A processor affects how quickly your smartphone loads apps, handles multitasking, processes photos, renders graphics, and connects to wireless networks. Comparing the Snapdragon 8 Elite and Snapdragon 665 highlights the differences in performance, gaming, AI features, camera capabilities, and overall user experience.
General
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is designed for flagship Android smartphones launched from late 2024 onwards, while the Snapdragon 665 powers affordable 4G smartphones introduced in 2019. The newer chipset brings a more advanced manufacturing process, faster 5G connectivity, stronger AI capabilities, and support for modern hardware.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| Brand | Qualcomm | Qualcomm |
| Model | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
| Announced | October 2024 | April 2019 |
| Target segment | Flagship smartphones | Mid-range smartphones |
| Network support | 5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| Manufacturing process | 3 nm (improves performance and power efficiency) | 11 nm |
CPU
The Snapdragon 8 Elite introduces Qualcomm's second-generation Oryon CPU with much higher clock speeds for AI tasks, gaming, and demanding multitasking. The Snapdragon 665 uses Kryo 260 CPU cores that deliver reliable performance for web browsing, messaging, video streaming, navigation, and everyday smartphone use.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| CPU architecture | Qualcomm Oryon | Kryo 260 |
| CPU configuration | 2 Prime + 6 Performance cores | 4 Kryo 260 Gold + 4 Kryo 260 Silver |
| Performance cores | 2 × Oryon Prime @ 4.32 GHz | 4 × Kryo 260 Gold @ 2.0 GHz |
| Efficiency cores | 6 × Oryon Performance @ 3.53 GHz | 4 × Kryo 260 Silver @ 1.8 GHz |
| Total cores | 8 | 8 |
| Maximum clock speed | 4.32 GHz | 2.0 GHz |
| 64-bit support | Yes | Yes |
| Instruction set | ARMv9-A | ARMv8-A |
| Process node | 3 nm | 11 nm |
Graphics
The Snapdragon 8 Elite features the Adreno 830 GPU with hardware ray tracing and Snapdragon Elite Gaming technologies for premium mobile gaming. The Snapdragon 665 includes the Adreno 610 GPU, which is suitable for HD gaming, video playback, social media, and everyday entertainment.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| GPU | Adreno 830 | Adreno 610 |
| GPU architecture | Adreno 8-series | Adreno 600-series |
| Gaming capability | Advanced gaming with hardware ray tracing | Casual gaming |
| Maximum gaming refresh | Up to 240 fps (supported devices, for ultra-smooth gameplay) | Up to 60 fps |
| Vulkan support | Vulkan 1.3 | Vulkan 1.1 |
| OpenGL ES | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Video playback | Up to 8K HDR | Up to 4K UHD |
| AI graphics | Yes | No |
Memory
The Snapdragon 8 Elite supports LPDDR5X memory with much higher bandwidth, helping AI workloads, demanding games, and multitasking run more smoothly. The Snapdragon 665 uses LPDDR4X memory, which is designed for everyday tasks such as social media, messaging, web browsing, and music streaming.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | LPDDR4X |
| Maximum memory frequency | 5,300 MHz (10,667 Mbps) | 1,866 MHz (3,733 Mbps) |
| Memory bus | 4 × 16-bit | 2 × 16-bit |
| Maximum memory bandwidth | 85.3 GB/s | 14.9 GB/s |
| Maximum RAM support | 24 GB | 8 GB |
| ECC support | No | No |
Multimedia (ISP)
The Snapdragon 8 Elite includes Qualcomm's latest Triple AI ISP, supporting advanced computational photography, 8K HDR recording, and AI-powered image processing. The Snapdragon 665 features the Qualcomm Spectra 165 ISP, which provides reliable photography and 4K video recording for mainstream smartphones.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| ISP | Qualcomm Triple AI ISP | Qualcomm Spectra 165 ISP |
| Storage support | UFS 4.0 | UFS 2.1, eMMC 5.1 |
| Maximum display resolution | 4K UHD+ | FHD+ |
| Maximum refresh rate | Up to 240 Hz (makes scrolling and gaming smoother) | Up to 60 Hz |
| Maximum camera resolution | 320 MP | 48 MP |
| Multi-camera support | Triple camera | Triple camera |
| Video capture | 8K @ 30 fps, 4K @ 120 fps, HDR | 4K @ 30 fps |
| Video playback | 8K HDR | 4K UHD |
| Video codecs | H.264, HEVC, AV1, VP9 | H.264, HEVC, VP9 |
| Audio codecs | Qualcomm Aqstic Audio Suite | Qualcomm Aqstic Audio |
Connectivity and network
The Snapdragon 8 Elite features the Snapdragon X80 5G modem with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for faster wireless connectivity. The Snapdragon 665 uses the Snapdragon X12 LTE modem with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, and Bluetooth 5.0, making it suitable for reliable everyday communication and media streaming.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Elite | Snapdragon 665 |
|---|
| Modem | Snapdragon X80 5G | Snapdragon X12 LTE |
| Network support | 5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| Maximum download speed | 10 Gbps | 600 Mbps |
| Maximum upload speed | 3.5 Gbps | 150 Mbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 5.0 |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou |