Not content with the launch of a high-end chipset, Qualcomm has just launched its second 800 series processor in just two months. The Snapdragon 870 5G mobile platform promises higher clock speeds than last year’s processors and will be powering Motorola’s most important products, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo Iqoo and Xiaomi.
In reality, the processor is closer to a “Snapdragon 865 Plus Plus” than to an entirely new design for high-end smartphones at affordable prices. We expected a Snapdragon 888 Lite to fill that gap, but it didn’t. How does this processor compare to Qualcomm’s other premium level 2021 option? Let’s dive into the Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 888.
Snapdragon SoC Guide: All Qualcomm smartphone processors explained
Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 888 specifications
| Snapdragon 888 | Snapdragon 870 | Snapdragon 865 Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Config | 1x 2.84 GHz (Cortex-X1) 3x 2.4 GHz (Cortex-A78) 4x 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A55) |
1x 3.2 GHz (Cortex-A77) 3x 2.4 GHz (Cortex-A77) 4x 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A55) |
1x 3.1 GHz (Cortex-A77) 3x 2.4 GHz (Cortex-A77) 4x 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Adreno 660 | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 |
| DSP | Hexagon 780 (scaled cast, tensor and vector) |
Hexagon 698 | Hexagon 698 |
| Process | 5nm | 7nm FinFET | 7nm FinFET |
| Camera support | • 200 MP single shot • Simple 84 MP with zero shutter delay • 64 MP + 25 MP with zero shutter delay • 24 MP triple with zero shutter delay • Hybrid AF • 10-bit HEIF image capture • HDR video • multi-frame noise reduction • Classification, segmentation and replacement of objects in real time |
• 200 MP single shot • 64 MP with zero shutter delay • 25 MP dual camera with zero shutter delay • Hybrid AF • HDR video • multi-frame noise reduction • Classification, segmentation and replacement of objects in real time |
• 200 MP single shot • 64 MP with zero shutter delay • 25 MP dual camera with zero shutter delay • Hybrid AF • HDR video • multi-frame noise reduction • Classification, segmentation and replacement of objects in real time |
| Video capture | 8K at 30 fps 4K UHD at 120 fps 720p at 960 fps |
8K at 30 fps 4K UHD at 120 fps 720p at 960 fps |
8K at 30 fps 4K UHD at 120 fps 720p at 960 fps |
| Video Playback | 8K 4K HDR up to 120 fps H.265 and VP9 video decoder 360 degrees |
8K 4K HDR up to 120 fps H.265 and VP9 video decoder 360 degrees |
8K 4K HDR up to 120 fps H.265 and VP9 video decoder 360 degrees |
| Loading | Quick Charge 5 | Quick Charge 4+ Fast charge AI |
Quick Charge 4+ Fast charge AI |
| Modem | X60 LTE / 5G (integrated) 7500 Mbps down 3000 Mbps up |
X55 LTE / 5G (external) 7500 Mbps down 3000 Mbps up |
X55 LTE / 5G (external) 7500 Mbps down 3000 Mbps up |
| Other networks | Bluetooth 5.2 Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11a / b / g / n |
Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11a / b / g / n |
Bluetooth 5.1 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), 802.11a / b / g / n |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 888: more of the same
A quick navigation through the table above shows a number of important differences in the Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 888 debate. First, the Snapdragon 870 is based on the slightly older large CPU cores of the Arm Cortex-A77, rather than the cutting-edge Arm Cortex- clusters X1 and A78 found on Snapdragon 888. CPU architecture is often more important than raw clock speeds. The Cortex-X1 architecture does a lot more per clock than the Cortex-A77 and comes out ahead despite the clock speed discrepancy of 2.84 GHz versus 3.2 GHz.
The 870 model also features a state-of-the-art Adreno 650 GPU, Hexagon 698 DSP and older image processing blocks, compared to the 888’s Adreno 660 GPU, Hexagon 780 DSP and a more powerful Spectra ISP. This makes the 888 the top chip when it comes to gaming, AI processing and imaging technologies. Although the slightly older features of the 870 remain very competitive, which includes support for dual camera processing, 8K video recording, as well as mmWave and 5G Sub-6GHz networks.
See too: Specs comparison Snapdragon 888 vs Exynos 2100 vs Kirin 9000 vs Apple A14
Another important difference is that the Snapdragon 870 retains an external modem Snapdragon X55 5G instead of moving to an integrated part and is still manufactured in a 7 nm process instead of 5 nm. As such, Snapdragon 888 maintains healthy leadership in the energy efficiency department, as well as in terms of performance. There is also no support for Quick Charge 5, Bluetooth 5.2 or Wi-Fi 6E with the 870.
The 3.2% increase in clock speed is the only difference from the last generation Snapdragon 865 Plus.
In fact, the 870 is entirely based on last year’s Snapdragon 865 Plus. The only difference is the increase in the clock speed of the Prime CPU core. It went up from 3.1 GHz on the 865 Plus to 3.2 GHz on the 870, which is a fairly small change of 3.2%. Remember that the Snapdragon 865 Plus was just a faster version of the Snapdragon 865. This means that the Snapdragon 870 feature set was retired entirely from 2020.
That said, the Snapdragon 865 Plus offers 10% CPU and GPU improvements over the Snapdragon 865. The Snapdragon 870 still benefits from this performance improvement over several flagship 2020 devices that did not feature the Plus chipset variant. We haven’t seen many Snapdragon 865 Plus smartphones launched in 2020, so the Snapdragon 870 will still provide a small performance leap over a number of high-end devices. Although nowhere close to the 30-40% performance improvements promised by the Snapdragon 888.
See too: Analysis – Qualcomm just spent $ 1.4 billion to compete with Apple’s Arm laptops
Should I buy a phone with a Snapdragon 870 inside?
A great smartphone experience involves much more than just the processor, so we would be hesitant to make recommendations based only on the chip. Unless you’re after cutting-edge performance and an integrated 5G modem package. In that case, the Snapdragon 888 is the way forward.
On paper, the Snapdragon 870 is an excellent processor, but it is essentially just a makeover of cutting edge technology. Okay, we had no reason to complain about the features of 2020 smartphones and this chip will continue to perform well in 2021. Just be aware that, despite the new name, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 offers performance, features and energy efficiency that were already available in 2020. So don’t upgrade from a next-generation flagship to a Snapdragon 870 device just for performance.
The Snapdragon 870 can help build affordable flagships with cutting-edge performance.
Still, the Snapdragon 870 remains an interesting option. We are past the point where the smartphone’s performance is good enough. Instead, the price is becoming more and more preferable to the analysis of numbers. The Snapdragon 870 could fit perfectly into the widening gap between the mid-range Snapdragon 765G and the ultra-premium Snapdragon 888 – as long as Qualcomm is competitively priced for the chip.
Despite their state-of-the-art credentials, manufacturers can certainly build great phones based on the Snapdragon 870. We will just have to wait and see what kind of value proposition they offer. Stay tuned for device announcements in the 2nd quarter of 2021.