The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 888 5G are flagship Qualcomm mobile platforms built for premium Android smartphones. Both processors deliver powerful CPU and GPU performance, integrated 5G connectivity, advanced AI capabilities, and support for high-end cameras and gaming features. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 introduces a newer Armv9 CPU architecture, Qualcomm's seventh-generation AI Engine, the Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System, and an 18-bit Spectra ISP, while Snapdragon 888 5G remains a capable flagship platform with Armv8-based Kryo cores, the Snapdragon X60 modem, and the Spectra 580 ISP.
General
Both chipsets power flagship smartphones with premium performance for gaming, multitasking, photography, and AI-powered applications. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is manufactured using Samsung's 4nm process, offering architectural improvements over the Snapdragon 888 5G, which is built on Samsung's 5nm process.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| Launch date | 30 November 2021 | 1 December 2020 |
| Brand | Qualcomm | Qualcomm |
| Model | SM8450 | SM8350 |
| Target segment | Flagship smartphones | Flagship smartphones |
| Network | 5G | 5G |
| Process node | 4nm | 5nm |
| Foundry | Samsung | Samsung |
CPU
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 adopts the newer Armv9 architecture with Cortex-X2, Cortex-A710, and Cortex-A510 cores, delivering improved performance and power efficiency for demanding workloads. Snapdragon 888 5G uses Cortex-X1, Cortex-A78, and Cortex-A55 cores based on the Armv8.2 architecture, providing strong performance for gaming, productivity, and multitasking.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| CPU architecture | Armv9 | Armv8.2 |
| CPU configuration | 1× Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz + 3× Cortex-A710 @ 2.5GHz + 4× Cortex-A510 @ 1.8GHz | 1× Cortex-X1 @ 2.84GHz + 3× Cortex-A78 @ 2.42GHz + 4× Cortex-A55 @ 1.80GHz |
| Performance cores | 1× Cortex-X2 + 3× Cortex-A710 | 1× Cortex-X1 + 3× Cortex-A78 |
| Efficiency cores | 4× Cortex-A510 | 4× Cortex-A55 |
| Maximum clock speed | 3.0GHz | 2.84GHz |
| Instruction set | ARMv9-A | ARMv8.2-A |
| 64-bit support | Yes | Yes |
Graphics
Both processors feature Qualcomm Adreno GPUs with Snapdragon Elite Gaming technologies. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 introduces newer graphics features such as the Adreno Frame Motion Engine and Variable Rate Shading Pro, delivering improved graphics performance and power efficiency over the previous generation.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Qualcomm Adreno 660 GPU |
| Snapdragon Elite Gaming | Yes | Yes |
| Variable Rate Shading | VRS Pro | VRS |
| Adreno Frame Motion Engine | Yes | No |
| Game Quick Touch | Yes | Yes |
| HDR gaming | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum display support | QHD+ at 144Hz or 4K at 60Hz | QHD+ at 144Hz or 4K at 60Hz |
| AV1 decode | Yes | No |
| HEVC support | Yes | Yes |
| H.264 support | Yes | Yes |
| VP9 support | Yes | Yes |
| Hardware ray tracing | No | No |
Memory
Both platforms support LPDDR5 memory and UFS 3.1 storage, enabling fast application loading and efficient multitasking. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 delivers improved memory efficiency while maintaining the same peak bandwidth as its predecessor.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| Memory type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5 |
| Maximum memory speed | LPDDR5 up to 3200MHz (6400MT/s) | LPDDR5 up to 3200MHz (6400MT/s) |
| Memory interface | 4 × 16-bit | 4 × 16-bit |
| Memory bus | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| Maximum bandwidth | 51.2GB/s | 51.2GB/s |
| Storage support | UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 |
Multimedia (ISP)
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features Qualcomm's 18-bit Triple Spectra ISP, offering faster image processing and enhanced low-light photography. Snapdragon 888 5G includes the Spectra 580 Triple ISP, which also supports advanced computational photography and high-resolution video recording.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| ISP | Qualcomm Spectra 18-bit Triple ISP | Qualcomm Spectra 580 Triple ISP |
| ISP throughput | 3.2 gigapixels/s | 2.7 gigapixels/s |
| Maximum camera resolution | 200MP | 200MP |
| Single camera | Up to 200MP | Up to 200MP |
| Dual camera | 64MP + 36MP | 64MP + 25MP |
| Triple camera | 36MP + 36MP + 36MP | 28MP + 28MP + 28MP |
| Video recording | 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, 720p at 960fps | 8K at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, 720p at 960fps |
| Video playback | Up to 8K HDR | Up to 8K HDR |
| HDR photo capture | 10-bit HDR HEIF, Dolby Vision | 10-bit HDR HEIF, Dolby Vision |
| AV1 decode | Yes | No |
| HEVC support | Yes | Yes |
| H.264 support | Yes | Yes |
| VP9 support | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity and network
Both processors support global 5G connectivity with Sub-6GHz and mmWave networks. Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 upgrades to the Snapdragon X65 Modem-RF System, delivering higher peak download speeds and improved network efficiency compared to the Snapdragon X60 modem used in Snapdragon 888 5G.
| Specification | Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | Snapdragon 888 5G |
| Modem | Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System | Snapdragon X60 5G Modem-RF System |
| Integrated modem | Yes | Yes |
| 5G support | Sub-6GHz and mmWave | Sub-6GHz and mmWave |
| Peak download speed | Up to 10Gbps | Up to 7.5Gbps |
| Peak upload speed | Up to 3.5Gbps | Up to 3Gbps |
| LTE download | Up to 2.5Gbps | Up to 2.5Gbps |
| LTE upload | Up to 316Mbps | Up to 316Mbps |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, NavIC, QZSS |
