You read that right, Qualcomm’s 2023 flagship chipset – the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has two new versions.
New might be a relative term here, as both are binned versions of the original chip with two fewer working CPU cores. The new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 version SM8650-Q-AB and SM8650-Q-AA both feature six-core CPUs with the former offering an underclocked CPU cluster that clock at 3.3GHz and 3.0GHz respectively.
| SM8650-Q-AA | SM8650-Q-AB | |
| CPU | 1x Cortex-X4 @3.3GHz, 4x Cortex-A720 @2.96GHz, 1x Cortex-A520 @2.27GHz | 1x Cortex-X4 @3.0GHz, 4x Cortex-A720 @2.96GHz, 1x Cortex-A520 @2.27GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 750 | Adreno 750 |
| Process | 4nm | 4nm |
A recent Geekbench listing for the upcoming Lenovo tablet (TB710FU) gives us a sneak peek at the possible CPU configuration of the new underclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650-Q-AB). It features the same Pineapple code name, which is normally associated with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but its CPU layout comes with six cores instead of eight.
Upcoming Lenovo Tab with six-core Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650-Q-AB)
There’s a 3.3GHz prime Cortex-X4 core just like the regular SD 8 Gen 3 alongside 4x Cortex-A720 cores @ 2.96GHz and 1x Cortex-A520 efficiency core @ 2.27GHz. The listing also confirms the chip features the same Adreno 750 GPU.
While Qualcomm has not posted the detailed CPU configuration of the new 8 Gen 3 chips, the other new version (SM8650-Q-AA) is expected to feature an underclocked prime core, clocked at 3.0GHz.
The two new models join the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which powered most of 2024’s flagship Android phones, alongside the 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy/Leading version, which offered overclocked Cortex-X4 prime cores. Qualcomm has another underclocked Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650-AA) which is found on devices like the Honor 400 Pro.