Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2, Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 Chipsets Launched for Next-Gen Affordable 5G Phones

Qualcomm has introduced two new Snapdragon chipsets for budget and mid-range smartphones, keeping 4G and 5G devices relevant together. The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 targets LTE phones, while the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 brings 5G. Both focus on better performance, camera support and faster charging for affordable models expected to launch in 2025.

The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 refreshes an older platform but with clear gains. It promises up to 51% higher CPU performance than Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 1 and a 20% graphics uplift. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 is built for 5G networks and uses a newer manufacturing process, aiming at efficient everyday use.

Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 core hardware

The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 uses a 6nm process, which is newer than the Gen 1 chip’s 11nm node. Its Kryo CPU reaches 2.9GHz, paired with an unnamed Adreno GPU that drives 1080p+ displays at up to 120Hz. It works with up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM at 2,133MHz and UFS 2.2 storage.

Qualcomm gives the Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 support for up to 108MP cameras through a 12-bit triple ISP. It can process 13+13+5MP setups or 16+16MP when using two cameras, both with zero shutter lag. The chip records HEVC videos and HEIC photos at up to 1080p, 60fps, and connects via USB 3.1 with Quick Charge 3, claiming 80% in 35 minutes.

Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 connectivity and cameras

The Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 sticks to LTE, with downlink speeds up to 390Mbps and uplink up to 150Mbps. Local links rely on Wi‑Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive. Navigation support includes dual-band GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS and NavIC, plus Qualcomm sensor-assisted positioning for better accuracy in cars or on foot.

The Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 skips any “4 Gen 3” step and moves straight into a 4nm design. It has two Kryo cores reaching 2.3GHz and six efficiency cores at 2.0GHz, with an Adreno GPU again driving 1080p+ 120Hz displays. Memory support spans LPDDR4X and faster LPDDR5 at 3,200MHz, alongside UFS 3.1 two-lane storage and USB 3.2 Gen 1.

Charging on the Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 uses Quick Charge 4+, which targets 50% battery in 15 minutes. The integrated 5G sub-6GHz Rel. 16 modem supports SA and NSA networks, with up to 2.5Gbps downloads and 900Mbps uploads. It mirrors the 6s 4G Gen 2 on navigation systems and adds a dual ISP that handles 108MP sensors and 16+16MP cameras with zero shutter lag.

Both Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 4 record video at up to 1080p, 60fps and do not decode AV1. Wireless support remains on Wi‑Fi 5 for each. Smartphone makers are expected to bring the first models with these chips in 2025, likely targeting affordable 4G devices and mass-market 5G phones in India and other regions.