Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4: Which Is Best?

There is a real thrill in hunting down mid-range chipsets trying to nail that perfect balance between good enough and overkill. But then you run into Qualcomm’s naming scheme: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4. Honestly, it makes you wonder if they came up with those names as a joke. At first glance, the two chips seem nearly identical, but inside, they’re surprisingly different.

In order to find out which mid-range beast wins in the 2025 comparison, let’s dive into the specs, benchmarks, and real-world performance to settle the score between the value-packed 7s Gen 3 and the power-hungry Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.

What Are the Key Specs of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4?

The Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, announced in May 2025, is Qualcomm’s latest upper mid-range chip built on TSMC’s 4 nm process. It’s designed to push the 7-series closer to flagship territory.

Highlights

CPU: 1x Cortex-A720 @ 2.8 GHz + 3x A720 @ 2.4 GHz + 4x A520 @ 1.8 GHz
GPU: Adreno 722
Memory: LPDDR5X (4200 MHz), UFS 4.0
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
Camera: Up to 200 MP capture with triple 12-bit ISP
AI & NPU: 65% faster Hexagon NPU than its predecessor
Geekbench 6: 1,351 (single) / 4,145 (multi)
AnTuTu v10: ~1,077,000

This processor clearly positions itself as the best mid-range Snapdragon processor of 2025, balancing flagship-like power with efficiency.

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 Benchmarks: How Does It Hold Up?

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, released in August 2024, is a slightly down-tier sibling — think of it as the “value” edition. It’s still built on a 4 nm node but tuned for efficiency and affordability.

Core Specs

CPU: 1x Cortex-A720 @ 2.5 GHz + 3x A720 @ 2.4 GHz + 4x A520 @ 1.8 GHz
GPU: Adreno 810
Memory: LPDDR5 (3200 MHz), UFS 3.1
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4
AnTuTu v10: ~815,000
Geekbench 6: ~1,164 (single) / 3,252 (multi)

It’s still a solid mid-range performer that powers phones like the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, offering good thermal control and stability.

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4: Benchmark Comparison

AnTuTu v10 Benchmark

Component	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Total Score	783,345	1,077,092
CPU	259,031	306,232
GPU	202,192	327,665
Memory	165,450	213,580
UX	160,672	229,615

Result: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 delivers about 37% faster total performance, with 62% faster GPU output.

Geekbench 6 CPU Scores

Test	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Single-core	1,164	1,208
Multi-core	3,252	3,464

Observation: CPU power is similar, but the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4’s higher clock (2.8 GHz vs 2.5 GHz) gives it a slight edge in responsiveness.

CPU Throttling Test

Metric	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Max GIPS	312,851	388,446
Avg GIPS	306,593	369,023
Min GIPS	288,448	341,055
Thermal Throttling	None Detected	Throttled to 93%

Result: Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 shows better sustained efficiency, while the 7 Gen 4 trades a little heat for raw speed.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme Stress Test

Metric	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Best Loop Score	1,049	1,807
Lowest Loop Score	1,046	1,793
Stability	99.7%	99.2%

Result: The Adreno 722 GPU in the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 delivers roughly 72% faster graphics performance — a significant improvement for gamers.

Speedometer 3.0 (Web Performance)

Processor	Score
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	8.88
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4	11.8

Observation: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 feels snappier in browsing and UI-heavy tasks, confirming its single-core advantage.

Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 vs Snapdragon 7 Gen 4: Technical Specs Comparison

Specification	Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
Process Node	TSMC 4 nm (N4P)	TSMC 4 nm
CPU Cores	1× 2.5 GHz (A720) + 3× 2.4 GHz (A720) + 4× 1.8 GHz (A520)	1× 2.8 GHz (A720) + 3× 2.4 GHz (A720) + 4× 1.8 GHz (A520)
GPU	Adreno 810	Adreno 722
Memory Support	LPDDR5 (3200 MHz)	LPDDR5X (4200 MHz)
Storage	UFS 3.1	UFS 4.0
AI Engine / NPU	Hexagon NPU	Upgraded Hexagon NPU (+65%)
ISP (Camera)	Triple 12-bit Spectra (200 MP max)	Triple 12-bit Spectra (200 MP max)
5G Modem	X62 – Up to 2.9 Gbps DL	X63 – Up to 4.2 Gbps DL
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0

Which Is Better for Gaming and Daily Use?

For daily tasks, both processors are more than capable — offering smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and snappy UI performance. However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 flexes extra muscle in gaming and AI-driven workloads.

In gaming, the Adreno 722 GPU is a clear winner. Expect higher FPS, faster frame render times, and improved thermal recovery in demanding titles.

If you’re a casual gamer playing titles like Genshin Impact, BGMI, or Asphalt at 60 FPS the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 still performs impressively. But if you’re chasing a competitive edge or long-term performance, go for the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4.

Phones with Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 and 7s Gen 3 (2025)

Processor	Phones (2025)
Snapdragon 7 Gen 4	Vivo V60 5G, Realme P4 Pro, Motorola Moto X70 Air
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3	Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, Redmi Note 14 Pro, Honor X60 Lite

Remember, implementation matters: a phone’s cooling system, software optimization, and display refresh rate can easily tilt real-world results either way.

The Real Question: Is the 7 Gen 4 Worth the Extra Cost?

If you’re wondering which is better, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 or 7 Gen 4 the answer is clear: the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 wins on paper, benchmarks, and GPU power.

But in real-life usage, the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 is still incredibly capable and likely to cost much less. For most users, it’s the smarter value buy efficient, cool-running, and more than fast enough.

Unless you’re into heavy gaming, AI tasks, or long-term device ownership, you won’t miss much by sticking with the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3.

For gaming it is not that bad. I’ve been playing BGMI on the Nothing Phone (3a) for about three or four months now, and it’s been solid. The phone even supports 120fps, and while playing I consistently get 100–110fps with no real lag or stuttering. It just works. For a mid-range chip, the 7s Gen 3 has seriously impressed me in day-to-day use and especially in gaming.