The colleagues from ZDNet asked Samsung for a detailed explanation on the occasion of the launch of the Galaxy S23 regarding the alleged advantages of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. After all, the chip is also used in various other new high-end smartphones and is the most powerful thing currently found in the world of Android smartphones.
A little more maximum clock for the high-end core and the GPU
The main difference between the “normal” Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and the “Galaxy version” in Samsung’s devices is that the special variant offers a slightly higher maximum frequency of the “Extreme” core. The computing core, which is based on Qualcomm’s slightly adapted cryo architecture, achieves a maximum of 3.36 gigahertz here instead of the usual 3.2 gigahertz.
The Adreno graphics unit of the Samsung-specific edition also clocks a little higher. Instead of the usual maximum of 680 megahertz, it reaches a slightly faster 719 MHz. In theory, the performance should therefore be a little better than in other Android flagship smartphones. However, it should be borne in mind that there should hardly be any differences in everyday life, because other factors such as software optimization also play a role.
Galaxy S23: Samsung’s new smartphones have semantic segmentation as an exclusive feature for the time being
Galaxy S23 series first smartphones with Qualcomm’s Semantic Segmentation
There is also another difference: Qualcomm always integrates a new function of the “Cognitive ISP”, i.e. the image processing unit, into the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is what is known as semantic segmentation, in which various elements of the respective motif are recognized and optimally displayed in photos and videos.
The Galaxy S23 series smartphones are the first to actually take advantage of this new feature. It’s unclear how long Semantic Segmentation will be reserved for Samsung devices. In general, however, it should be a function that can be activated by software.
For us in Europe, the biggest advantage of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy is that Samsung actually uses the chip in all variants of its new flagship smartphones. Instead of the repeatedly criticized Exynos SoCs of the past few years, the same chip is now used worldwide, which should give the new S23 models longer runtimes, higher energy efficiency and ultimately also significantly more performance in Germany.
Another curiosity is that Samsung does not equip the flagship smartphones from its production with CPUs from its production. The “for Galaxy” variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still produced by the contract manufacturer TSMC, which is actually the arch-rival of Samsung’s semiconductor division. Therefore, until shortly before the launch, there was still speculation as to whether the special Snapdragon variant might not be manufactured by Samsung and not by TSMC – but that is definitely not the case.
- Samsung uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy in the Galaxy S23.
- Difference to the ‘normal’ Snapdragon: higher maximum frequency of a core and the Adreno graphics.
- New Cognitive ISP feature with semantic segmentation
- Use of the function only in Samsung’s devices
- Advantage: same chip worldwide, longer running times, higher energy efficiency, more performance.
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