Qualcomm has quietly made two new smartphone chipsets official – Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4. Both SoCs are meant to be used in budget and entry-level smartphones and are expected to ship with 2026 models.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 packs Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU
Kicking things off with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, this is the superior of the two when it comes to performance and features. The processor packs Qualcomm's budget Kryo CPU clocked at 3.2 GHz. It is paired with an Adreno GPU, which can support up to 120 FPS graphics when used inside a Full HD+ smartphone.
It also brings support for 108 MP cameras and concurrent capturing capability. Also, unlike the Snapdragon 4 Gen 3 which relied on software processing, the newer model sports hardware-level multi frame noise reduction.
Also, just like the Snapdragon 4 Gen 3, the 4 Gen 4 also brings 5G support to entry-level and budget-focused smartphones. It is even capable of supporting newer Wi-Fi generations.
Lastly, the new Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 also delivers a significant boost to battery life and charging. It now supports Quick Charge 4 Plus protocol and Qualcomm claims that phones using this SoC will be able to go from 0% to 50% in about 15 minutes.
Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 brings robust performance
Now, speaking of the new Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 chip, as the name suggests, this is a 4G processor and is primarily meant to be used inside entry-level smartphones in 2026. However, it does bring some nifty upgrades this year.
For instance, just like the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 chip, the 6s 4G Gen 2 also makes use of the Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU. However, it gains a big clock speed boost at 2.9 GHz and improved graphical performance with an estimated 20% jump. It also brings 120 FPS graphical support for Full HD+ display phones.
Another area where the new entry-level SoC shines is in the AI department. It can now support voice assistance via AI software for faster responses and reduced processing time. The same AI-level integration is seen in videography, where it ensures crisp microphone quality and undistorted video clips.
Speaking of cameras, the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 brings support for up to 108 MP cameras. Also, just like the 4 Gen 4, the 6s 4G Gen 2 can also support concurrent multi-photo and video.
That said, it is clear that with the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, Qualcomm is bringing its own offering to the market for 2026. Given that the Unisoc T9300 5G launched a few days back with 200 MP camera support, there is no doubt that budget smartphones next year will sport capable chips throughout.
