The Galaxy S22 plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 mobile platform. This cutting-edge chip provides exceptional performance and efficiency.
Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Key Features
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers several improvements over previous Qualcomm chips:
- Faster CPU performance – Up to 20% faster than the Snapdragon 888
- Boosted AI capabilities – Up to 4.35x improvement in AI performance with the Qualcomm Hexagon processor
- Enhanced graphics – 30% faster graphics rendering than previous generation
- Advanced image signal processor – Support for 200MP photos and 8K HDR video capture
- Powerful modem system – 10 Gigabit 5G connectivity with mmWave and sub-6 GHz support
CPU
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features an octa-core Kryo CPU with a prime core clock speed up to 3.0GHz.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 1x Cortex-X2 @ 3.0GHz 3x Cortex-A710 @ 2.5GHz 4x Cortex-A510 @ 1.8GHz |
| Process Node | 4nm |
| Architecture | ARMv9 |
| L2 Cache | 12MB |
This provides a good balance of high-performance and efficiency cores for demanding apps and longevity. Compared to the Snapdragon 888, the prime core offers a 16% boost in peak frequency while the efficiency cores receive a 33% upgrade.
GPU
The graphics processor in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is the Adreno 730. It delivers up to 30% faster rendering compared to the previous generation Adreno 660.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| GPU Model | Adreno 730 |
| Graphics APIs | OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 full profile, Vulkan 1.1 |
| Max On-Device Display Support | 4K at 60Hz, QHD+ at 144Hz |
| 10-bit HDR | Yes, over 1 billion colors |
| Hardware-accelerated codecs | H.264, H.265, VP8, VP9 |
It supports the latest graphics and compute APIs for compatible Android games. The Adreno 730 can power smooth visuals on up to QHD+ resolution screens at 144Hz refresh rates with HDR10 and HDR10+ support. This results in a very responsive experience with vivid color reproduction within mobile games and apps.
AI Engine
For machine learning workloads, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 packs the Hexagon processor with a total capacity of up to 32 TOPS. This is over 4x greater than the previous generation Hexagon inside the Snapdragon 888 chip.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| AI Accelerator | Hexagon processor |
| DSP Architecture | Hexagon Vector eXtensions + scalar cores |
| Performance | Up to 32 TOPS |
| Supported Operations | Tensor processing, vector processing, scalar processing |
| AI Software | Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine, Hexagon NN, Android NN API |
This huge boost empowers complex neural networks that can process images, video, speech, languages, security and more in real-time. The Hexagon hardware works together with Qualcomm’s suite of AI software to accelerate on-device inferencing for apps.
Signal Processor
Imaging plays a big role on smartphones, so the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 features an upgraded Spectra ISP that can support computational photography and video capture up to 200MP. It’s the first chip to allow 8K HDR video recordings.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Image Signal Processor | Spectra ISP |
| Maximum Resolution | 200MP photos, 64+36MP concurrent capture |
| Maximum Video Capture | 8K HDR at 30 fps |
| Slow Motion Video | 720p at 960fps |
| Video Capture Formats | HEIF/HEVC, H.264, VP8, VP9 |
It supports advanced features like staggered HDR video, bokeh engine for portrait mode and enhanced low light capture capabilities. Spectra ISP integrates closely with the AI engine for intelligent photo and video improvements.
Connectivity
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 offers the latest wireless connectivity options with an integrated X65 5G modem, Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| 5G Modem | Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 |
| 5G mmWave & Sub-6 GHz | Yes |
| 5G Peak Download Speed | 10 Gbps (theoretical) |
| Wi-Fi Standards | Wi-Fi 6 and 6E (802.11ax and 6GHz) |
| Bluetooth Version | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Navigation Systems | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS, SBAS |
The integrated modem offers lightning-fast 5G connectivity with multi-gigabit speeds, lower latency and support for advanced features like carrier aggregation. Wi-Fi 6 boosts throughput for local wireless connectivity while Bluetooth 5.2 enables audio streaming to headphones and speakers.
Manufacturing Process
Unlike prior Qualcomm flagships on Samsung’s 7nm or 5nm process, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is manufactured on an advanced 4nm process technology from TSMC. The successor to 5nm, this cutting-edge 4nm node from TSMC provides an optimized balance of performance, power and area.
Compared to 7nm, the 4nm process node delivers:
- 10% faster transistor speed
- Up to 35% more transistor density
- 30% lower power consumption
These advantages allow the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 to push CPU, GPU and AI acceleration to new heights within reasonable thermal and battery life constraints. While not as dense as 3nm, the 4nm process is more mature offering higher yielding early on.
Power Efficiency
Despite significant leaps in processing power, Qualcomm has focused on power efficiency with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform. The chip is manufactured on an advanced 4nm process and also employs custom technologies to reduce power draw.
The 4nm process node itself provides up to 30% greater power efficiency over 7nm. Additionally, technologies integrated on the SoC like:
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 5+ – Adaptive charging up to 100W
- Envelop tracking technology – Greater power amplifier efficiency
- Qualcomm AI Engine Direct – Backhaul-free offloading for Hexagon processor
- Dual Harmonized Processing – Optimized across CPU, GPU and AI workload distribution
All components are designed work synergistically to maximize performance per watt. As a result, flagship devices powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 can support top speeds while lasting over a day of active use.
Battery Life Comparison
| Chipset | Process | Battery Life Gains |
|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 | 4nm | Up to 33% vs SD888 on 7nm |
| Snapdragon 888 | 5nm | Up to 25% vs SD865 on 7nm |
As shown above, the advanced process combined with energy-efficient technologies has boosted longevity significantly with each generation.
Conclusion
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy S22 plus is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip manufactured on a 4nm process. This cutting-edge processor delivers up to 20% faster CPU performance, 30% faster GPU rendering and over 4x greater AI acceleration versus prior chips.
It supports advanced connectivity like 5G, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 alongside 200MP photography capabilities and 8K HDR video capture. Despite considerable upgrades across all areas, Qualcomm has managed to optimize power draw through its custom technologies and advanced 4nm production node. As a result, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 inside the Galaxy S22 plus sets a new bar for performance while maintaining excellent power efficiency.
