Qualcomm Snapdragon 780G could supercharge the Google Pixel 6

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By Roland Moore-Colyer
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Affordable Android phones could get killer flagship features — here's how

Google Pixel 6 could have a big boost over the Pixel 5 thanks to the Snapdragon 780G
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Mid-range Android phones could be getting a lot more high-end features, if Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 780G chipset is anything to go by. 

Designed to replace the Snapdragon 765G and 768G — the former can be found in the Google Pixel 5 — the 780G gets a suite of features that have filtered down from the high-end Snapdragon 888, currently found in the Samsung Galaxy S21, Oppo Find X3 Pro and OnePlus 9 Pro.  

The Snapdragon 780G will, according to Qualcomm, deliver a 40% boost in processor performance thanks to using the Kryo 670 CPU. And the system-on-a-chip will offer a 50% boost in graphics power with the new Adreno 643 GPU. 

But a hike in power is pretty much expected for a new generation chipset. The more interesting thing here is that the Snapdragon 780G will get the Spectra 570 triple-image signal processor (ISP) from the Snapdragon 888. 

That processor will let phones with the 780G capture three images at once from a triple rear-camera array for better photos and more flexible photography, as well as better low-light performance. The same will also apply to video recording, which will also get HDR10+ video capture. 

A more intelligent chipset

But improved photos and video capture may not be the only upgrade, The Snapdragon 780G should also facilitate smarter mid-range smartphones. 

That’s because it’s got the Snapdragon 888’s sixth-generation Qualcomm AI Engine with the Hexagon 770 processor designed to deliver 12 TOPs (trillion operations per second) of AI performance; translated to 2x the power of its predecessor. 

As such, phones with the 780G can expect better AI performance leading to improved feats like smart noise-suppression on calls and voice-command recognition. Also taken from the Snapdragon 888 is the Sensing Hub, which uses a dedicated low-power AI processor to help with audio processing. 

The Snapdragon 780G also comes with the Snapdragon X53 5G Modem-RF System to enable 3.3 Gbps on sub-6 GHz frequencies. And it will also support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth audio features found in the Snapdragon 888. 

High-end features on mid-range phones

In short, all this means is that more affordable mid-range phones, likely ranging from the rumored OnePlus Nord 2 to the Google Pixel 6, will have the option of a chipset that has a lot of high-end features but isn’t prohibitively expensive to include. 

That should lead to phones in the $500 to $700 range offering improved performance, more capable cameras, smart features and better sound and connectivity. 

We expect to see the Snapdragon 780G pop up in a series of smartphones as the year progresses. We might even see it in the Google Pixel 5a first, if that rumored phone launches this spring. 

Roland Moore-Colyer
Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland Moore-Colyer a Managing Editor at Tom’s Guide with a focus on news, features and opinion articles. He often writes about gaming, phones, laptops and other bits of hardware; he’s also got an interest in cars. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face. 

2 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Boring Username
    No it wont be on the Pixel 6. It doesn't support mmwave and therefore Verizon will never allow it to be certified on it's network. Google isn't just going to give up on millions of Verizon customers
    Reply
  • Gamod
    I really hope not or I'll be skipping again this pixel phone and google might end in the same situation of pixel 5. I have been waiting to upgrade my pixel 3 XL and if this is true, I would pref to pay more to have a decent cpu than a mid / low range cpu. The good thing is that if pixel 6 is bad, thre are now really good alternatives with good cameras, from one plus 9 pro, vivo x60 pro +, galaxy s21 ultra, etc..
    Reply