The flagship Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 is equipped with significant performance enhancements, with a 30% quicker CPU and 28% quicker graphics compared to the earlier one. It boasts an octa-core architecture with one main core, five performance cores, and two efficiency cores all using Qualcomm’s Kryo design. The GPU used is an Adreno A32 and features advanced gaming capabilities like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Lumen Global Illumination & Reflections of Unreal Engine 5. The processor is capable of supporting the display up to QHD+ resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, which is appropriate for high-end gaming handhelds.
Mid-range Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 provides massive performance jumps, with a 2.3x boost in CPU and a 3.8x boost in GPU performance over its last generation. It also supports up to 144Hz on QHD+ displays, making it perfect for mainstream gaming needs. This chip will be found in devices like Retroid handheld, delivering robust performance for games across a wide range of needs.
The affordable Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 is designed for cloud gaming and emulation devices primarily. It offers an 80% performance increase over the last generation and up to 120Hz on FHD+ screens. While not as powerful as its more expensive relatives, it is perfect for cloud streaming-focused devices, offering a budget-friendly and efficient solution for casual gamers.
Some of the most recent state-of-the-art handheld devices are going to utilize these new chips. Ayaneo, for instance, is developing the Ayaneo Pocket S2, which will feature the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 and is supposedly releasing any time now. Additionally, the Ayaneo Gaming Pad tablet, to be released in May, will also be utilizing the G3 Gen 3. OneXSugar is bringing out the Sugar 1, a two-screen Android gaming handheld that is the world’s first, and they are also going to be using the G3 Gen 3. Retroid Pocket will utilize the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 in its upcoming handhelds, which will target the mid-range gaming segment.
These new Snapdragon G Series chips represent Qualcomm’s new foray into the handheld gaming market, an expanding segment in recent years that has seen releases like the Steam Deck. Qualcomm is offering up a range of performance levels from which to pick, hoping to provide manufacturers the freedom to make products that would appeal to many different types of gamers, ranging from casual cloud gamers to hyper-enthusiasts. The incorporation of advanced gaming features and display support of high refresh rates puts these chips in a position to provide immersive gaming experiences on phones.
