Qualcomm could launch an overclocked version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, hoping to match Apple’s 16 Bionic

Seemingly ignoring the not-so-small problems experienced with the current generation Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, Qualcomm would like to push the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 architecture even further, hoping to catch up with Apple’s A16 Bionic rival.

Known for its tendency to stop Android gaming sessions without warning, citing issues with phone overheating, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset has failed to deliver performance on par with that offered by rival Apple. Appearing as an improved version, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 only managed to deliver marginally improved performance, delivered at times when the phone’s re-cooling capabilities aren’t already overwhelmed with too much waste heat. All in all, Qualcomm doesn’t have a credible answer for Apple’s chipset family just yet.

Made using TSMC’s 4nm manufacturing process, the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 doesn’t quite manage to keep up with rival A16 Bionic, this despite the latter sharing the same 4nm manufacturing technology.

Long on the rumor mill, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 replacement should bring Qualcomm’s reputation to the rescue, while strengthening the company’s position as the default supplier of chipsets for top-end Android phones at a time when rival MediaTek is increasingly threatening that status.

According to rumours so far, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is expected to reach 3.4-3.5GHz on the main processing core, compared to 3.2GHz on the current Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. In the opposite camp, the Apple-developed A16 Bionic chipset already reaches 3.46GHz, simultaneously promising 40% better performance than can be achieved with rival chipsets developed for the Android camp.

Another interesting detail concerns the graphics processor, with the GPU unit dubbed Adreno 740 expected to deliver superior performance to Apple’s A-series chipsets. The rumor doesn’t clarify whether it’s the newest iteration of the A16 Bionic, or a previous-generation Apple chipset.