Budget Phones Are About to Get Smarter: Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 Is Here

Let’s face it, most of us don’t want to drop a fortune on a new phone. And that’s probably why Qualcomm’s newest chip—the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4—matters, even if the company isn’t making a huge fuss about the launch.

First 4nm Snapdragon 6-Series Chip

Here’s where things get interesting. This is the first chip in the 6-series to be built on a 4nm process. What’s that mean for you? Well, basically, phones with this chip should run smoother, use less power, and feel a bit snappier whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or just scrolling social feeds. Qualcomm’s saying you’ll see a decent jump compared to what’s out there now—up to 36% better CPU and nearly 60% faster graphics versus the old 6nm versions.

Specs and Features

Inside, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 4 packs eight Kryo cores split for power and efficiency. You get speeds up to 2.4GHz on the performance side, leaner 1.8GHz for everyday stuff. If you care about buttery scrolling, the chip supports 144Hz Full HD+ displays. Gaming? It comes with perks like Variable Rate Shading and Game Quick Touch to help keep touches and visuals responsive.

Cameras, 5G, and More

Love phone photography? This chip can handle 200MP camera sensors and 2K video—which is wild for an entry-level segment. Their built-in noise reduction should help with those tricky low-light shots, too. On the connection front, you’re getting 5G (Release 16), Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.4, so cheap phones don’t have to feel old school anymore.

Who’s Using It First?

So far, Qualcomm’s being coy about which phone makers are first in line. If you had to bet—look for familiar names like Xiaomi, Oppo, maybe Motorola, to roll this out soon.

Via