Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 is the new chip powering most Android devices released in 2021. According to Qualcomm, the high-end chipset is manufactured using the most advanced 5nm process technology and it could provide a huge performance boost as compared to its predecessor, the Snapdragon 865. In this post, we’re checking out all the new features and the list of smartphones powered by the new Snapdragon 888 processor.
Snapdragon 888 Features
The Snapdragon 888 SoC includes one core of 64-bit Kryo 680 based on ARM Cortex-X1 (2.84GHz), three Kryo 680 cores based on Cortex-A78 (2.4GHz), four cores of Cortex-A55-based Kryo 680 (1.8GHz), Adreno 660 GPU, Hexagon 780 DSP, 6th-gen AI Engine, and Snapdragon X60 modem.
The new Kryo 680 CPU could deliver 25% better CPU performance while being 25% more power efficient. On the other hand, the Adreno 660 GPU improves graphics performance by 35% and power efficiency by 20%. The photo and video capabilities of the SoC are very impressive as it is equipped with a faster Spectra 580 image signal processor (ISP); It boasts 10-bit HDR image capture, captures simultaneous video streams from 3 cameras, captures 120 photos in one second at 12MP resolution, perform real-time processing on three image sensors at once.
Another important upgrade is the integrated Snapdragon X60 5G modem. It is capable of downloading data at up to 7.5 Gbps and uploading at up to 3 Gbps. It also supports sub-6GHz FDD and TDD aggregation, and aggregation of sub-6GHz and mmWave bands to reach the peak speeds. Other connectivities include Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and dual radio Bluetooth 5.2.
The List of All Snapdragon 888 Smartphones
1. Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus, S21 Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy S family has been always considered the best choice when getting a Snapdragon smartphone. This year, they even make the lineup more affordable with pricing starting from $799, $999, and $1,199 respectively. Released in January 2021, they go on sale very often and you can even buy them a few hundred dollars cheaper. The high-end S21 Ultra sports some advanced features like a quad-camera supporting up to 100x zoom, S-Pen support, and a beautiful WQHD+ display.
| S21 | S21 Plus | S21 Ultra | |
| Display | 6.2-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2,400×1,080 pixels), 421 ppi | 6.7-inch Flat FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (2,400×1,080 pixels), 394 ppi | 6.8-inch Edge WQHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X (3,200×1,440 pixels), 515 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 12GB/16GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh | 4,800 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.8 (wide-angle), 12MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 64MP f/2.0 (3x telephoto) | 12MP f/1.8 (wide-angle), 12MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 64MP f/2.0 (3x telephoto) | 108MP f/1.8 (wide-angle), 12MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 10MP f/2.4 (3x telephoto), 10MP f/4.9 (10x telephoto) |
| Front Camera | 10MP | 10MP | 40MP |
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2. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 5G
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 was released in August 2021 and it is a new generation of smartphones that fold in half. The new model is smoother, more durable and more affordable than its predecessor.
| Galaxy Z Flip3 | |
| Cover display | 1.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED (260 x 512) |
| Main display | 6.7-inch Infinity Flex display (2640 x 1080); 120Hz adaptive |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB |
| Battery | 3,300 mAh, 15W Fast Charge |
| Rear cameras | 12MP (f/1.8) main, 12MP (f/2.2) ultra-wide ultrawide |
| Front camera | 10MP (f/2.4) |
3. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
Z Fold3 is another Samsung foldable phone released in August 2021. It is designed for power users who want a phone and a tablet on the same device. The new version is cheaper but the display is up to 80% tougher, features a water-resistant body, supports S-Pen and an under-display camera.
| | Galaxy Z Fold3 |
| Cover display | 6.2-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED (2,268 x 832) |
| Main display | 7.6-inch 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED Infinity Flex Display (2,208 x 1,768) |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB |
| Battery | 4,400mAh, 25W Super Fast Charge |
| Rear cameras | 12MP f/1.8 wide-angle camera, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, 12MP f/2.4 telephoto camera |
| Front camera | 10MP (f/2.2) |
4. Xiaomi Mi 11
Xiaomi Mi 11 is the first Snapdragon 888 smartphone as it was released in December 2020 for the Chinese market. Xiaomi has brought the phone to the global market but it is still not available in the United States yet. The flagship is packed with premium features but the starting price of €749 in Europe makes it less attractive.
| Xiaomi Mi 11 | |
| Display | 6.81″ WQHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay (3200 x 1440 pixels), 515 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,600 mAh, 55W wired turbo charging, 50W wireless turbo charging, 10W reverse wireless charging |
| Rear Camera | 108MP f/1.85 (wide-angle), 13MP f/2.4 (ultrawide), 5MP f/2.4 (telemacro) |
| Front Camera | 20MP f/2.2 in-display |
5. Oppo Find X3 Pro
The Oppo Find X3 Pro was announced in March 2021, marking the next step of Oppo to conquer the premium smartphone market. The phone features top-of-the-line specs but it also comes with a hefty price tag of €1,149 in Europe.
| Oppo Find X3 Pro | |
| Display | 6.7-inch LTPO AMOLED Curved QHD+ (3,216 x 1,440 pixels), 525 ppi |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh, 65W wired charging, 30W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging |
| Rear Camera | 50MP f/1.8 (wide-angle), 50MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 13MP f/2.4 (telephoto), 3MP f/3.0 (microlens with fixed focus) |
| Front Camera | 32MP f/2.4 |
6. Sony Xperia 1 III & Xperia 5 III
Both of the Xperia phones were announced in early 2021 but only got official release in August. The two phones share a lot of similarities in the flat slab design and powerful hardware. The Xperia 1 III is a bit more expensive as it features a larger and sharper display, more RAM and storage, and the ToF sensor on the camera system.
| Xperia 1 III | Xperia 5 III | |
| Display | 6.5-inch OLED, 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass Victus | 6.1-inch OLED, FHD resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 6 |
| RAM | 12GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB, expandable | 128GB / 256GB, expandable |
| Battery | 4,500mAh | 4,500mAh |
| Rear Camera | Triple 12MP camera + ToF | Triple 12MP camera |
| Front Camera | 8MP | 8MP |
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7. Meizu 18 & 18 Pro
The Meizu 18 series phones were available in China starting March 2021. Pricing starts from 4,399 Yuan (~$676) for the Meizu 18 and 4,999 Yuan (~$768) for the Meizu 18 Pro. The 2 phones have pretty much the same specs, except that the Meizu 18 Pro features an upgraded camera setup, a larger screen, and wireless charging.
| Meizu 18 | Meizu 18 Pro | |
| Display | 6.2-inch S-AMOLED E4 QHD+ (1440 x 3200 pixels), 563 ppi | 6.7-inch S-AMOLED E4 QHD+ (1440 x 3200 pixels), 526 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh, 36W wired fast charging | 4,500 mAh, 40W wired fast charging, 40W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging |
| Rear Camera | 64MP f/1.6 (wide-angle), 8MP f/2.4 (3x telephoto), 16MP f/2.2(ultrawide) | 50MP, f/1.9 (wide), 8MP f/2.4 (3x telephoto), 32MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 0.3MP f/1.4 (depth – TOF 3D) |
| Front Camera | 20MP f/2.2 | 44MP f/2.4 |
8. nubia Red Magic 6 & 6 Pro
ZTE released the gaming phones in March 2021 and it hit the global market one month later. The duo has the same size and hardware. There are just a few differences like RAM, storage, and battery capacity. Besides, the Red Magic 6 Pro features super-fast 120W charging while Red Magic 6 maxes out at 66W. Pricing starts from $599 and $699 respectively.
| nubia Red Magic 6 | nubia Red Magic 6 Pro | |
| Display | 6.8-inch AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 387 ppi, 165Hz refresh rate | 6.8-inch AMOLED, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 387 ppi, 165Hz refresh rate |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB | 12GB/16GB/18GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 5,050 mAh, 66W wired fast charging | 4,500 mAh, 120W wired fast charging (China model), 66W wired charging (International model) |
| Rear Camera | 64MP f/1.8 (wide), 8MP f/2.0 (ultrawide), 2MP (macro) | 64MP f/1.8 (wide), 8MP f/2.0 (ultrawide), 2MP (macro) |
| Front Camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 8MP f/2.0 |
9. Redmi K40 Pro & K40 Pro Plus
Redmi, a sub-brand owned by Xiaomi, announced the K40 Pro and K40 Pro Plus in February 2021. Pricing starts from 2,799 yuan (~$430) and 3,699 yuan (~$569) respectively. Both are equipped with a 6.67-inch OLED screen (HDR10+) and a 4,520mAh battery. The K40 Pro Plus has some upgrades in RAM, storage, and camera setup.
| Redmi K40 Pro | Redmi K40 Pro+ | |
| Display | 6.67-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 395 ppi | 6.67-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 395 ppi |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB | 256GB |
| Battery | 4,520 mAh, 33W wired charging | 4,520 mAh, 33W wired charging |
| Rear Camera | 64MP f/1.9 (wide), 8MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 5MP (macro) | 108MP f/1.8 (wide), 8MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 5MP (macro) |
| Front Camera | 20MP | 20MP |
10. Vivo Iqoo 7
Vivo released the Iqoo 7 in January and its price starts at 3,798 yuan (~$584) in China. Notably, it has a color option branded with BMW’s M-sport livery. The phone hasn’t been available in global market yet.
| Vivo Iqoo 7 | |
| Display | 6.62-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2400 pixels, 394 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh, 120W wired charging |
| Rear Camera | 48MP f/1.8 (wide), 13MP f/2.5 (2x portrait), 13MP f/2.2 (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 16MP f/2.0 |
11. Vivo X60 Pro Plus
This is another Snapdragon 888 phone available exclusively for the Chinese market. Apart from top-notch specs, the Vivo X60 Pro Plus has some notable features like a huge rear camera setup co-developed with Zeiss and an in-display fingerprint scanner. Pricing starts at 5,000 yuan (~$769).
| Vivo X60 Pro Plus | |
| Display | 6.56-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1080 x 2376 pixels, 398 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,200 mAh, 55W wired charging |
| Rear Camera | 50MP f/1.6, (wide), 8MP f/3.4 (5x periscope telephoto), 32MP f/2.1 (2x telephoto), 48MP (ultrawide with gimbal stabilization) |
| Front Camera | 32MP f/2.5 |
12. Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 Ultra in March 2011 and it gained a lot of attention because of a standout camera setup. A huge camera bump on the back includes an 1.1-inch AMOLED selfie display and 3 pro-grade cameras. The tiny screen display selfie preview and when you place it face down, it shows info like time, battery life, or incoming calls. Besides, the phone boasts a large 1/1.2-inch sensor that’s just a little smaller than 1-inch sensors found in compact cameras. Pricing starts from 6,499 yuan (~$989) for the 256GB version.
| Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra | |
| Display | 6.81-inch AMOLED display, 120Hz, HDR10+, 200×1,440 pixels, 515 ppi |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB |
| Storage | 256GB/512GB |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, 67W wired charging, 67W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging |
| Rear Camera | 50MP f/2.0 (wide), 1/1.12″ 48MP f/4.1 (periscope telephoto), 5x optical zoom 48MP f/2.2 (ultrawide), 1/2.0″ |
| Front Camera | 20MP f/2.2 (wide), 1/3.4″ |
13. Asus Zenfone 8 Series
| ZenFone 8 | ZenFone 8 Flip | |
| Display | 5.9-inch FHD+ AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate | 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED 1080 x 2400 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB/16GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB | 128GB/256GB |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh, 65W Fast charging | 5,000 mAh, 120W Fast charging |
| Rear Camera | 4 MP, f/1.8 (wide) 12 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) | 64 MP, f/1.8 (wide) 8 MP, f/2.4 (telephoto – 3x optical zoom) 12 MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide) |
| Front Camera | 12MP (f/2.5) | pop-up selfie camera (same as rear camera) |
14. OnePlus 9, 9 Pro, & 9R
| OnePlus 9 | Oneplus 9 Pro | OnePlus 9R | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED | 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED | 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED |
| RAM | 8GB / 12GB | 8GB / 12GB | 8GB / 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh | 4,500 mAh | 4,500 mAh |
| Rear | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide) 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (monochrome) | 48 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide) 8 MP, f/2.4, 77mm (telephoto – 3.3x optical zoom) 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (monochrome) | 48 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide) 16 MP, f/2.2, 14mm (ultrawide) 5 MP, f/2.4 (macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (monochrome) |
| Front | 16MP | 16MP | 16MP |
Other Phones
Some other Snapdragon 888 smartphones include Realme GT, Mi Mix Fold, Lenovo Legion 2 Pro, Black Shark 4 Pro, Mi Mix 4, Asus ROG Phone 5 Pro, etc.
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Naija Tori says
Hey! Thanks for sharing this vital info, I never knew a phone has up to 12GB of RAM. I’ll give OPPO a try.
Thomas says
It is amazing how they can get all that performance out of such a small chip without draining the battery to fast. I have a OnePlus 7 that uses the Snapdragon 855 and I think it is a pretty fast processor, but I guess it is already outdated compared to the 888 model.