Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 vs Apple M1

Last updated:

CPU comparison with benchmarks


Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 CPU1 vs CPU2 Apple M1
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Apple M1

CPU comparison

In this CPU comparison, we compare the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Apple M1 and use benchmarks to check which processor is faster.

We compare the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 8 core processor released in Q1/2022 with the Apple M1 which has 8 CPU cores and was introduced in Q4/2020.
Qualcomm Snapdragon (104) Family Apple M series (25)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7/8 Gen 1 (3) CPU group Apple M1 (9)
1 Generation 1
Cortex-X2 / -A710 / -A510 Architecture M1
Smartphone / Tablet Segment Notebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Predecessor --
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Successor Apple M2

CPU Cores and Base Frequency

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.00 GHz. The processor can compute 8 threads at the same time. The Apple M1 clocks with 0.60 GHz (3.20 GHz), has 8 CPU cores and can calculate 8 threads in parallel.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Characteristic Apple M1
8 Cores 8
8 Threads 8
hybrid (Prime / big.LITTLE) Core architecture hybrid (big.LITTLE)
No Hyperthreading No
No Overclocking ? No
3.00 GHz
1x Kryo Prime
A-Core 0.60 GHz (3.20 GHz)
4x Firestorm
2.50 GHz
3x Kryo Gold
B-Core 0.60 GHz (2.06 GHz)
4x Icestorm
1.80 GHz
4x Kryo Silver
C-Core --

NPU AI performance

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is specified here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher. Processors with support for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Characteristic Apple M1
Qualcomm AI engine AI hardware Apple Neural Engine
Hexagon 780 @ 26 TOPS AI specifications 16 Neural cores @ 11 TOPS
-- NPU + CPU + iGPU --

Integrated graphics (iGPU)

Graphics (iGPU) integrated into the processor not only enable image output without having to rely on a dedicated graphics solution, but can also efficiently accelerate video playback.

Qualcomm Adreno 730 GPU Apple M1 (8 Core)
0.82 GHz GPU frequency 0.39 GHz
-- GPU (Turbo) 1.30 GHz
7 GPU Generation 1
4 nm Technology 5 nm
0 Max. displays 2
-- Compute units 128
-- Shader 1024
No Hardware Raytracing No
No Frame Generation No
8 GB Max. GPU Memory 8 GB
12.1 DirectX Version --

Hardware codec support

A photo or video codec that is accelerated in hardware can greatly accelerate the working speed of a processor and extend the battery life of notebooks or smartphones when playing videos.

Qualcomm Adreno 730 GPU Apple M1 (8 Core)
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (8 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec h265 / HEVC (10 bit) Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec h264 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec VP9 Decode / Encode
Decode / Encode Codec VP8 Decode
No Codec AV1 No
Decode Codec AVC Decode
Decode Codec VC-1 Decode
Decode / Encode Codec JPEG Decode / Encode

Memory & PCIe

Up to 16 GB of memory in a maximum of 4 memory channels is supported by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, while the Apple M1 supports a maximum of 16 GB of memory with a maximum memory bandwidth of 68.2 GB/s enabled.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Characteristic Apple M1
LPDDR5-6400 Memory LPDDR4X-4266
16 GB Max. Memory 16 GB
4 (Quad Channel) Memory channels 2 (Dual Channel)
51.2 GB/s Max. Bandwidth 68.2 GB/s
No ECC No
2.00 MB L2 Cache 16.00 MB
6.00 MB L3 Cache --
-- PCIe version 4.0
-- PCIe lanes --
-- PCIe Bandwidth --

Thermal Management

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has a TDP of --. The TDP of the Apple M1 is 18 W. System integrators use the TDP of the processor as a guide when dimensioning the cooling solution.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Characteristic Apple M1
-- TDP (PL1 / PBP) 18 W
-- TDP (PL2) --
-- TDP up 20 W
-- TDP down 10 W
-- Tjunction max. --

Technical details

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has 8.00 MB cache and is manufactured in 4 nm. The cache of Apple M1 is at 16.00 MB. The processor is manufactured in 5 nm.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Characteristic Apple M1
4 nm Technology 5 nm
Chiplet Chip design Chiplet
Armv9-A (64 bit) Instruction set (ISA) Armv8.5-A (64 bit)
-- ISA extensions Rosetta 2 x86-Emulation
-- Socket --
None Virtualization Apple Virtualization Framework
No AES-NI Yes
Android, Windows 10 (ARM) Operating systems macOS
Q1/2022 Release date Q4/2020
-- Release price --
show more data show more data


Rate these processors

Here you can rate the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.0 stars (58 ratings). Rate now:
Here you can rate the Apple M1 to help other visitors make their purchasing decisions. The average rating is 4.6 stars (389 ratings). Rate now:

Average performance in benchmarks

Single core performance in 2 CPU benchmarks
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (64%)
Apple M1 (100%)
Multi core performance in 3 CPU benchmarks
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (46%)
Apple M1 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)

Geekbench 6 is a partial load benchmark for modern computers, notebooks and smartphones. In the single-core test, only the fastest CPU core is measured. The test run simulates the performance in practice.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
1322 (56%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
2369 (100%)

Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

The practical Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark tests the system's performance under partial load. The processor's maximum power consumption is far from being used up.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
3490 (41%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
8576 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Single-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
1229 (71%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
1742 (100%)

Geekbench 5, 64bit (Multi-Core)

Geekbench 5 is a cross plattform benchmark that heavily uses the systems memory. A fast memory will push the result a lot. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
3722 (49%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
7650 (100%)

iGPU - FP32 Performance (Single-precision GFLOPS)

The theoretical computing performance of the internal graphics unit of the processor with simple accuracy (32 bit) in GFLOPS. GFLOPS indicates how many billion floating point operations the iGPU can perform per second.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
Qualcomm Adreno 730 @ 0.82 GHz
745 (29%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
Apple M1 (8 Core) @ 1.30 GHz
2610 (100%)

Estimated results for PassMark CPU Mark

Some of the CPUs listed below have been benchmarked by CPU-monkey. However the majority of CPUs have not been tested and the results have been estimated by a CPU-monkey’s secret proprietary formula. As such they do not accurately reflect the actual Passmark CPU mark values and are not endorsed by PassMark Software Pty Ltd.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
7023 (49%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
14463 (100%)

AI performance (NPU)

The performance values of the processor's AI unit. The isolated NPU performance is given here, the total AI performance (NPU+CPU+iGPU) can be higher.

Processors with the support of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can process many calculations, especially audio, image and video processing, much faster than classic processors. The performance is given in the number (trillions) of arithmetic operations per second (TOPS).
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
26 (100%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 0.60 GHz
11 (42%)

Cinebench 2024 (Single-Core)

The Cinebench 2024 benchmark is based on the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxon's 3D program Cinema 4D. The benchmark runs are each 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
112 (100%)

Cinebench 2024 (Multi-Core)

The Multi-Core test of the Cinebench 2024 benchmark uses all cpu cores to render using the Redshift rendering engine, which is also used in Maxons Cinema 4D. The benchmark run is 10 minutes long to test whether the processor is limited by its heat generation.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
509 (100%)

Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The single-core test only uses one CPU core, the amount of cores or hyperthreading ability doesn't count.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
1503 (100%)

Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)

Cinebench R23 is the successor of Cinebench R20 and is also based on the Cinema 4 Suite. Cinema 4 is a worldwide used software to create 3D forms. The multi-core test involves all CPU cores and taks a big advantage of hyperthreading.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
7759 (100%)

AnTuTu 9 Benchmark

The AnTuTu 9 benchmark is very well suited to measuring the performance of a smartphone. AnTuTu 9 is quite heavy on 3D graphics and can now also use the "Metal" graphics interface. In AnTuTu, memory and UX (user experience) are also tested by simulating browser and app usage. AnTuTu version 9 can compare any ARM CPU running on Android or iOS. Devices may not be directly comparable when benchmarked on different operating systems.

In the AnTuTu 9 benchmark, the single-core performance of a processor is only slightly weighted. The rating is made up of the multi-core performance of the processor, the speed of the working memory, and the performance of the internal graphics.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
948574 (100%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 0.60 GHz
0 (0%)

Blender 3.1 Benchmark

In the Blender Benchmark 3.1, the scenes "monster", "junkshop" and "classroom" are rendered and the time required by the system is measured. In our benchmark we test the CPU and not the graphics card. Blender 3.1 was presented as a standalone version in March 2022.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
117 (100%)

Blender 2.81 (bmw27)

Blender is a free 3D graphics software for rendering (creating) 3D bodies, which can also be textured and animated in the software. The Blender benchmark creates predefined scenes and measures the time (s) required for the entire scene. The shorter the time required, the better. We selected bmw27 as the benchmark scene.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
8C 8T @ 3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
8C 8T @ 3.20 GHz
314 (100%)

CPU performance per watt (efficiency)

Efficiency of the processor under full load in the Cinebench R23 (multi-core) benchmark. The benchmark result is divided by the average energy required (CPU package power in watts). The higher the value, the more efficient the CPU is under full load.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
3.00 GHz
0 (0%)
Apple M1 Apple M1
7,759 CB R23 MC @ 18 W
431 (100%)

Devices using this processor

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Apple M1
Xiaomi 12 Pro Apple iMac 24 (2021)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (L2020)
Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Apple Mac mini (2020)
Apple iPad Pro 11 (2021)
Apple iPad Pro 12.9 (2021)
Apple iPad Air (2022)

News and articles for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and the Apple M1

MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ vs Apple A16 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ vs Apple A16 and Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
Posted by Stefan on 2022-09-22
With the Dimensity 9000+, Mediatek presents the latest of its smartphone chips. The successor to the Mediatek Dimensity 9000 achieves higher CPU and GPU clock frequencies thanks to better binning. The CPU clock of the prime core (A core) increases from 3.0 to 3.2 GHz. And the ARM Mali-G710 MP10 GPU can now clock at 0.9 GHz (previously 0.85 GHz).

Both are a good improvement over the Dimensity 9000 in theory but the increase in performance should not usually be noticeable in practice. In the end, the overall performance of the Mediatek Dimensity 9000+ is impressive: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is beaten in Geekbench 5 in both the single-core and multi-core benchmarks.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is more powerful and efficient
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is more powerful and efficient
Posted by Stefan on 2022-07-11
Qualcomm is changing the contract manufacturer from Samsung to TSMC for the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. By switching to the TSMC 4 nm manufacturing process, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is not only 10 percent faster but also 15 percent more efficient than its predecessor. This makes Qualcomm's TOP SoC one of the fastest smartphone chips on the market.
Apple M2 Pro with more CPU cores and production in 3 nm ?
Apple M2 Pro with more CPU cores and production in 3 nm ?
Posted by Stefan on 2022-06-28
After Apple surprisingly presented the normal Apple M2 processor as the first successor to the Apple M1 already in June 2022, the Apple M2 Pro and the Apple M2 Max may follow in autumn. The difference in performance compared to the basic version could be even greater this time and range from 25 to 40 percent.

In this article we describe how Apple could realize this and why the price should also go up.
Apple M2 vs Apple M1 - What are the differences?
Apple M2 vs Apple M1 - What are the differences?
Posted by Stefan on 2022-06-09
During WWDC 2022 on June 6th, 2022 Apple surprisingly presented its new Apple M2 processor. This will initially be installed in a completely revised Apple MacBook Air with 13.6 inches, a even thinner form factor and new colors. Apple also updated the already known (old) Apple MacBook Pro 13.3 with touch bar.

Many leakers had counted on Apple not presenting its new second-generation M processor until the fall. But things turned out differently. And there is very likely a reason for that: the improvements in the Apple M2 are limited compared to the predecessor.

Popular comparisons containing this CPUs

1. Apple M1Apple A14 Bionic Apple M1 vs Apple A14 Bionic
2. Apple M1Intel Core i9-9900K Apple M1 vs Intel Core i9-9900K
3. Apple M2Apple M1 Apple M2 vs Apple M1
4. Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU)Apple M1 Apple A15 Bionic (5-GPU) vs Apple M1
5. Apple M1Apple A12Z Bionic Apple M1 vs Apple A12Z Bionic
6. Apple M1Intel Core i7-10875H Apple M1 vs Intel Core i7-10875H
7. Apple M1Intel Core i5-1038NG7 Apple M1 vs Intel Core i5-1038NG7
8. Apple M1Intel Core i7-1185G7 Apple M1 vs Intel Core i7-1185G7
9. Apple M1AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Apple M1 vs AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
10. Intel Core i7-1165G7Apple M1 Intel Core i7-1165G7 vs Apple M1


back to index