Comparing the technical specifications of the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 and Snapdragon 821 highlights how smartphone processors have evolved over time. While the Snapdragon 821 was a flagship chipset built for premium devices in 2016, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 is designed for modern entry-level 5G smartphones with improved power efficiency, better AI capabilities, and advanced connectivity. The comparison below covers their CPU, GPU, memory, multimedia, and networking features.
General info
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 and Snapdragon 821 are built for different generations of smartphones. Launched in 2023 and 2016, respectively, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 focuses on efficient 5G performance for budget devices, while the Snapdragon 821 was developed to deliver flagship-level performance for premium smartphones of its time.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| Announced | 26 June 2023 | 11 July 2016 |
| Class | Entry-level 5G | Flagship |
| Model number | SM4450 | MSM8996 Pro |
| Brand | Qualcomm | Qualcomm |
CPU
The CPU determines how efficiently a processor handles everyday tasks, multitasking, and demanding applications. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 uses a newer octa-core architecture built on a 4nm process, delivering better power efficiency and balanced performance. The Snapdragon 821 features Qualcomm Kryo cores designed to provide flagship performance for the smartphones of its generation.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| Architecture | 2 × Cortex-A78 + 6 × Cortex-A55 | 2 × Kryo + 2 × Kryo |
| Cores | 8 | 4 |
| Frequency | Up to 2.2GHz | Up to 2.4GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv8-A | ARMv8-A |
| Process | 4nm | 14nm |
| TDP | 5 W | 7 W |
| Manufacturing | Samsung | Samsung |
Graphics
Graphics performance is important for gaming, video playback, and visual rendering. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 features the Adreno 613 GPU with newer architecture and improved efficiency. The Snapdragon 821 uses the Adreno 530 GPU, which delivered excellent graphics performance in flagship smartphones during its launch period.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| SoC | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
| GPU name | Adreno 613 | Adreno 530 |
| Architecture | Adreno | Adreno |
| GPU frequency | 955MHz | 624MHz |
| Execution units | Not available | Not available |
| Shading units | Not available | Not available |
| Total shaders | Not available | Not available |
| FLOPS | Not available | 0.5 TFLOPS |
| Vulkan version | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| OpenCL version | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| DirectX version | 12 | 12 |
Memory
Memory support affects multitasking, application loading, and overall responsiveness. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 supports faster LPDDR5 memory with higher bandwidth, enabling smoother performance in modern smartphones. The Snapdragon 821 supports LPDDR4 memory, which was the flagship standard during its release.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR4 |
| Memory frequency | 3,200MHz | 1,866MHz |
| Bus | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Max bandwidth | 25.6GB/s | 14.9GB/s |
| Max size | 8GB | 6GB |
Multimedia (ISP)
The multimedia engine determines camera capabilities, display support, and video recording performance. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 supports higher-resolution cameras and newer imaging technologies, making it better suited for current smartphones. The Snapdragon 821 offered premium multimedia capabilities during its generation, including 4K video recording and playback.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| Storage type | UFS 2.2 | UFS 2.0 |
| Max display resolution | 2520 × 1080 pixel | 2560 × 1600 pixel |
| Max camera resolution | 108MP | 28MP |
| Video capture | 1080p at 60fps | 4K at 30fps |
| Video playback | 1080p at 60fps | 4K at 60fps |
| Video codecs | H.264, H.265, VP9 | H.264, H.265 |
| Audio codecs | AAC, aptX, MP3 | AAC, aptX, MP3 |
Connectivity and network
Connectivity is one of the biggest differences between these processors. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 supports 5G networks, higher mobile data speeds, and Bluetooth 5.1, making it better suited for modern smartphones. The Snapdragon 821 is limited to 4G LTE connectivity but still offers reliable wireless performance for older devices.
| Component | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 821 |
|---|
| Modem | Snapdragon X61 | Snapdragon X12 |
| 4G support | Yes | Yes |
| 5G support | Yes | No |
| Download speed | Up to 2.5Gbps | Up to 600Mbps |
| Upload speed | Up to 900Mbps | Up to 150Mbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 5 |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 | 4.1 |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou |