Qualcomm pushes handheld gaming further with new Snapdragon G series chipsets
The three new gaming chipsets by Qualcomm are made to support different handheld game consoles. Check out what they have to offer. #qualcomm #snapdragon #gaming #gdc2025
Qualcomm announces three new Snapdragon G series games processing platforms for handheld devices that can do cloud gaming, and even Android gaming. Image Qualcomm.
At the Games Developers Conference, Qualcomm decided to announce not one but three new Snapdragon G platforms for handheld gaming devices and consoles.
A quick introduction of the three new Snapdragon G series gaming platforms. Image: Qualcomm.
These new launches help uplift Qualcomm’s spread of processing portfolio for video games and also help to open up more options to handheld gamers across a variety of platforms (regardless if you’re on the cloud, console, Android, or PC).
Let’s go through what they offer.
Snapdragon G3 Gen 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon G3 Gen 3. Image: Qualcomm.
Built for Android-based, handheld-dedicated gaming devices, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 is Qualcomm’s first-ever G-series games processing platform that can run Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen engine.
That means the chipset can support real-time, hardware-accelerated ray tracing with global illumination and reflections while in-game.
That’s not all, as the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 also comes with 30% faster CPU performance and 28% faster “advanced graphic capabilities” when compared to its previous generation, according to Qualcomm. It also packs Wi-Fi 7 support, which can help with game latency and bandwidth.
A quick peek at its specs cheatsheet tells us that it uses an 8-core Kyro CPU (1x prime, 5x performance, and 2x efficiency cores) paired with an Adreno A32 GPU. It also has the world’s first Wi-Fi 7 component, the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800. For mobile data accessibility, it uses a Qualcomm X61 5G Modem-RF System.
The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, in turn, supports Bluetooth 5.3, 5G connectivity (Sub-6), and panels with QHD+ resolution and up to 144Hz refresh rate. Mind you, that’s in a handheld gaming device.
Snapdragon G2 Gen 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2. Image: Qualcomm.
Built for cloud gaming, the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 gaming chipset platform claims 2.3x faster CPU and 3.8x faster GPU capabilities over its predecessor. It also supports Wi-Fi 7 connections and prioritises gaming smoothness at 144FPS.
When compared against the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 featured above, the Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 carries the same Wi-Fi chip and 5G modem (the same Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data support). It can also handle panels with QHD+ resolution and 144Hz refresh rates.
However, it uses a slightly different layout for its 8-core Kyro CPU (1x prine, 4x performance, 3x efficiency cores) on top of a lower-tier GPU (Adreno A22).
Snapdragon G1 Gen 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon G1 Gen 2. Image: Qualcomm.
The Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 is made for handheld cloud gaming on Android-based devices. It aims to deliver 1080p, 120FPS gaming. Qualcomm said it offers 80% faster CPU and 25% faster GPU performance than its first-gen version. It’s no slouch, even if it’s entry-level.
It keeps its perks modest (and more affordable) by offering Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 support. Displays up to FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rates are supported. However, it still has the same 5G mobile data modem as its other two higher-tiered counterparts.
Its 8-core Kyro CPU layout consists of 2x performance and 6x efficiency cores, while its GPU is an Adreno A12.
Availability
OEMs are starting to release handheld gaming devices with the latest Snapdragon G series platforms by Qualcomm. Image: Qualcomm.
Qualcomm didn’t share the full list of gaming device makers that will use these new platforms, but it did name-drop a few brands, such as Ayaneo, Onexsugar, and Retroid Pocket.
Qualcomm also said that OEMs will release gaming devices powered by these new chips by “this quarter” (Q1 2025).
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