Nothing Phone 3 to Feature Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Impressive Performance with a Few Trade-Offs

Nothing Phone 3: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Chipset Officially Confirmed

Nothing has officially locked in the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 as the powerhouse for its upcoming Phone 3, according to information from well-known industry insider Yogesh Brar. While it may not pack the very top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the 8s Gen 4 still delivers robust flagship-level performance, positioning the Phone 3 as a compelling contender in the Android smartphone market.

Snapdragon 8s Gen 4: Key Features and Architecture

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 brings a fresh approach to CPU design, notably omitting efficiency cores for a more focused performance-driven setup. This includes one Cortex-X4 clocked at 3.2GHz, three Cortex-A720 cores at 3GHz, two additional A720 cores at 2.8GHz, and another pair running at 2GHz. This configuration is expected to boost multi-core performance over the previous Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, delivering smooth multitasking and responsiveness for high-demand apps. However, lacking Qualcomm’s premium Oryon cores means the Phone 3 will fall slightly short of the raw performance offered by more expensive flagships with the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Enhanced Graphics and AI Capabilities

The 8s Gen 4 features a powerful GPU based on the same sliced architecture as the 8 Elite, albeit with two slices instead of three. Users can expect significant graphics enhancements, coupled with advanced AI and imaging improvements: a 44% faster NPU, support for immersive 4K/30fps low-light video, real-time image segmentation for photography enthusiasts, Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, and the innovative XPAN wireless audio protocol. XPAN’s use of Wi-Fi for wireless audio promises greater reliability and quality—a feature fans hope will be supported by the upcoming Nothing Headphone 1.

Compromises and Market Positioning

Despite its impressive specs, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip does make a few concessions. The chipset lacks support for 8K video recording, 4K/120fps slow-motion capture, and mmWave 5G connectivity. While these omissions aren’t dealbreakers for most users, they do mean the Nothing Phone 3 won’t quite match the full suite of features found in ultra-premium flagship devices.

Availability and Expectations

The Nothing Phone 3 is set for its official global debut on July 1, with pricing confirmed for at least one market. Despite not sporting Qualcomm’s absolute latest chipset, the Phone 3 is shaping up to offer strong flagship performance, next-gen connectivity, and advanced AI features—making it a serious option for tech enthusiasts seeking a balance of performance and innovation in their next Android smartphone.