Qualcomm's S series lineup has some of the most desirable processors, with the latest being the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. These processors are targeted at budget-friendly to to premium mid-range smartphones and boast a great balance between power and efficiency. With the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 already out, we compared this mid-range offering with its predecessor, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 to see which processors offers the better value.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 AnTuTu Score
| AnTuTu Benchmark | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| AnTuTu Score | 1,047,462 | 1,073,789 |
| CPU | 406,308 | 414,063 |
| GPU | 188,545 | 180,737 |
| Memory | 193,664 | 200,431 |
| UX | 258,945 | 278,558 |
In a surprising turn of events, the older Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 in the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro actually outperforms the newer Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ (and the Nothing Phone (4a) also features the same) in the overall AnTuTu V11 benchmark. The 7s Gen 3 scores 1,073,789 points, whereas the 7s Gen 4 trails slightly behind at 1,047,462. However, the breakdown tells a more nuanced story.
While the CPU, Memory an UX scores are slightly better on the 7s Gen 3, the results and differences could have less to do with the processor itself and more with optimisation on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. Overall, the difference in performance is still well within the margin of error, which is fair considering Qualcomm claims the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 brings just a 7% improvement over its predecessor.
This is because both processors use the same 8-core architecture, including the same cores. While the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 uses a Cortex-A720 clocked at 2.71GHz, the one on the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is clocked slightly lower at 2.5GHz. The remaining Cortex-A720 performance and Cortex-A520 efficiency cores remain the same number and clock speeds, and so does the 4nm TSMC manufacturing process.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: Geekbench Score
| Geekbench 6 CPU | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 1,222 | 1,164 |
| Multi-core | 3,145 | 3,252 |
When testing the CPU capabilities with Geekbench 6, the results are pretty much what we expected. Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 scores higher in single-core with 1,222 points (vs 1,164 on Snapdragon 7s Gen 3), thanks to the prime core being clocked slightly higher. However, the multi-core is a different story.
Although the difference is not day and night, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 scores higher at 3,252 points (vs 3,145 on 7s Gen 4), and this likely has more to do with the software optimisation than the processor itself.
The bottom line is that in heavy multitasking, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 slightly edges out the 7s Gen 4, however the latter would perform better in single load tasks like launching app and responsiveness.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: CPU Throttling Score
| CPU Throttling Test | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Score | 310,843 GIPS | 312,851 GIPS |
| Average Score | 297,165 GIPS | 306,593 GIPS |
| Minimum Score | 262,351 GIPS | 288,448 GIPS |
| Throttling Percentage (Higher is better) | 91% | No Throttling Detected |
In our 15-minute CPU throttling test, we find out that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is a bit more stable than its successor. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 holds its ground well, throttling to 91%, but falls short in terms of maximum score. The 7s Gen 4 finishes 310,743 GIPS while the 7s Gen 3 edges that out with a score of 312,751 GIPS.
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 maintains that score well at 306,593 GIPS average, reaching the lowest of 288,448 GIPS. The 7s Gen 4, on the other hand, is no slouch with a 297,165 GIPS average and 262,351 GIPS lowest. However, it's not beating the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3. Although in real-life performance, this 9% difference is very negligible and won't show in day-to-day usage.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon s Gen 3: 3DMark Score
| 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best Loop Score | 996 | 1,049 |
| Lowest Loop Score | 991 | 1,046 |
| Stability | 99.5% | 99.7% |
Despite scoring higher in the graphics department on AnTuTu, the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme stress test paints a slightly different picture for sustained graphics workload. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 managed a best loop score of 1,048, and cleared the 1,000 point barrier that the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 misses with its score of 996 points.
Both chips bring exceptional stability, proving neither will suffer from sudden frame drops during gaming. However, the older chip does seem to squeeze out just a bit more raw power, perhaps due to the better cooling solution on the Phone (3a) Pro.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3: Speedometer Score
If web browsing is your priority, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4's slightly overclocked prime core proves itself in Speedometer. It scores 10.6 points, which is a good jump from the 8.8 score of the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4. This implies that the 7s Gen 4 will be slightly faster during web browsing.
Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 vs Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Specs Comparison
| Specs | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | TSMC’s 4nm (N4P) | TSMC's 4nm (N4P) |
| CPU | 8-core Kryo CPU | 8-core Kryo CPU |
| CPU Cores | 1x 2.7GHz (Cortex-A720), 3x 2.4GHz (Cortex-A720), 4x 1.8GHz (Cortex-A520) | 1x 2.63 GHz (Cortex-A720), 3x 2.4 GHz (Cortex-A720) and 4x (Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 810 | Adreno 810 |
| Storage and Memory | UFS 3.1, LPDDR5X memory, Up to 3.2 GHz | UFS 3.1, LPDDR5 up to 3.2 GHz |
| NPU | Hexagon NPU | Qualcomm Hexagon NPU |
| ISP | Qualcomm Spectra Triple 12-bit ISP | Qualcomm Spectra Triple 12-bit ISP |
| Modem | Snapdragon 5G Modem | Snapdragon 5G Modem |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 |
Verdict
The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is a classic example of an incremental update. On paper, it brings slightly faster core clock speeds, translating to a better single-core score on Geekbench with noticeably faster web browsing performance. However, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is still formidable when it comes to sustained stability and graphics.
Software updates will help the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 close this gap, but users who already have a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3-powered phone have little to no reason to upgrade. Budget conscious buyers may find better value in the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, which is clearly still a highly capable processor.
