Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor for upper mid-range smartphones. This new SoC boasts significant increases in CPU and graphics performance compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. The first smartphones with the new processor are expected to go on sale in March 2023.
The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 takes over the CPU cores and basic structure from the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, achieving lower clock rates but still delivering a 50 percent higher CPU performance than the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. The graphics unit (GPU) is set to double performance and includes support for Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL ES 3.2, and Open CL 2.0 FP interfaces, as well as playback of common HDR formats.
The new model adopts the Spectra ISP image processor from the Snapdragon 8+ Gen, enabling up to 30 images per second simultaneously from three camera sensors with a resolution of 32 megapixels. It also supports 4K recordings up to 60 frames per second, 10-bit color depth, and HDR recordings. The AI performance is expected to double, but no details were provided.
The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 includes the Snapdragon X62 modem and supports 5G for sub-6 GHz and mmWave networks. The FastConnect 6900 module is available for data exchange via WLAN and Bluetooth, offering Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 with various audio codecs.
Redmi and Realme are among the first partners to install the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, though it is not yet known which models or price segments they will target. The Xiaomi 13 Lite, which contains the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, may provide an indication.
