What Does the Qualcomm Snapdragon Chip Do?
January 15, 2025 - Ellie Gabel
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System-on-chips (SoCs) are revolutionizing integrated circuits. It simplifies conventionally complex electronic setups, placing everything from the CPU to the GPU all on one chip with microcontrollers and processors, among a medley of other interfaces and components. This is a massive innovation in the semiconductor world, allowing electronics to be smaller and more convenient for customers. So, what role does the Snapdragon chip from Qualcomm have to play in the competitive conversation?
What Is a Snapdragon Chip, and What Does it Do?
Snapdragon is an SoC created by Qualcomm Technologies. It’s mostly for consumer technologies like wearable electronics, phones and tablets, among other items. The Snapdragon chip is one line in their list of products.
Chips like the Snapdragon are the reason your advanced electronics work as seamlessly as they can. They even integrate into vehicles to give that connected, futuristic experience. It makes small and large devices have the power of a massive computer with the need to have equally monumental infrastructure.
What Are the Features of the Snapdragon Chip?
What makes the Snapdragon chip unique is its specs, which vary depending on which version of the chip is in the product.
First, is the multi-core central processing unit (CPU), with clock speeds ranging from 2.2 to 4.32 GHz in the Series 8 lineup, and it’s the reason behind its high-performance operating system. Its graphics processing unit (GPU) is why the chips are able to have such crisp video and image rendering. Typically, these are integrated Adreno GPUs. The digital signal processor is what deals with audio, processing everything from voice recognition to when to enable noise cancellation.
SoCs also have modems, which allow it to connect with the world. They have a combination Wi-Fi and Bluetooth system while also being able to connect to 4G LTE and 5G. Some chips come equipped with Qualcomm’s signature FastConnect 7900, which includes Ultra Wideband with super-low latency.
Many Snapdragon chips also have artificial intelligence (AI). It allows devices like phones to recognize images in a photo library or power a smart assistant to find accurate answers.
Here are some of the other features a Snapdragon chip provides technology that you might use on an everyday basis but may not be aware it’s the chip doing all the work:
- Empowering cameras with its image signal processor
- Securing devices with built-in protective methods
- Letting people play their way with gaming optimizers
- Allowing support for ever-advancing communications tech beyond 5G
These features combined make the Snapdragon a powerful competitor in the SoC market.
How Does it Compare to Other Chips?
Snapdragon is not the only chip doing similar things in the semiconductor space. Let’s compare it against its competitors.
Apple A-Series
Apple is known for its expertise within its own device ecosystem. Therefore, the A-Series chips are perfect and better-performing in their products, perhaps compared to competitors. They are curated for tech in their architecture, and it shows. The Snapdragon appeals to more devices, even though they both use the same ARM architecture. Apple’s is simply more customized. The A-Series also has a single-core compared to multi-core setup, making them adept at performing highly in different environments. Graphically, the two are comparable.
Intel Core Processors
You might recognize Intel’s name on more power-hungry devices like desktop computers and laptops. This is where Intel shines. When lots of power is needed, they can deliver the tech to make that happen without friction. Snapdragon is not necessarily designed with these devices in mind, and it focuses more on smaller electronics.
Therefore, the Snapdragon may have higher longevity and battery efficiency, but it couldn’t execute what Intel does processing wise. Snapdragon might also have better integrated graphics, but because of the lower processing abilities, it couldn’t necessarily be a primary gaming device in the same way. The architecture also differs. Intel uses x86 compared to ARM, which dictates what software it works with.
MediaTek Dimensity Series
MediaTek has a specific demographic. Snapdragon appeals to budget audiences and high-end buyers who land on the extremes of technophile. MediaTek is less diverse in their product offerings. This makes the two hard to compare, as advanced Snapdragon models may usually outperform. However, for the value, MediaTek might win in a fight. It delivers a solid experience with reliable performance. It also has many of the integrations Snapdragon has, including connectivity functionality and AI.
How Could Snapdragon Improve to Outperform Competition?
The improvements Snapdragon can make are not exclusive to Qualcomm. These are all tips any SoC manufacturer could take into consideration when generating new product designs. They must create chips for technologies that don’t exist yet, anticipating higher processing and graphical needs. To stay relevant so clients keep coming to them, here is what the Snapdragon chip and competitors must do:
- Make custom cores, similar to Apple.
- Extend battery life and regulate thermal distribution to prevent overheating.
- Incorporate dedicated processing units for AI functionality to expand its features.
- Design adaptable modems for what lies beyond 5G.
- Shorten time-to-market and overcome supply chain stopgaps.
- Collaborate with software developers to provide options across architectures.
- Focus on eco-friendly production and energy-efficient assembly for sustainability.
- Establish partnerships to regulate pricing while staying competitive.
- Enhance GPUs for more intense gaming experiences to match CPU abilities.
These are only a few of the things that need to happen to make SoC even more well realized. In 2025, there are several trends that could motivate toward achieving these goals. Heterogenous computing is one, which would make dedicated AI processing a reality. Integrating the Internet of Things in addition to most robust modems would increase connectivity options. Finally, manufacturing advancements will make assembly more precise and modular.
Is SoC Going to Remain the Future of Computing?
With devices getting smaller every year, SoC is going to become even more of a mainstay. This means the Snapdragon chip has countless opportunities to improve and impress. Qualcomm should invest in research and development because SoC hype isn’t going to die down, especially with the reputation of the Snapdragon being one of the most positive in the industry.
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Author
Ellie Gabel
Ellie Gabel is a science writer specializing in astronomy and environmental science and is the Associate Editor of Revolutionized. Ellie's love of science stems from reading Richard Dawkins books and her favorite science magazines as a child, where she fell in love with the experiments included in each edition.