Introduction

HiSilicon Kirin 980 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 are probably two of the most dominant chipsets in the industry. Each has different feature sets and advantages. It is a fact that in 2018, HiSilicon Kirin 980 was one of the initial chipsets to be based on a 7nm process and brought about phenomenal performance improvements in smartphones. The recently launched Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 carries the newest technology like better power efficiency and 5G connectivity, which keeps it really powerful in mid-range smartphones.

Comparison: HiSilicon Kirin 980 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Release Year	2018	2024
Fabrication Process	7nm	4nm
CPU Architecture	Octa-core (2x Cortex-A76, 2x Cortex-A76, 4x Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x Cortex-X2, 6x Cortex-A55)
Clock Speed	2.6 GHz	3.0 GHz
GPU	Mali-G76 MP10	Adreno 700-series
AI Accelerator	Dual NPU	Hexagon 690 AI engine
Memory Support	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Max Camera Support	48 MP (single)	200 MP (single)
AnTuTu 10 Score	~300,000	~450,000
GeekBench 6 Score	Single: ~3,200, Multi: ~10,500	Single: ~3,800, Multi: ~12,000
5G Support	No	Yes

Specifications

Specification	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Launch Year	2018	2024
Process Node	7nm	4nm
CPU Architecture	Octa-core (2x Cortex-A76, 2x Cortex-A76, 4x Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x Cortex-X2, 6x Cortex-A55)
GPU	Mali-G76 MP10	Adreno 700-series
AI Accelerator	Dual NPU	Hexagon 690 AI engine
RAM Support	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Camera Support	Up to 48 MP (single), 24 MP (dual)	Up to 200 MP (single)
Display Support	4K UHD @ 60Hz	FHD+ @ 120Hz
Storage Type	UFS 2.1	UFS 3.1
Connectivity	4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5	5G, Wi-Fi 6
Battery Efficiency	Moderate	High

Review

Aspect	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Performance	Strong, especially for 2018	Excellent, with modern optimizations
Gaming	Good, but outdated for modern games	Excellent with newer GPU architecture
AI Capabilities	Decent dual NPU	Powerful AI with Hexagon 690 engine
Power Efficiency	Moderate, older process node	High, thanks to the 4nm process
Camera Support	Excellent for its time	Excellent with support for up to 200 MP cameras
Thermal Management	Good	Excellent, thanks to newer tech

4. Benchmarks

AnTuTu 10

Test	Kirin 980	Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Overall Score	~300,000	~450,000
CPU Score	~80,000	~120,000
GPU Score	~90,000	~140,000
Memory Score	~60,000	~100,000
UX Score	~70,000	~90,000

GeekBench 6

Test	Kirin 980	Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Single-Core	~3,200	~3,800
Multi-Core	~10,500	~12,000

Smartphones

Chipset	Smartphones
Kirin 980	Huawei Mate 20, Huawei P30, Honor View 20
Snapdragon 6s Gen 3	Xiaomi Mi 14, OnePlus 12, Oppo Find X6

Key Functionality Breakdown: HiSilicon Kirin 980 vs. Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3

1. CPU Performance

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Core Architecture	Octa-core (2x Cortex-A76, 2x Cortex-A76, 4x Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (2x Cortex-X2, 6x Cortex-A55)
Clock Speed	Up to 2.6 GHz	Up to 3.0 GHz
Manufacturing Process	7nm	4nm
Performance Focus	Balanced power & efficiency	High-performance & power efficiency

Graphics (GPU)

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
GPU Model	Mali-G76 MP10	Adreno 700-series
Graphics Performance	Excellent for mid-range gaming	Advanced performance for high-end gaming
Max Display Support	4K UHD @ 60Hz	FHD+ @ 120Hz

AI Accelerator

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
AI Technology	Dual NPU (Neural Processing Unit)	Hexagon 690 AI engine
Key Features	Enhanced AI for imaging, voice, and video	Advanced AI for real-time tasks, enhanced camera & app experience

Memory Support

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Max RAM Support	Up to 8GB	Up to 16GB
RAM Speed	2133 MHz	3200 MHz

Multimedia (ISP)

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Max Camera Support	48 MP (single), 24 MP (dual)	200 MP (single)
Video Recording	4K @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60fps	4K @ 60fps, 1080p @ 120fps
Image Processing	AI-powered camera enhancements	Advanced AI for noise reduction, better low-light performance

Connectivity

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
5G Support	No	Yes (Sub-6 GHz)
Wi-Fi Support	Wi-Fi 5	Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.2
USB Type-C	Yes	Yes

Power Efficiency

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Manufacturing Process	7nm	4nm
Efficiency Features	Intelligent power saving algorithms	Enhanced battery management with improved idle consumption

Battery & Charging

Feature	HiSilicon Kirin 980	Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3
Fast Charging	22.5W	33W
Wireless Charging	Yes	Yes
Max Battery Capacity	Up to 5000mAh	Up to 5000mAh

Your Questions and Our Opinion: HiSilicon Kirin 980 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3

Which chipset is newer?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is newer, launched in 2024, while the Kirin 980 was released in 2018.
Which one has better CPU performance?
- Opinion: Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 has a faster CPU with Cortex-X2 cores and higher clock speeds, making it better for overall performance.
Which supports 5G?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 supports 5G, while the Kirin 980 does not.
Which one is more power-efficient?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is more power-efficient due to its 4nm process, offering better battery life and lower power consumption.
Which one has a better GPU for gaming?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 offers a superior Adreno GPU, making it better for gaming performance.
Which chipset has better AI capabilities?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 has advanced AI features with the Hexagon 690 AI engine, offering better real-time performance.
Which supports higher camera resolutions?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 supports up to 200 MP cameras, while the Kirin 980 supports up to 48 MP.
Which is better for multitasking?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is better for multitasking due to its higher RAM support and more efficient cores.
Which one has better connectivity options?
- Opinion: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 supports Wi-Fi 6, 5G, and Bluetooth 5.2, while the Kirin 980 supports only Wi-Fi 5 and lacks 5G.
Which one should I choose?
- Opinion: Choose the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 for better overall performance, modern features, and future-proofing, especially if you want 5G and improved gaming.