Qualcomm Unveils New 6-Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Variants: What You Need to Know

Qualcomm Expands Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Lineup With 6-Core CPUs

Qualcomm, a leader in mobile processors, has quietly expanded its flagship chipset lineup with two new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 variants featuring a 6-core CPU design. Building on the momentum of last year’s octa-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3—which debuted in October 2023 in overclocked, regular, and underclocked versions—these additions signal a shift in CPU configuration and market focus for the Silicon Valley giant.

Cutting-Edge 6-Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3: Specifications and Performance

According to Qualcomm’s latest official documentation, the new processors bear the model numbers SM8650-Q-AA and SM8650-Q-AB. Instead of the standard 8-core setup, these variants offer a unique 6-core architecture available at clock speeds of 3.0GHz and 3.3GHz. The move could aim to serve segments such as tablets, mid-range flagship smartphones, or performance-oriented devices with different efficiency needs.

A recent Geekbench leak unveiled more technical details. An upcoming Lenovo tablet, model LTB710FU, was benchmarked with one of these chipsets, codenamed “Pineapple”—a well-known alias for Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The SM8650-Q-AB variant reportedly features one primary core at 3.30GHz, four performance cores at 2.96GHz, and a single efficiency core at 2.27GHz, alongside the powerful Adreno 750 GPU. The specific cluster composition of the SM8650-Q-AA model is still under wraps but is likely configured for optimized thermal and power characteristics at up to 3.0GHz.

Comparing With Existing Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Options

Previously, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 lineup included:

• SM8650-AC (3.39GHz, overclocked) — powering the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and select ZTE/Nubia devices
• SM8650-AB (3.3GHz, standard) — featured in most flagship Android smartphones
• SM8650-AA (3.05GHz, underclocked) — used in models like the Honor 300 Ultra and Honor 400 Pro

The introduction of 6-core versions marks a significant departure from the widely used 8-core architecture, likely targeting device makers seeking balanced performance, improved thermal management, and energy efficiency in specific use cases.

Advantages and Potential Market Impact

With a streamlined core setup, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 variants could offer advantages such as better battery life, lower heat generation, and cost savings—making them an attractive choice for premium tablets or upper mid-range devices. However, details on which manufacturers will adopt these latest chipsets remain undisclosed, but further announcements are anticipated in the coming weeks.

What’s Next?

As Qualcomm continues to diversify its chipset portfolio, the new 6-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPUs could pave the way for innovative device designs tailored to emerging user needs and evolving market demands. Stay tuned for more updates as device partnerships and benchmarks are revealed.