Global OnePlus 12 launch event coming in January with a major surprise

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Global OnePlus 12 launch event coming in January with a major surprise
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The global OnePlus 12 launch event will take place in January, it seems, with a major surprise. OnePlus is planning to launch more than one variant of the device. This information comes from Max Jambor, a well-known tipster.

Global OnePlus 12 launch event will take place in January

Max is almost never wrong when it comes to OnePlus information, so we have no reason to doubt him now. He claims, and was very clear about that, that the OnePlus 12 is not the only phone that will launch.

He was very clear about the ‘series’ part, which means we’re getting at least two OnePlus 12 devices. OnePlus stuck with one phone for the last two generations, the OnePlus 10 Pro and OnePlus 11 launched in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

It remains to be seen what will these two phones be called. Will OnePlus revert back to the vanilla and ‘Pro’ iterations, in which case the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12 Pro would launch? Well, we’ll have to wait and find out.

We’re seemingly getting more than one handset, hence the OnePlus 12 series mention

Up until now, every rumor and leak we’ve seen was referring to the OnePlus 12 as a singular smartphone. Nobody expected more than one handset to launch.

There’s a chance we’ll get the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus 12 Lite, in which case the OnePlus 12 would still be the single flagship-grade smartphone. That’s not as likely, but there you go, that’s also an option.

Having said that, the OnePlus 12 is expected to launch in China on December 4. That’s when we’ll get more information about the device. What’s interesting is that not even OnePlus is referring to the OnePlus 12 as the OnePlus 12 series. That makes the info from Max Jambor even more puzzling and surprising.

The OnePlus 12’s design already leaked, by the way, thanks to CAD-based renders. It’s very odd we didn’t hear anything about the second device up until now.


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LineageOS is running on 1.5 million devices worldwide

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LineageOS is running on 1.5 million devices worldwide
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There was a time when people loved experimenting with custom ROMs. That’s when CyanogenMod stood apart from all, but its popularity gradually began to fade. The successor of the once-great CyanogenMod, LineageOS, took charge eventually. But, do you have any guesses as to how many devices currently run LineageOS? Well, the figure is astounding with a total of 1.5 million devices running the popular LineageOS custom ROM.

The legacy of LineageOS continues with a total of over 1.5 million devices

LineageOS succeeded the popular CyanogenMod project in 2016. It continues to provide custom ROMs for a wide range of devices, including Google, Fairphone, Samsung, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. It even revives discontinued brands like Essential and LG. LineageOS gives users more control over their Android experience with a variety of personalization options.

LineageOS 20, the latest version of LineageOS, is based on Android 13. It was released in late 2022. LineageOS’s super predecessor, CyanogenOS, was first released in 2009 based on Android 1.5. It slowly became the most popular Custom ROM to ever exist. Android 1.5 had one of the cutest names in Android’s history: Cupcake. As Android 14 has been released, the next LineageOS 21 is expected to be released by the end of 2023.

How popular is LineageOS in current times?

The actual popularity of LineageOS has been a mystery until now. But a recent podcast episode provides some answers. In a special episode of MKBHD’s WVFRM podcast (via 9to5Google), David Imel explored the history of custom ROMs on Android. He sat with members of the LineageOS team.

The episode is an insightful watch or listen, and one particular statistic caught our attention. LineageOS is currently installed on about 1.5 million devices. While there’s no information on the active usage patterns, device types, or the number of distinct users behind these devices, this figure provides a glimpse into LineageOS’s popularity in an era where ROMs have lost their former prominence and necessity.

Custom ROMs have become less popular in recent years. However, LineageOS has remained a constant force in the community. LineageOS provides a stable and customizable experience, which has kept users coming back for more. It continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible on Android. We are excited to see what the future holds for LineageOS and the custom ROM community as a whole.


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Under-the-radar agreement with Google let Spotify avoid Android’s app store charges

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Under-the-radar agreement with Google let Spotify avoid Android’s app store charges
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Earlier this month, the second trial of Epic v. Google kicked off. Epic Games, the brains behind Fortnite, is suing Google, claiming that the tech giant is offering substantial sums to big developers to persuade them to keep their apps on the Play Store. As the trial unfolds, it has come to light that Google proposed $147 million to Epic Games for the launch of Fortnite on the Play Store, and now, more intriguing details are emerging in the courtroom.According to The Verge, recent testimony in the Epic v. Google trial reveals a unique and exceptionally generous deal between music streaming service Spotify and Google for Android-based payments.

During the trial, Don Harrison, Google’s head of global partnerships, confirmed that Spotify paid a 0 percent commission when users opted to purchase subscriptions through Spotify’s own system. If users chose Google as their payment processor, Spotify handed over 4 percent, a significant deviation from the standard 15 percent fee.

Google’s User Choice Billing program, initiated in 2022, reduces the Play Store commission by about 4 percent for developers using their payment system. This brings Google’s 15 percent subscription service fee to around 11 percent. However, the actual cost savings for developers are often minimal, as they bear the payment processing expenses.

Google fought to keep Spotify’s numbers private during its antitrust battle with Epic, arguing that disclosing such details could impact negotiations with other app developers seeking more favorable rates.

Harrison justified the unique deal with Spotify, citing the music streaming service’s “unprecedented” popularity as the reason to strike a “bespoke” deal. He testified, “If we don’t have Spotify working seamlessly across Play services and core services, people will not buy Android phones.”

In response to The Verge, Google acknowledged Harrison’s testimony in a statement. Spokesperson Dan Jackson explained, “A small number of developers that invest more directly in Android and Play may have different service fees as part of a broader partnership that includes substantial financial investments and product integrations across different form factors.”

Google, however, did not disclose the names of other developers benefiting from more favorable rates. During the trial, it was revealed that Google offered Netflix a discounted rate of 10 percent, which the streaming giant declined.

In the past, Spotify has been vocal about its grievances with in-app purchase fees. For example, the Swedish company recently reiterated its opposition to Apple’s App Store policies, accusing the Cupertino-based company of unfair practices.


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FCC Implemented New Rules to Stop SIM Swapping Attacks

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FCC Implemented New Rules to Stop SIM Swapping Attacks
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In a pivotal decision on November 15, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) orchestrated a formidable defensive strategy against insidious scams targeting consumers’ cell phone accounts. 

This comprehensive report delves into the intricacies of the newly adopted rules, designed to thwart the increasingly prevalent threats of SIM swapping and port-out fraud.

The heart of the matter lies in the FCC’s meticulous revisions to the Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI) and Local Number Portability rules. 

These revisions necessitate wireless providers to implement robust authentication methods before redirecting a customer’s phone number to an alternative device or carrier. 

The article navigates through the specifics of these groundbreaking rules, which empower consumers while maintaining their freedom to choose devices and providers.

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Real-Time Alerts and Proactive Measures – A Paradigm Shift

The FCC’s proactive stance comes to the forefront as the rules mandate wireless providers to instantly notify consumers of any SIM card changes or port-out requests. 

This paradigm shift in communication ensures that consumers are promptly informed, enabling them to take decisive actions against potential fraudulent activities. 

The article delves into the significance of real-time alerts in fortifying consumers against SIM swapping and port-out fraud.

Balancing uniformity and flexibility, the FCC establishes baseline requirements that provide a consistent framework across the mobile wireless industry. 

Simultaneously, it allows wireless providers to employ cutting-edge fraud protection measures tailored to their unique landscapes. 

This section explores how the FCC’s approach combines standardization with adaptability for optimal consumer protection.

Towards Harmonization and Future Considerations

In a forward-thinking move, the FCC introduces a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to encourage discourse on harmonizing the new rules with existing CPNI regulations. 

The article invites readers to contemplate additional steps the Commission could take to align governmental efforts effectively in combating SIM swap and port-out fraud.

Delving into the FCC’s dedicated Privacy and Data Protection Task Force, the article sheds light on its role in orchestrating efforts to shield consumers from privacy threats. 

With a focus on data breaches, the task force’s coordination across rulemaking, enforcement, and public awareness initiatives takes center stage in safeguarding consumer information.

Decoding SIM Swapping and Port-Out Fraud

This informative section decodes the intricacies of SIM swapping and port-out fraud, providing consumers with insights into the deceptive tactics employed by bad actors. 

With additional resources and consumer guides, the article empowers readers to stay vigilant against these evolving threats.

In conclusion, the FCC’s resolute actions on November 15, 2023, mark a significant stride in consumer protection. 

By fortifying defenses against SIM swapping and port-out fraud, the Commission reaffirms its commitment to securing consumers’ cell phone accounts in an ever-evolving digital landscape. 

Stay informed, stay protected.

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The OpenAI Situation: What’s going on?

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The OpenAI Situation: What’s going on?
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OpenAI, one of the biggest companies on the AI scene, is going through a turbulent storm of drama, firings, hirings, a possible employee exodus, and a management shake-up. This whole situation is changing by the hour, it seems, and it can be hard to keep up with what’s going on. So, let’s start from the beginning; here’s a timeline of the whole OpenAI situation.

A timeline of the OpenAI situation

We’ll go through everything that’s happening with the company from the start of the drama. Also, this article will be updated with new information as more developments arise. So, be sure to check back for new updates.

Friday, Nov. 17th: Sam Altman gets fired

This whole situation kicked off (publically, at least) when OpenAI fired the CEO Sam Altman. He’s not only been the leader of the company but he has also been the face of it. We weren’t given a clear reason as to why the company fired him. A statement from the resulting blog post on OpenAI.com read that Sam Altman “was not consistently candid in his communications with the board, hindering its ability to exercise its responsibilities.”

The board the quote refers to is the non-profit board that oversees the company. On the board, we have OpenAI Chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo, director of strategy at Georgetown’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology Helen Toner, and Former GeoSim System CEO Tasha McMauley.

We don’t know what he was being candid about; however, it was severe enough to kick Altman out of the company.

Hours after Altman was fired, the president and co-founder of the company, Greg Brockman, resigned from his position. Soon after this happened, he and Sam, reportedly, were in the process of contacting investors and friends to start a new company.

The exodus begins

Shortly after Altman’s firing, several senior researchers left their posts as well. Along with them, several other employees threatened to leave the company if Altman was not rehired. The number grew to more than 650 out of the company’s 770-strong workforce over the next couple of days. These numbers are thanks to Lillian Weng via an X Post.

Mira Murati gets a promotion

Without a CEO, there was a large vacuum to fill, so the company got to work hunting down a new CEO. In the meantime, while the company was looking for a suitable permanent CEO, it appointed its chief technology officer, Mira Murati, as the interim CEO. This will be short-lived, as the drama was only beginning at this point.

Saturday, Nov 18th: Negotiations and new positions

Soon after Sam Altman was fired (literally one day), the board tapped him to return to the company. However, Altman had demands. He wanted “governance changes” upon his return, and that meant scrubbing the board from existence. “It’s you or me”, he basically said, as he set a 5PM EST deadline for all four members of the board to retire. If they leave the company, he and Brockman would return.

However, while Altman said that the board agreed “in principle” to resign, they didn’t. There was a subsequent deadline for the board to resign, and it missed that one too. Because of this, no agreement was met, and both Altman and OpenAI went their separate ways,

New boss

Before Mari Murata could settle into her new role, the company tapped someone else to take on the role of CEO. It contacted the co-founder and ex-CEO of Twitch Emmit Shear. He made a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter) that explained a few things. Firstly, it revealed that he took the position just a few hours after getting the job offer. Secondly, it listed a few things that he planned on doing over the next 30 days.

The first thing he wants to do is hire an independent investigator to dig into the company’s affairs and create a full report. that’s pretty vague, but it seems that the investigator is the mechanic, and OpenAI is the car leaking fluid. He wants to find out what’s causing the company to struggle and fix it.

Secondly, he wants to talk to as many of the remaining employees, partners, investors, and customers. He’ll “take good notes and share the key takeaways.”

Lastly, he’s going to reform the management and leadership structure of the company. OpenAI has not been doing great lately with the threat of bankruptcy looming overhead, so this could be a way to help turn its fortunes around. We don’t yet have any more details of his plans, as things are still developing with this situation.

Monday, November 20th: Microsoft steps in as OpenAI employees step out

The winds of drama were still blowing, even at the dawn of a new work week. The situation at OpenAI took a turn, as we got the news that Microsoft, OpenAI’s biggest investor, had hired Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and several colleagues of the two. They were to develop a new advanced AI team over at Microsoft. That’s an ironic twist right out of a work of literature.

Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, posted to X stating that Microsoft “remain[s] committed to [its] partnership with OpenAI and have confidence in [their] product roadmap”. The post also mentioned that the company is excited to see what Emmet Shear has in store for the company.

As if hiring OpenAI’s ex-CEO didn’t stir the pot enough, reports claim that Microsoft said that any employees who OpenAI will have a home at Microsoft. So, the company isn’t shy about hiring people who ditch OpenAI. We’re not sure how many people have migrated from OpenAI to Microsoft.

Bear in mind that Microsoft is OpenAI’s biggest benefactor; it’s invested about $13 billion into the company already. Microsoft’s AI tools (well, about 80% of the AI tools on the market, let’s be realistic) are powered by OpenAI’s LLMs. If that ship sinks, we’re not sure what the company is going to do. However, we can’t expect Microsoft to keep investing billions of dollars into OpenAI if it’s going through such a rough patch.

Emmet Shear is to OpenAI as Linda Yacarrino is to X, it seems. He was brought on, not to lead the company, but to steer it away from oblivion.

Microsoft is still remaining neutral in the matter

So, Microsoft hired Altman, but it doesn’t seem like the company is looking to choose sides. It’s still heavily invested in OpenAI, both financially and emotionally, and it’s not planning on watching it give up the ghost.

Satya Nadella spoke to CNBC and Bloomberg TV on Monday. When asked by CNBC, “How clear is it to you whether Sam is going back to OpenAI and whether the 700 employees there, who seem to be loyal to him, are staying at OpenAI or coming to Microsoft?”, he responded “that is for OpenAI, [the] board and management and the employees to choose… I care about just making sure that we can innovate.”

It seems that Microsoft is mostly focusing on pushing AI innovation forward regardless of which company is doing so. During his interview with CNBC, Nadella did say something that doesn’t quite bode well for OpenAI. He basically said that whether the people pushing AI forward for the company choose to stay at Open AI or migrate to Microsoft, he’s open to both options.

This means that Microsoft is very much taking a hands-off approach to the matter.

Ilya Sutskever shows remorse

Chief scientist at OpenAI and the main board member who led to Altman’s firing posted on X about his feelings over the whole situation. “I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions. I never intended to harm OpenAI. I love everything we’ve built together and I will do everything I can to reunite the company.”

Sutskever not only lamented online about his role in the OpenAI situation, but he also resigned from his post on the board. Later, his name was on a letter directed at the rest of the board members calling for them to resign.

Sam Altman shows signs of wanting to return to OpenAI

After refusing to return to the company over the weekend and cozying up with a new position at Microsoft, you’d think that Sam Altman would have washed his hands of the company. However, it seems that he’s not willing to leave. Reports state that both Altman and Greg Brockman are willing to return to OpenAI. However, the conditions are still set in stone; the board members must go.

With Ilya Sutskever gone, there are only three board members in their seats. They can either resign and let the two back or take their chances with a new CEO.


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Android’s growing popularity in Australia

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Android’s growing popularity in Australia
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As recently as 2020, Optomizing’s James Richardson joked that every household in Australia seemed to be automatically issued with at least one iPhone. Even then, though, times were changing. While Apple iPhones remained the most popular brand, Android was drawing alongside iOS as the most popular operating system overall.

Over the subsequent three years, the trend has continued and today, more than 50 percent of the 22 million or so mobile phones in regular use Down Under use Android.

Changing user demographics

Back in 2015, Australian smartphone users were in the grip of iPhone fever. But the key difference has less to do with users changing their habits than with the user demographics themselves changing so profoundly.

The fact is that the Gen-Z fascination with iPhones shows no sign of abating. As one reviewer put it, three out of four young Australians are still crushing on the iPhone. Explaining why is a different matter, but put simply, it’s a triumph of branding on Apple’s part. An iPhone is like a BMW or a designer jacket. Even the user, driver, or wearer is aware that he or she is paying for a brand as opposed to any real superiority in performance. But that is a fact that fashion-conscious and crowd-following Gen Z-ers seem willing to accept for the most part.

The difference is that while these fashion conscious and crowd-following Gen Z-ers are still a significant sector of the smart phone buying market, they no longer dominate or shape it. Put simply, practically everyone in Australia is a mobile phone user in 2023, and those born in the 1980s and earlier have less interest in what is cool and fashionable as long as it gets the job done.

Simpler online gaming habits in the casino heartland

We have mentioned that there are few material differences performance-wise between Android and iOS. Dedicated gamers will know that there are some differences, in as much as some games are released on iOS first and Android later.

But when it comes to Australians aged 35 and above, this is a moot point. The most popular gaming categories encompass casual games like Wordle, which are available across either operating system and games that involve online gambling for real money such as pokies and blackjack. Australian mobile casino players almost always use browser apps, so the question of iOS or Android becomes a moot point.

Apple losing its shine

There is a third factor that is contributing to this shift from iOS to Android. Yes, Apple was the first to market, and the iPhone was the original smartphone. But that was more than 15 years ago. MySpace was the first social media platform, but within a decade others had studied what it did and came up with ways to do it better.

In short, Apple is facing ever-increasing competition from diverse directions. It’s not just Samsung, as a like for like premium product, on the competing operating system. There are also competing brands from China and South Korea that are much cheaper but are at least close enough to the big brands to make little difference. Again, it is a situation that is familiar to anyone who has observed the new car market, where brands like Genesis are challenging the established premium players like BMW and Lexus.

That’s not to say that Apple will be breaking into too much of a panic, at least not yet. The brand has by far the highest loyalty rating of any phone manufacturer. This mirrors the laptop market, where Apple users tend to stick with MacBooks once they are accustomed to them, but users of other brands like HP, Dell or Lenovo are likely to switch between those brands.

The real question is whether those Gen-Z buyers will remain loyal into their 30s and beyond. Whatever happens, it’s likely to happen in Australia first, so keep watching this space.


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Brilliant idea on One UI keeps Galaxy users from closing open apps by mistake

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Brilliant idea on One UI keeps Galaxy users from closing open apps by mistake
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Hey Android users, has this ever happened to you? You’re swiping through your open apps on the screen and when you get to the “Close all” button at the end, you tap without even thinking twice. But then it occurs to you that you’ve accidentally closed an app that you didn’t want to close. Now there is a way to prevent this infuriating event from taking place so that even if you tap on “Close all,” certain apps will remain open. This feature is available on the One UI interface used on many Samsung Galaxy phones.

Here’s how this works. Open the Recent Apps screen and tap on the app icon above the app you want to keep open and from the list of options select “Keep open.” Once you press that button, a message will appear on the bottom of the display that says, “app kept open for quick launching.” A lock app will also appear on the lower-right corner of the app in Recent Apps.

By using this handy dandy feature, the app you’ve selected to lock can be accessed quickly and easily and won’t be shut even if you press on the “Close all” button. You can unlock the app by pressing on the lock icon that appears with the app in the multitasking screen. It’s a brilliant feature because every Android user has closed an app accidentally by tapping the “Close all” button.

On some Galaxy phones with One UI, you can lock an open app so that it isn't accidentally shut - Brilliant idea on One UI keeps Galaxy users from closing open apps by mistake

On some Galaxy phones with One UI, you can lock an open app so that it isn’t accidentally shut

If you’ve ever wondered why iOS does not have a “Close all” button to clear open apps, here’s an interesting post from Apple’s own community support page that goes against the thoughts of obsessive phone users who always want to close their recently used apps. The post says closing apps does not improve performance or improve battery life. It also notes that Recent Apps are not running in the background. They are suspended

Closing Recent Apps won’t improve battery life  and the post on Apple’s support page says that “it actually worsens battery life, because it takes more energy to load an app than to restart it from the “multitasking” screen.” Closing the Recent Apps and swiping them off the screen also makes your iPhone slower because it takes longer to reopen an app from storage than to have it restart from a suspended state.
Apple suggests that unless an app is “misbehaving” and not working right, or if it is consuming too much battery power, there is no reason to close it. And this is true for Android phones as well. So even if you have an obsession that forces you to close all of your open apps immediately, it is not as necessary as you might think.

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All four OPPO Find X7 Pro camera sensors get revealed

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All four OPPO Find X7 Pro camera sensors get revealed
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All four OPPO Find X7 Pro camera sensors have just been revealed. Now, when we say all four, we mean all four rear-facing ones, as the front-facing camera is still a mystery. Most people are interested in the rear ones, though.

This information comes from Digital Chat Station, one of the most prominent Chinese tipsters. He went to Weibo in order to reveal the information, and you won’t be disappointed.

The OPPO Find X6 Pro offered an outstanding camera setup. Many people hailed OPPO for that, as it was not only immensely powerful as a whole, but very well-balanced.

The OPPO Find X7 Pro camera sensors get detailed

The OPPO Find X7 Pro will have a 50-megapixel main camera. It will utilize the Sony LYT-900 camera sensor. That is the most powerful camera sensor from Sony’s new LYTIA lineup. The OnePlus 12 will, for example, utilize the Sony LYT-808 sensor.

In addition to that, a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera will be utilized, Sony’s IMX890 sensor. That is actually the same camera sensor that OPPO used for the ultrawide camera on the OPPO Find X6 Pro.

Two 50-megapixel telephoto cameras will also be in use, one of them will be a periscope telephoto unit. One will utilize Sony’s IMX890 sensor, and that one will offer a 2.7x optical zoom. The other will use the Sony IMX858 sensor, and that one will offer 6x optical zoom.

So, on paper, the OPPO Find X7 Pro cameras look outstanding. Let’s hope that the phone will be able to provide great camera performance too, like its predecessor.

The expectations are high for the Sony LYT-900, and the OPPO Find X7 Pro

We’ve seen the Sony LYT-T808 in action. That is a version of the Sony LYT-808 for foldable smartphones. It proved to be quite a compelling camera sensor, and the Sony LYT-900 is supposed to be even better. So… the expectations are high, to say the least.

Let’s just hope that OPPO will launch its flagship globally this time around. The OPPO Find X6 Pro was available only in China, unfortunately.


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Google Messages to offer noise cancellation in voice notes

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Google Messages to offer noise cancellation in voice notes
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A beta version of Google Messages now includes the ability to cancel out background noise in voice notes. And this is not the only feature Google is working on to implement in Google Messages. Other than the quest to make the voice note feature on Messages appealing to you, Google is also working on features like markdown text formatting, color and wallpaper options, profile sharing, and more.

The goal is to stay competitive in the realm of third-party messaging services like WhatsApp with tons of features and customization options.

In the context of voice messaging, Google Messages will soon help you tackle the background noise. As observed by TheSpAndroid, the beta version now includes a “Noise Cancellation” button. Users can tap on this button to minimize background noise during voice recordings. This ensures clearer and more effective communication for Google Messages.

Now you can be confident with your voice notes even in a not-so-quiet place

Impressively, you will be able to this feature at any point during a recording. Although currently this feature is only available in the beta version and requires flag activation, you can expect this noise cancellation feature to see in a wider rollout in near future.

As mentioned above, Google Messages is set to embrace some other useful features, one of which is the markdown text formatting. Markdowns enable users to format text using symbols like asterisks, allowing for richer and more expressive messaging.

While only a limited set of markdowns are currently operational in the beta version of Google Messages, this is expected to expand in the future. Google appears committed to refining the user experience in Messages, with recent additions like color and wallpaper options. These features will provide users with a more personalized touch. Moreover, Google is experimenting with profile options for Messages, offering users the ability to create shareable profiles with personal details.

Additionally, through a discoverability option, users could potentially enhance their visibility on the platform. It’s worth noting that these features are currently in the testing phase, and their integration into the stable version of Messages is yet to be confirmed by Google.

Google Messages Noise Cancellation
Credit: TheSpAndroid

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is powerful, but is far less efficient

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Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is powerful, but is far less efficient
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Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset provides the best performance of any Android system-on-a-chip (SoC), but continues an alarming efficiency trend. That’s according to @Golden_Reviewer on X (formerly Twitter), who tested the new chip on the Xiaomi 14 Pro. Xiaomi is the first company to include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in a smartphone. The brand unveiled its Xiaomi 14 series late last month, and now that the smartphones are in the hands of reviewers, we’re starting to see how Qualcomm’s new chip performs.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chips represents a new architecture for Qualcomm. The platform consists of a chip with one prime core, five performance cores, and two efficiency cores. This latest test from Golden Reviewer is based on a standardized benchmark from the Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC). It showed that the big core in Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings massive performance gains at the expense of efficiency.

Qualcomm’s last chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Plus platform, recorded an average power-consumption-per-watt of 4.9 in the SPEC benchmark. The company’s newer chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, had a 6.27 by the same metric. That’s a 28 percent year-over-year increase, which doesn’t mode well for efficiency. By that metric, Qualcomm’s new chip recorded a performance-per-watt of 11.05, which is down 11 percent. For those who might not be as well-versed in these kinds of benchmarks, you want a lower power-consumption-per-watt and a higher performance-per-watt score.

That means while the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform is trending up in performance, it’s trending downward in efficiency. Critics have pointed out that different Android OEMs optimize Qualcomm’s SoCs differently, so other smartphones might be more efficient than the Xiaomi 14 Pro. However, if these numbers are accurate across the board, it would mean that Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 would have to rely on cores with a lower power draw whenever possible.

Looking ahead to Snapdragon 8 Gen 4

Although this year’s suite of phones are set to use the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, we’re already looking ahead to next year. That’s because Qualcomm is set to give its smartphone chips a big boost. The company unveiled its Snapdragon X Elite platform recently, and it features laptop-class chips with great performance and efficiency. It’s the first chip to feature custom Oryon cores as well. Previously, Qualcomm and other Android chipmakers licensed core designs from Arm. Now, Qualcomm is coming up with its own designs in-house, which will appear in Snapdragon 8 Gen 4.

So, while Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 might be a down year for Qualcomm and Android phones, there’s reason to be excited. The alarming power consumption and efficiency trends should be changing tune next year, even if there’s a bit of a lull before then.


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