enhanced accuracy when walking or driving.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, skipping the Gen 3 iteration, embraces the 5G era with a sub-6GHz Release 16 modem supporting both standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes. It offers download speeds up to 2.5Gbps and upload speeds up to 900Mbps. However, its local connectivity remains Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band ac) and Bluetooth 5.1 with aptX. Positioning support matches that of the 6s 4G Gen 2.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is built on an advanced 4nm process and includes a CPU configuration with two Kryo cores running up to 2.3GHz along with six cores clocked at 2.0GHz. Its Adreno GPU supports 1080p+ displays at refresh rates up to 120Hz.
In addition to LPDDR4X, this chip supports faster LPDDR5 RAM at 3,200MHz and UFS 3.1 (2-lane) storage. It can connect via USB 3.2 Gen 1 and offers Quick Charge 4+ technology, achieving 50% charge in just 15 minutes.
Like the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2, it supports cameras up to 108MP but utilizes a dual ISP that handles 16+16MP cameras with zero shutter lag. Video capture remains capped at 1080p at 60fps. Notably, neither chipset currently supports AV1 video decoding.
Qualcomm expects smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 to arrive in the market next year.
