The Snapdragon 7-series is Qualcomm's most popular mid-range series. It consists of regular 7-series processors and those with the "s" moniker, which are typically more budget-friendly offerings. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 was the first processor in the 7-series with the "s" moniker, and it has been succeeded by the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. We tested both of them on the Moto G67 Power and the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro to see the difference in power, and here's how the chips compare.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: AnTuTu Score
| AnTuTu Benchmark | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu Score | 1,073,789 | 841,378 |
| CPU | 414,063 | 314,941 |
| GPU | 180,737 | 127,102 |
| Memory | 200,431 | 145,868 |
| UX | 278,558 | 253,467 |
Starting with the AnTuTu scores, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro surpasses the 1 million mark in AnTuTu V11, scoring 1,073,789 points, compared to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in the Moto G67 Power, which scores 841,378 points.
The difference is quite major and can be seen across different aspects of the processor. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 beats its predecessor across CPU (414,063 vs 314,941), GPU (180,737 vs 127,102), Memory (200,431 vs 145,868) and UX (278,558 vs 253,467).
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 delivers a massive 27% better performance, with the CPU score alone jumping by nearly 100,000 points. The GPU is also better on the 7s Gen 3, which, when combined with better memory performance, results in a slightly better general, gaming performance and user experience.
The difference in performance is all thanks to the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 using the newer ARMv9.2-A cores, just like the Dimensity 8400. They are not only powerful but also much more efficient. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 features a Cortex-A720 prime core clocked at 2.5 GHz, 3x Cortex-A720 performance cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and 4x Cortex-A520 efficiency cores clocked at 1.8 GHz.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, on the other hand, uses older ARMv8.2 4x Cortex-A78 and 4x Cortex-A55 cores at 2.4 GHz and 1.96 GHz, respectively. All in all, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is undeniably the better performer, both when it comes to gaming and general performance.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: Geekbench Score
| Geekbench 6 CPU | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 1,164 | 1,015 |
| Multi-core | 3,252 | 2,882 |
Geekbench 6 further reveals the difference in raw power between the ARMv9.2-A cores in the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs the ARMv8.2 cores in the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 consistently outperforms the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 in both single-core and multi-core scores, achieving 1,164 points and 3,252 points.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 isn't significantly behind, but still loses to the 7s Gen 3 by 13% and 12%. When a processor crosses the 3,000 threshold in multi-core, it generally means that it's better equipped to handle sustained multitasking. This means the app stays open in the background longer, and heavy workloads are processed faster.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: CPU Throttling test
| CPU Throttling Test | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Score | 312,851 GIPS | 220,978 GIPS |
| Average Score | 306,593 GIPS | 190,041 GIPS |
| Throttling Percentage (Higher is better) | No Throttling | 81% |
This is where the manufacturing process makes a real-world difference. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is built on TSMC's 4nm (N4P) node, which is much more stable and runs much cooler than the 7s Gen 2's 4nm Samsung manufacturing process.
While the 7s Gen 3 is capable of delivering over 30% higher performance (312,851 vs 220,978 GIPS) than the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 under sustained load, what's impressive is that its average score is also very close to its maximum score.
This means that no matter what the task, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 won't throttle and will offer a stable experience. We observe zero throttling in the Gen 3, while the 7s Gen 2 throttles to 81% of its performance under heavy load. This makes the Gen 3 vastly superior for long gaming sessions, as it won't drop frames due to heat buildup.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: 3DMark Scores
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Best Loop Score | 1,049 | 870 |
| Lowest Loop Score | 1,046 | 860 |
| Stability | 99.7% | 98.8% |
In the Wild Life Extreme Stress Test, both chipsets show excellent stability, but the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 starts from a higher baseline, indicating much better performance. The Gen 3 scores 1,049 points, offering roughly 20% better peak graphics performance (vs 870) while maintaining the same, if not better, rock-solid stability as the 7s Gen 2.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: Speedometer Scores
The difference in Speedometer scores is not much. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 scores 8.88 points, whereas the 7s Gen 2 achieves 7.66 points. The former is slightly ahead of the latter, meaning that the 7s Gen 3 will load complex web pages faster, scroll smoother and run web-based apps with relative ease.
Benchmark Gallery
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 2: Specs
| Specs | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | TSMC 4nm (N4P) | Samsung 4nm (4LPX) |
| CPU | 8-core Kryo CPU | 8-core Kryo CPU |
| CPU Cores | 1x 2.5 GHz (Cortex-A720), 3x 2.5GHz (Cortex-A720), 4x 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A520) | 4x 2.4 GHz (Cortex-A78), 4x 1.96 GHz (Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 GPU | Adreno 710 |
| Storage and Memory | UFS 3.1, LPDDR5 memory, Up to 3200MHz | UFS 3.1, LPDDR5 up to 3.2 GHz |
| NPU | Hexagon NPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU |
| ISP | Dual 12-bit ISP, 200MP photo capture, 2K HDR video at 30 FPS | Qualcomm Spectra Triple ISP 12-bit |
| Modem | Snapdragon 5G Modem, Peak Download Speed Up to 2.9 Gbps | Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 |
Verdict
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a significant update, not just a refresh. By switching to more powerful and efficient Cortex-A720 and Cortex-A520 cores and TSMC's node, it solves the throttling issues of the 7s Gen 2 while delivering great stability. With an AnTuTu score of over 1 million, it blurs the line between mid-range and premium mid-range, making it the clear winner for users who want both performance and longevity without breaking the bank.
