Google's flagship processor could be crushed by Qualcomm's 2024 mid-range chipset

A fresh rumor suggests that Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 7 series processor could leave Google’s flagship Tensor G3 chip in the dust. A reputable leaker (Digital Chat Station) on the social media platform Weibo reports that this potential powerhouse in the mid-range could shake up the market.

Qualcomm’s rumored Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3 (SM7675) could pack the same mighty CPU cores as the current top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. This includes the powerful Cortex-X4, Cortex-A720, and the efficient Cortex-A520 cores. While there’s still speculation about core layouts and exact clock speeds, this points to significant performance potential.

The chipset is also set to feature a cutting-edge 4nm TSMC manufacturing process, ensuring power efficiency. Further bolstering its graphics capabilities is the inclusion of the Adreno 732 GPU.

These leaked specifications have a significant implication: Qualcomm’s new mid-range chipset could surpass the performance of Google’s current flagship Tensor G3 processor found in the Pixel 8 series. Previous chip iterations have hinted at this possibility. The Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2, featured in devices like the POCO F5, already managed to outperform the Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7a.

What’s even more interesting is that the new mid-range chipset might not be far off from competing with the upcoming Tensor G4. A recent Geekbench 5 listing for the chipset revealed disappointing performance. However, it’s worth noting that it’s too early to judge the performance of a chipset that is still a few months away from launch.

One critical factor will be the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3’s ultimate price point and its inclusion in smartphones. Most brands skipped the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 2 completely and opted for either MediaTek or other mid-range Snapdragon SoCs, likely due to the cost. So if Qualcomm plays smart this time around, we might see mid-range smartphones that can go neck-to-neck with flagships from last year in performance.

For Google, this news could impact the appeal of its Pixel phones, especially if other brands start jumping in on the AI bandwagon. If potential customers can get flagship-level performance at a mid-range price, Google may need to seriously re-evaluate its Pixel strategy. Luckily, Google’s rumored partnership with TSMC for its next-gen SoCs might finally change the tide.