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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple M2 | |
CPU comparisonQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or Apple M2 - which processor is faster? In this comparison we look at the differences and analyze which of these two CPUs is better. We compare the technical data and benchmark results.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.40 GHz. Up to 24 GB of memory is supported in 4 memory channels. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 was released in Q4/2023. The Apple M2 has 8 cores with 8 threads and clocks with a maximum frequency of 3.50 GHz. The CPU supports up to 24 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. The Apple M2 was released in Q2/2022. |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon (105) | Family | Apple M series (30) |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (2) | CPU group | Apple M2 (8) |
3 | Generation | 2 |
-- | Architecture | M2 |
Smartphone / Tablet | Segment | Notebook |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Predecessor | Apple M1 |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Successor | Apple M3 |
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CPU Cores and Base FrequencyThe Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is a 8 core processor with a clock frequency of 3.40 GHz. The Apple M2 has 8 CPU cores with a clock frequency of 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz). |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Characteristic | Apple M2 |
8 | Cores | 8 |
8 | Threads | 8 |
hybrid (Prime / big.LITTLE) | Core architecture | hybrid (big.LITTLE) |
No | Hyperthreading | No |
No | Overclocking ? | No |
3.40 GHz 1x Cortex-X4 |
A-Core | 0.66 GHz (3.50 GHz) 4x Avalanche |
2.96 GHz (3.15 GHz) 5x Cortex-A720 |
B-Core | 0.60 GHz (2.42 GHz) 4x Blizzard |
2.27 GHz 2x Cortex-A520 |
C-Core | -- |
NPU AI performanceThe 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. |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Characteristic | Apple M2 |
Qualcomm AI engine | AI hardware | Apple Neural Engine |
Hexagon NPU @ 34 TOPS | AI specifications | 16 Neural cores @ 15.8 TOPS |
-- | NPU + CPU + iGPU | -- |
Integrated graphics (iGPU)The integrated graphics unit of a processor is not only responsible for the pure image output on the system, but can also significantly increase the efficiency of the system with the support of modern video codecs. |
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Qualcomm Adreno 750 | GPU | Apple M2 (10 Core) |
0.90 GHz | GPU frequency | 0.45 GHz |
-- | GPU (Turbo) | 1.40 GHz |
-- | GPU Generation | 2 |
4 nm | Technology | 5 nm |
2 | Max. displays | 2 |
-- | Compute units | 160 |
-- | Shader | 1280 |
Yes | Hardware Raytracing | No |
No | Frame Generation | No |
6 GB | Max. GPU Memory | 24 GB |
12.1 | DirectX Version | -- |
Hardware codec supportA 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. |
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Qualcomm Adreno 750 | GPU | Apple M2 (10 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 |
Decode | Codec AV1 | No |
Decode | Codec AVC | Decode |
Decode | Codec VC-1 | Decode |
Decode / Encode | Codec JPEG | Decode / Encode |
Memory & PCIeThe Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 supports a maximum of 24 GB of memory in 4 memory channels. The Apple M2 can connect up to 24 GB of memory in 2 memory channels. |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Characteristic | Apple M2 |
LPDDR5X-9600 | Memory | LPDDR5-6400 |
24 GB | Max. Memory | 24 GB |
4 (Quad Channel) | Memory channels | 2 (Dual Channel) |
76.6 GB/s | Max. Bandwidth | 102.4 GB/s |
No | ECC | No |
-- | L2 Cache | 20.00 MB |
12.00 MB | L3 Cache | -- |
-- | PCIe version | 4.0 |
-- | PCIe lanes | -- |
-- | PCIe Bandwidth | -- |
Thermal ManagementThe TDP (Thermal Design Power) of a processor specifies the required cooling solution. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a TDP of 12.5 W, that of the Apple M2 is 20 W. |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Characteristic | Apple M2 |
12.5 W | TDP (PL1 / PBP) | 20 W |
-- | TDP (PL2) | -- |
-- | TDP up | 30 W |
-- | TDP down | 10 W |
-- | Tjunction max. | 100 °C |
Technical detailsThe Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 has a 12.00 MB cache, while the Apple M2 cache has a total of 20.00 MB. |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Characteristic | Apple M2 |
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 10/11 (ARM) | Operating systems | macOS, iPadOS |
Q4/2023 | Release date | Q2/2022 |
190 $ | Release price | -- |
show more data | show more data | |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
Qualcomm Adreno 750 @ 0.90 GHz |
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Apple M2
Apple M2 (10 Core) @ 1.40 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 0.66 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
8C 8T @ 3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8C 8T @ 3.50 GHz |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
3.40 GHz |
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Apple M2
8,558 CB R23 MC @ 20 W |
Devices using this processor |
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Apple M2 |
Xiaomi 14 Xiaomi 14 Pro ASUS ROG Phone 8 Pro Samsung S24 Ultra Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 |
Apple MacBook Air 14 (2022) Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) |