Qualcomm is pushing more premium smartphone features into cheaper devices, and the latest move could make the gap between entry-level, mid-range, and flagship phones even narrower. With Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, the company is bringing gaming, connectivity, and AI camera tools that were once far more common in higher tiers.
Entry-level phones get a bigger gaming jump
Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 is aimed at entry-level smartphones, but its gaming upgrades are unusually large for that segment. Qualcomm says the Adreno GPU delivers up to 77 percent higher performance than Snapdragon 4 Gen 4, and for the first time in the Snapdragon 4 Series, games can run at up to 90 FPS.
That change matters because it gives budget phones a much smoother gaming experience without forcing buyers into more expensive hardware. Qualcomm also pairs the chipset with an AI-focused camera set that includes AI Night Vision, in-sensor zoom, electronic image stabilization, and AI face detection.
Connectivity is also moving up a level
Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 uses a 5G modem based on 3GPP Release 17 and supports download speeds of up to 2.8 Gbps. It is also the first Snapdragon 4 chip with 5G DSDA, which allows two 5G SIM cards to stay active at the same time.
Qualcomm adds Smart Network Selection 3.0 so the device can more intelligently choose the best connection available. The chip also includes Smooth Motion UI, which is claimed to speed up app opening by up to 43 percent and reduce screen lag by 25 percent.
Mid-range devices are getting closer to premium features
Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 targets the mid-range segment, but Qualcomm is clearly using it to close the distance to more expensive phones. The company says its Adreno GPU brings up to 21 percent better performance than the previous generation, while power efficiency improves by 8 percent.
That efficiency gain is not just a small technical upgrade. Qualcomm says it can translate into up to two more hours of music playback and about 38 additional minutes of gaming.
WiFi 7 arrives in Snapdragon 6 Series
The most notable addition in Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 is support for WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0, both appearing in the Snapdragon 6 Series for the first time. Through the latest FastConnect system, Qualcomm says the chip can reach download speeds of up to 5.8 Gbps.
The chipset also includes 5G Release 17 support, along with improved FDD uplink performance for faster and more stable uploads. For users, that means the mid-range category is now gaining a more modern connectivity stack than before.
Gaming and camera tools continue to expand downward
Qualcomm is also bringing Snapdragon Elite Gaming features to Snapdragon 6 Gen 5, including Game Super Resolution to sharpen visuals without putting too much strain on the device. The company says Smooth Motion UI returns here as well, with claims of up to 18 percent less screen stuttering and app launches up to 20 percent faster.
On the camera side, Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 supports AI Night Vision and AI-based digital zoom calculations to help improve detail in low light. That keeps the chip in line with Qualcomm’s broader effort to make premium-style imaging tools more widely available.
The two chips point to a clear strategy: push high-end capabilities into lower price bands. Qualcomm says the first smartphones using Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 will launch globally in the coming months, with Realme, Oppo, Honor, and Redmi among the brands expected to use them in entry-level and mid-range lineups.
Source: www.gadgetdiva.id