Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 865 5G are built for different levels of smartphone performance. While Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 focuses on delivering efficient everyday performance with integrated 5G connectivity, Snapdragon 865 5G is designed for flagship smartphones that require faster processing, advanced graphics, premium multimedia features, and higher memory bandwidth. The following sections compare their technical specifications across key hardware categories.
General
Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 was announced in September 2022 as Qualcomm's budget 5G mobile platform. Snapdragon 865 5G, introduced in December 2019, targets flagship smartphones with higher performance and advanced mobile technologies.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| Announced | 6 September 2022 | 4 December 2019 |
| Segment | Budget | Flagship |
| Model number | SM4375 | SM8250 |
| Brand | Qualcomm | Qualcomm |
| Process technology | 6nm | 7nm |
CPU
Both processors feature an octa-core CPU, but Snapdragon 865 5G operates at higher clock speeds and is designed for more demanding workloads. Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 combines Cortex-A78 and Cortex-A55 cores to balance performance and power efficiency.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| CPU configuration | 2 × Cortex-A78 + 6 × Cortex-A55 | 1 × Cortex-A77 + 3 × Cortex-A77 + 4 × Cortex-A55 |
| CPU cores | 8-core | 8-core |
| Maximum clock speed | Up to 2.0GHz | Up to 2.84GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv8.2-A | ARMv8.2-A |
Graphics
Snapdragon 865 5G features the Adreno 650 GPU, offering higher graphics performance than the Adreno 619 GPU in Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. Both processors support modern graphics APIs for gaming and multimedia applications.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 650 |
| Graphics architecture | Adreno | Adreno |
| Vulkan support | Yes | Yes |
| OpenGL ES support | Yes | Yes |
| OpenCL support | Yes | Yes |
Memory
Snapdragon 865 5G supports faster LPDDR5 memory and offers greater memory bandwidth than Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. Both processors support modern UFS storage for improved app loading and system responsiveness.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR5 |
| Maximum memory frequency | 2133MHz | 2750MHz |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 17GB/s | 44GB/s |
| Maximum RAM support | Up to 12GB | Up to 16GB |
Multimedia
Both chipsets support advanced camera and multimedia features, but Snapdragon 865 5G offers support for higher display resolutions, larger camera sensors, and higher-resolution video recording.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| Storage support | UFS 2.2 | UFS 3.0 |
| Maximum display support | Full HD+ up to 120Hz | QHD+ up to 144Hz or 4K at 60Hz |
| Maximum camera support | Up to 108MP single camera | Up to 200MP single camera* |
| Video recording | Up to 1080p at 60fps | Up to 8K at 30fps |
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265, VP9 | H.264, H.265, VP9 |
*Supported camera resolution depends on the smartphone manufacturer.
Connectivity and network
Both processors support 5G connectivity, but Snapdragon 865 5G provides higher theoretical download and upload speeds. Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 supports Bluetooth 5.2, while Snapdragon 865 5G supports Bluetooth 5.1.
| Feature | Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 865 5G |
| 5G modem | Snapdragon X51 5G Modem-RF System | Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System |
| 4G support | Yes | Yes |
| 5G support | Yes | Yes |
| Peak download speed | Up to 2.5Gbps | Up to 7.5Gbps |
| Peak upload speed | Up to 900Mbps | Up to 3Gbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC |