Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro: Which is the more powerful processor?

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro
Comparison between two most powerful smartphone chipsets. (Image via Qualcomm || Apple)

This Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro analysis compares the two most powerful processors in the market. While both come with high-end configurations and are used in flagship phones, the A17 Pro has a slight edge in terms of performance owing to the better integration of software and hardware.

Qualcomm produces the Snapdragon SoCs that can be found in tons of Android phones, while the A series bionic chips, designed by Apple, are only limited to iPhones. Both processors deliver excellent performance.

In this analysis, we will look at the various key aspects of these processors and try to determine the winner for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro comparison.

NOTE: Parts of this article are subjective and reflect the writer's view.


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro: Specs

Specifications comparison between A17 Pro and 8 Gen 3 chipset. (Image via Qualcomm)
Specifications comparison between A17 Pro and 8 Gen 3 chipset. (Image via Qualcomm)

There are many significant differences that make both chipsets stand out. Before we dive deeper into the evaluation process, let’s have a look at their core specs.

Specifications

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

A17 Pro

CPU

Octa-core

Six-core

Cores

1x 3.3GHz (Cortex-X4)

3x 3.2GHz (Cortex-A720)

2x 3.0GHz (Cortex-A720)

2x 2.3GHz (Cortex-A520)

2x 3.78 GHz High-performance cores

4x 2.11GHz High-efficiency cores


Process technology

4nm

3nm

GPU

Adreno (Qualcomm-designed)

Hardware ray-tracing

6-core (Apple-designed)

Hardware ray-tracing

Memory support

LPDDR5X

LPDDR5

Connectivity

Bluetooth 5.4

Wi-Fi 7 Ready

Bluetooth 5.3

Wi-Fi 6E

Frequency

3300 MHz

3780 MHz

TDP

6.3 W

8 W


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro: Benchmarks

Based on the Nano Review tests, Quallcomm’s latest chipset outperforms the A-17 Pro in AnTuTu and 3D Mark scores. While you will find Apple’s processor to perform well in both, single-core and multiple-core GeekBench testing.


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3

A17 Pro

AnTuTu 10

2087940

1549189

GeekBench 6 (Single-Core)

2193

2953

GeekBench 6 (Multiple-Core)

7304

7441

3D Mark

16526

10008

These numbers are good for general comparison. However, the real performance also depends on other factors like software optimization, RAM, storage, and the individual’s use case.


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro: Performance and efficiency

The A17 Pro is a more efficient processor. (Image via Apple)
The A17 Pro is a more efficient processor. (Image via Apple)

Both processors are Arm-based chipsets, however, they have many differentiators under the hood. The Qualcomm chipset has an octa-core design and TSMC’s 4nm process node. 6/8 cores are clocked at 3.0GHz and above. It is said to be 30% faster and 20% more efficient compared to its predecessor.

The A17 Pro is a six-core chip built on TSMC’s 3nm process node. It has two high-performance cores clocking 3.78GHz resulting in exceptional performance and efficiency. It also gets a major improvement in terms of GPU.

Apple has also partnered with multiple developers to get support for its hardware-level Ray Tracing capability, which Snapdragon processors still lack. On the brighter side, Qualcomm is working continuously to improve the GPU. It supports Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Global Illumination and Reflections System, which delivers images similar to console-level graphics.

Talking about ISP, the 8 Gen 3 outclasses the A-17 Pro in almost all the categories. Plus, it also has a slightly better connectivity configuration on paper.


Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro: Final verdict

Declaring a single winner in the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 vs A17 Pro comparison is quite tricky. But the A-series bionic chip looks slightly better. It is more efficient and offers superior core performance. In addition, Apple’s software and hardware optimization for iPhones leads to a smoother performance.

Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 delivers optimal performance and also has a better GPU. But it lacks developer support for gaming. The hardware capabilities of the phone also hinder the true potential of the chipset.

Quick Links

Edited by Jito Tenson
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
More
More
bell-icon Manage notifications