Snapdragon is a well-known name when it comes to smartphones. But since 2023 Qualcomm has been making processors for gaming consoles as well. These gaming chips are part of the Snapdragon G series, which is separate from their smartphone processors. Recently, Qualcomm has expanded this series with three new chips designed for handheld gaming devices. In this article, we’ll dive into the details of these new chips.

Snapdragon G Series Overview

Qualcomm has introduced three new chips in the Snapdragon G series: Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, Snapdragon G2 Gen 2, and Snapdragon G1 Gen 2. These chips will power upcoming devices from brands like Ayaneo, OneXPlayer, and Retroid Pocket. Let’s break down the performance of each chip.

G3 Gen 3 and G2 Gen 2 performance

The G3 Gen 3 and G2 Gen 2 chips share a few features, so we’ll discuss them together before talking about the G1 Gen 2 chip separately. The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 brings some major improvements. It has an 8-core CPU, consisting of 1 prime core, 5 performance cores, and 2 efficiency cores. This is 30% faster than the previous G3 Gen 2 CPU. On the graphics side, the new Adreno A32 GPU with ray tracking support which is 28% faster than its predecessor.

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The Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 replaces the previous G2 Gen 1. It also has an octa-core Kyro CPU, but its layout is different with 1 prime, 4 performance, and 3 efficiency cores. This chip provides a 2.3x boost in CPU performance and a huge 3.8x increase in GPU capabilities over the previous version. The Adreno A22 GPU supports Snapdragon Game Super Resolution (upscaling) and Adreno Frame Motion Engine 2.0 (frame generation) but doesn’t support ray tracing. Both chips support QHD+ displays at up to 144Hz. For connectivity, both include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, and optional 5G support (sub-6GHz and mmWave).

G1 Gen 2 performance

The Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 is the most affordable option designed for cloud gaming. It features an octa-core Kyro CPU with 2 performance cores and 6 efficiency cores, promising an 80% boost in CPU performance. The Adreno A12 GPU offers a 25% improvement over the previous generation Adreno A11. The G1 Gen 2 can support 1080p+ displays at up to 120Hz. It includes Wi-Fi (AC), Bluetooth 5.1, and optional 5G support.

Snapdragon G Series Chipsets Specifications

Snapdragon G Series Chipsets Availability

The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 will power upcoming devices like the Ayaneo Pocket S2, Ayaneo Gaming Pad, and OneXPlayer OneXSugar. The Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 will be in Retroid Pocket’s next-gen gaming handheld, though we don’t know the exact model. The Retroid Pocket Classic will be the first handheld to feature the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 chip. However, we do not have the launch date yet.

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