Nothing’s AI Head Discusses Phone 3’s Use of Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 for Cost-Effective Features and Enhanced Accessibility

In the landscape of premium smartphones, Qualcomm’s partners faced the challenge of balancing top-tier features with cost considerations. As a solution, the company launched the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, offering a more affordable alternative to the pricier Snapdragon 8 Elite. This strategic move enabled the Nothing Phone 3 to maintain a competitive price point, while the brand boldly labeled the device as a flagship. In an insightful interview, the head of AI at Nothing elaborated on the rationale behind selecting the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, highlighting the financial implications of this decision.

Why the Nothing Phone 3 Opted for the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4

Sélim Benayat, Nothing’s AI chief, shared insights with TechRadar, discussing the choice of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 over the more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite. He noted that a Qualcomm representative had previously indicated that the leading-edge flagship SoC would incur higher costs due to its integration of in-house Oryon cores, aimed at optimizing both performance and efficiency.

The higher production cost posed a significant hurdle, with estimates pegging the Snapdragon 8 Elite at upwards of $240 per unit, and others suggesting a base price of $200. Regardless, it was clear that Qualcomm’s partners, including Nothing, were grappling with the steep pricing, leading Nothing to make the prudent decision to equip the Phone 3 with the more cost-effective Snapdragon 8s Gen 4.

“From a product perspective, I think we can give the experiences that we want to give with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and [more generally] the spec sheet of the Phone 3. Obviously, it’s also helpful from a price perspective. But generally, we were more focused on what [kind of] experience we wanted to create, and therefore on what specs we needed [to facilitate that experience].”

During discussions regarding component priorities for future Nothing devices, Sélim emphasized that the consensus among his team does not revolve around merely selecting the most advanced chipset available, despite the potential benefits of such an approach.

“Every time there’s a debate over what should be prioritized, we go back to that principle. We’re not just chasing whatever competitors are doing – we have this philosophy of, ‘What should the interface between tech and humans look like?’ And that’s where we’re ultimately going, because we believe that, at the end of the day, [this approach will result in] features that people actually want to use.”

As of now, Nothing has not confirmed any plans to adopt a Qualcomm flagship SoC in their future devices. However, if they were to introduce a high-end model that competes at the $1, 000 price point, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, manufactured using TSMC’s cutting-edge third-generation 3nm process, may be a suitable candidate—but likely at a correspondingly higher production cost.

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