The release of Qualcomm’s flagship chipsets is highly anticipated every year, but the company’s mid-range chips are arguably even more significant. While not everyone can afford a flagship phone, most people still desire a device that is reasonably powerful and can last for several years. That’s precisely why the Snapdragon 7 series was created, and the recent announcement of the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is no exception.
To avoid any confusion, it is important to note that the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 is the first chipset in the second generation of the Snapdragon 7 series. In other words, there was no initial “base” Snapdragon 7 Gen 2. Qualcomm has revised its naming conventions, and the ‘+’ symbol no longer denotes a minor upgrade over the previous chipset. Instead, it now signifies the top-tier or top-performing platform in the series.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2: Specifications
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 has taken over from its predecessor, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. This 4nm chip features a Kryo CPU with 1 prime (Cortex X2) + 3 performance + 4 efficiency cores, offering speeds of up to 2.91GHz and a 50% improvement in performance over the 7 Gen 1.
The GPU and AI Engine have also seen significant improvements, with a 2x increase in performance and an overall 13% boost in power efficiency. The Adreno GPU, in particular, boasts the most significant performance leap in the history of the 7 series.
Auto Variable Rate Shading has been introduced for the first time in the 7-series. This enables the rendering of in-focus content at full resolution while optimizing the background for improved efficiency. Volumetric rendering for particle graphics like fog and smoke is also supported. The chipset also supports 120Hz QHD+ screens or 4K60 for an immersive viewing experience.
Furthermore, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 supports up to 200MP capture and offers staggered HDR video capture with triple exposure from two cameras simultaneously. There’s also a “mega low light mode” that merges 30 images.
Going forward, the Snapdragon X62 5G modem supports up to 4.4 Gbps and 5G/4G Dual-Sim Dual Active (DSDA) for faster connectivity, while the FastConnect 6900 for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3 ensures seamless connectivity. Finally, it comes with Quick Charge 5 which allows for rapid charging, with the ability to charge from 0-50% in just five minutes.
List of Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Phones
Qualcomm confirmed that the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 will debut in the market this month through various OEMs, including Redmi and realme. Both brands have confirmed that their upcoming devices, namely the Redmi Note 12 Turbo and realme GT Neo 5 SE, will feature this advanced chipset. Additionally, the chipmaker anticipates that phones integrated with this processor will fall in the price range of $400 to $600.
