What you need to know
- Rumors about Qualcomm's next budget chip, the Snapdragon 4 gen 6, claim another graphical upgrade is in the works.
- A report claims the chip could feature an Adreno 6-series GPU, as well as Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
- The Snapdragon 4 Gen 5, which launched in May, was the first 4-series chip that could muster 90fps in games with an Adreno 4-series GPU.
I'm interested in this graphics rumor for the SD 4 Gen 6 the most. I've had budget phones before, and they've done okay—for a time. Games continue to update. Their graphics continue to evolve. Eventually, that budget phone feels... outmatched. Qualcomm's trying to help by offering a better GPU, and 90fps is a good thing to have. I just can't help but wonder how much further it's willing to push its budget chip's GPU since it's, well, budget.
Qualcomm is supposedly working on another generation of chips for budget phones, and its specs might've appeared online.
Budget phones are typically dropped down a notch when it comes to overall performance. However, alleged details about Qualcomm's next Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 from NotebookCheck suggest the company is trying to close the gap. The post claims the SD 4 Gen 6 could include a much-needed Adreno GPU upgrade. The chip might jump to the Adreno 6 series.
It's suspected that this would deliver yet another significant increase in graphical output for budget phones. As it stands, the publication didn't have concrete numbers. Other supposed upgrades involve its security, which is "getting a refresh." As far as connectivity is concerned, rumors state the SD 4 Gen 6 could feature Bluetooth 6.0 and an upgraded Wi-Fi 6 over Wi-Fi 5 in the Gen 5 SoC.
For what might remain the same, the publication adds that the Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 might keep the same CPU architecture as its predecessor. If that's the case, then we might be in for another 2+6 Kyro core arrangement (Kryo Gold, Kryo Silver). Another similarity could be its process, which NotebookCheck says might remain at 4nm.
Qualcomm released a pair of chips in May, both of which focused on the affordable phone market. Graphics were a focus for Qualcomm with the SD 4 Gen 5. The company states this chip features a "77% increase in Adreno GPU performance for 90fps in games." This was a big moment for Qualcomm. Previously, no 4-series chip achieved such a high FPS (frames per second). Mind you, this is with the Adreno 4-series GPU. With rumors suggesting an upgrade in this department, hopefully Qualcomm can push its graphics even more.
Budget phones often struggle with mobile games with more intense graphics, but knocking them down to medium or low can help. However, if Qualcomm is truly looking to boost its GPU again, maybe users can feel more comfortable with medium graphics across the board without noticeable FPS drops.
The rumors about the Snapdragon 4 Gen 6 didn't have a release date in mind. Considering we got Qualcomm's last wave in May, there's a chance the company could stick to that next year.
