Apple M2 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3

Comparisons 20-10-2022

Detailed compare data of Apple M2 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, testing of graphics chips (GPU). A thorough review of all the technical characteristics of the processors, to make it easier to read, is made by the table. From the video comparison, you can get the results of joint testing in special testing software like PCMark, Neocore, Geekbench, Quadrant, 3DMark, PassMark, Vellamo, GFXBench, AnTuTu, and how good the processors are in games Call of Duty, Madout2, Minecraft, Asphalt 9, PUBG, GTA, Fortnite etc.
After looking at the data of joint tests and videos, you can already make an briefed decision about which SoCs is better to buy Apple M2 or Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3.

Summary benchmark results

As a percentage of the maximum value based on a sample from the entire base of all processors
CPU Benchmark
Based on Antutu and Geekbench score

Apple M2

99%

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3

35%

Battery life test
Power Consumption efficiency (how quickly the processor reduces the battery charge)

Apple M2

82%

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3

76%

Gaming performance
Which CPU is better for gaming

Apple M2

96%

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3

32%

Antutu v10, 9

Antutu benchmark separately tests the performance of the CPU, GPU, and memory speed

	Apple M2	Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Total score	1377794	491882
CPU	385778	137723
GPU	523560	186921
MEM	220445	78707
UX	248006	88528

GeekBench 6, 5.2

This benchmark shows Multi-threaded and Single-threaded processor performance

	Apple M2	Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Single-Core	1896	1027
Multi-Core	8862	4002

Comparison of specifications

CPU and Memory

	Apple M2	Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3
Frequency	3490 MHz	3050 MHz
Cores	8	8
Bit	64	64
Lithography	5 nm	7 nm
Transistors count	20000 millions
Core configuration	4x3.49 GHz Avalanche 4x2.39 GHz Blizzard	4x3.05 GHz Cortex-A76 4x2.64 GHz Cortex-A55
Power consumption (TDP)	4 W	10 W
Memory type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5 (Quad Channel)
Max. Memory	64 Gb	32 Gb
Memory Frequency	6400	3200
Memory bandwidth	76	96
Neural Processor (NPU)	Yes	Yes
L1 cache	2 Mb	384 KB
L2 cache	8 MB	768 KB
L3 cache	16 MB	2 MB
Instruction set architecture (ISA)	ARMv8.5-A	ARMv8.1-A

In this comparison block, you should pay attention to the differences in clock speed and the number of cores. Here Apple M2 is 12% better than Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 in terms of CPU frequency. Also keep in mind that high CPU frequency affects battery life through power consumption.

GPU and Media

GPU	Apple M2	Adreno 730
GPU Frequency	3490 MHz	970 MHz
GFloPS	3600	1800
# of Cores	10
# of Shader Units	2560	1024
Display	2732 x 2048 pixels	3840 x 2400 pixels

The frequency of the GPU does not always directly indicate its performance. To fully evaluate all the capabilities of a graphics chip, you should take into account the number of Shader Units and Cores, as well as how many GFlops it has.

Gaming benchmark

Fortnite Mobile	52.3	29.9
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG Mobile)	163.8	44.5
Garena Free Fire - The Cobra	98.3	57.8
Call of Duty: Mobile	90.5	54.6
Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5 Mobile)	139.5	35.8
Minecraft: Pocket Edition	201.1	56.6
Real Racing 3	196.5	113.7
Sniper 3D	215.6	106.7
Need for Speed No Limits	136.3	78.8
Mortal Kombat X	141.8	91.2
CSR Racing 2	117.5	67.3

The numbers in this table indicate the maximum FPS that was received on the device with the corresponding processor. Depending on the configuration of the gadget and graphics quality settings (Ultra, Medium, Normal), the results may differ quite significantly. We recommend that you better study the results of the Antutu v10, 9 and GeekBench 6, 5.2 becnmarks.

Cameras

Camera resolution	63 MP	32 MP
Dual Camera resolution	24 MP	16 MP
Image Signal Processor (ISP)	Apple ISP	Qualcomm Spectra 395
Video Encoding FPS	960	120
Video Encoding resolution	4K (Ultra HD), 2K, FullHD	4K (Ultra HD), 2K, FullHD
Codec support	Dolby Vision, H.265 (HEVC), HDR10+, HLG, HDR10, H.264 (AVC), VP8, VP9	H.264/AVC, H.265/HEVC

Networks and Navigation

Modem	Apple Modem 5G	Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 LTE modem
Download speed	12500 MBit/s.	9000 MBit/s.
Upload speed	7500 MBit/s.	4500 MBit/s.
Navigation	Galileo, GPS, Beidou	GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, QZSS, SBAS
NFC support	Yes	Yes
5G support	Yes	Yes

Result:
The number of parameters for which Apple M2 is better: 35
The number of parameters for which Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 is better: 6
Please note that you do not need to sightlessly trust the automatic comparison of the table. It is better to just watch the full video of joint testing and hear what people think who really appreciated the capabilities of both SoCs, and also read the test results on the links under the article.

Apple M2 SoC - all data

• Devices lists
• Benchmarks
• PUBG mobile
• Fortnite Mobile
• Antutu v10
• 3DMark
• GeekBench 6, 5 mobile

• Apple M2 specs and review.

Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 SoC - all data

• Devices lists
• Benchmarks
• PUBG mobile
• Fortnite Mobile
• Antutu v10
• 3DMark
• GeekBench 6, 5 mobile

• Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 specs and review.