The best Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones you can buy

The best Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones you can buy

For the past decade, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 series processors have topped the charts for Android performance flagships. If you want the best Android flagship, you should look at phones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

Since the chip was launched in November 2022, we still expect many popular smartphone series to be updated with updated hardware. But until then, these are the best Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 smartphones you can get! We've also picked up a few upcoming phones with this flagship processor, so keep an eye out for their release within the first half of this year.

Best Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Phones:

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 series
  • OnePlus 11
  • Asus ZenFone 10
  • Motorola Edge Plus
  • nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro
  • vivo X90 Pro Plus
  • Xiaomi 13 Pro
  • Galaxy Z Fold 5
  • Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy S23 series

Samsung Galaxy S23 series

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series is easily one of the biggest showcases for the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The reason this phone series is getting a lot of attention this year is because Samsung has retired its Exynos processor for this cycle.

The company is only selling one version of the Galaxy S23 series: with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is a change from its previous strategy of selling the S series flagship in the US with a Qualcomm processor and then seeing the Exynos processor variants. some regions. Exynos chips have historically been inferior, which meant that those unfortunate regions would have an "inferior" experience even when buying the same phone. But thankfully we have a global Galaxy S23 release with only Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 around.

We're getting a global release of the Galaxy S23 with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
There is another twist in the story. Samsung not only launched its flagships on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 but also launched it on a superior version of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 called Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy. This is a special version of the chip exclusive to Samsung's flagships and features a higher Prime CPU core clock speed (from 3.2 GHz to 3.36 GHz) and a slight increase in GPU clock speed (from 680 MHz to 719 MHz). This makes the Galaxy S23 series the best of the best among Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 flagships.

Coupled with the wide availability, exciting deals, trade-in offers, and long software support, it will be very difficult for other OEMs to compete with the Galaxy S23 series even if they manage to pack better hardware. Samsung is also strengthening the camera hardware in the range, which should help the company maintain its position on smartphone camera quality. And with three phones in the range in the form of the S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra, there is also a wider price range.

The phones in the Galaxy S23 series have a number of differences, namely around size, screen, battery, cameras and S Pen support and integration. Performance through the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains largely the same regardless of which phone you choose in the lineup.

OnePlus 11

OnePlus 11

Whatever you may think of OnePlus' recent performance, it's hard to deny that the company continues to produce excellent flagships. With Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 at the forefront of the OnePlus 11, the company is looking to make up lost ground in the global flagship space, especially in key markets like North America and India.

OnePlus is known for its powerful flagship phones, and the OnePlus 11 continues on this path with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The company continues its collaboration with Hasselblad, but now the phone has an updated 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor. OnePlus has confirmed that there will be no Pro or T version for this year. So, for all intents and purposes, the OnePlus 11 is pretty much the OnePlus 11 "Pro" too, thanks to its rounded specs. The OnePlus 11 goes the practical route without going overboard. This means you can expect a good price when the device launches globally.

The OnePlus 11 goes the practical route without going overboard.
There are some strange omissions in the device, such as the lack of wireless charging. Also, many users are not completely satisfied with the OxygenOS experience so far, so there is still some work to be done. The IP64 rating also leaves a lot to be desired. The decision to stick with a 2x telephoto camera for the third sensor instead of more optical zoom affects the versatility of the camera setup.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is one of the most foldable phones on the market thanks to its improved connector and other improvements over its predecessor. It's also powered by Qualcomm's latest silicon, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Backing up the SoC, you'll find 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. There's also a 4,400mAh dual battery, IPX8 protection and wireless charging.

There's a good camera experience too, although it's worth noting that the Z Fold 5 retains the same cameras as its predecessor. That means you get a 50 MP wide-angle camera, 12 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a 10 MP telephoto lens. While it would be nice to see some improvements, the overall quality here is solid.

Of course, the real appeal of the Fold 5 is that it can become a tablet. The main screen is quite large when unfolded, namely 7.6 inches. For comparison, the folded main screen is 6.2 inches.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Another Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 powered device with a foldable display, again from Samsung. While the powerful SoC is good, the main draw is the unique foldable design that harkens back to the days of the flip phone. From there is a nice secondary screen called the Flex Window, which is 3.4 inches. It's a pretty big upgrade over its predecessor's 1.9-inch screen. The screen is designed primarily with widgets in mind, although there are officially supported ways to get full-screen apps, but Samsung considers it experimental.

The other big change to the Z Flip 5 is the new bezel-less screen, which makes it harder for dust and other particles to enter, scratch or damage your screen. While the Flip may not offer any new functionality, the new design appeals to those looking for something that stands out from a sea of iPhones and other candy-shaped devices.

But Flip has to do more than look good, right? The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is already a step in the right direction, but the rest of the specs are strong too, including 8GB of RAM, a solid camera, and storage configurations up to 512GB. The only minor drawback is the 3700 mAh battery. That's enough to get you through a single day of use, especially if you use the Flex window a lot through the power-hungry main screen. However, we would like it to be a little bigger.

ASUS Zenfone 10

ASUS Zenfone 10

ASUS isn't the biggest name in the smartphone world, but that doesn't mean the ASUS ZenFone 10 isn't worth a look. The Zenfone 10 is a much smaller phone than most other phones, even the Samsung Galaxy S23. All this thanks to the relatively thin 5.9-inch AMOLED screen. Despite its smaller stature, there's plenty of power under the hood. For starters, you get a Qualcomm 8 Gen 2 SoC.

Not impressed? You can also opt for a variant with up to 16 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of storage space. You also get a fairly large battery for a phone of this size, at 4300mAh. It can easily get through the day and can be quickly recharged with support for up to 30 W. Audiophiles will also be happy to hear that the ZenFone 10 has a headphone jack.

Despite its compact design and relatively low asking price, the ZenFone 10 is a pretty decent beast.
The camera package is pretty solid here too. You get a six-axis gimbal stabilizer, making it perfect for video recording. There is also a 50 MP main camera and a 13 MP ultra-wide camera. On the front, you get a 32MP selfie camera that's perfect for sharing on social media and more.

The ZenFone 10 packs a lot of power yet is actually quite affordable, with the base model starting at just $699.99. Even the top model costs just $899, despite 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. For what you get, this phone is very well priced and a good choice if you're looking for something different than the typical Samsung, Apple and Google options that dominate the US.

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola has been steadily upping its game of late with winners like the foldable Razr Plus, but its typical candy bar phones have also improved quite a bit. One of the best options out there is the Motorola Edge Plus.

You get plenty of performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC on board, backed by 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There is also a rather attractive 6.7-inch panel with a refresh rate of 165 Hz.

Battery life is not an issue with the Edge Plus as it can easily last more than a day. In our tests, we found that you can go to bed on the first day with 69% battery left. If you lose the battery, there's also an ultra-fast 68W to help you get back up and running as quickly as possible.

Motorola continues to up its game as the Edge Plus is a great phone with some features, but it's also an incredible value.
Motorola has had a rocky history with Android updates, but the Edge Plus promises 3 full Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches every two months. It's not as pretty as Google or Samsung, but it's actually pretty solid for an Android phone maker.

Not everything is perfect. The camera system is not the best, the edge screen is prone to accidental touches and there is not always a screen. Historically, Motorola is known for its cleanest versions of Android, but this phone also has a lot of bloatware.

Despite its shortcomings, if you can get past the features, the Edge Plus is an excellent value, retailing for just $799.99 and often on sale for even less.

nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro

nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro

If this is your first time hearing about the REDMAGIC 8 Pro, we don't blame you. nubia is a sub-brand of ZTE and mainly focuses on selling gaming smartphones internationally. The Nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro finds a place on this list due to its greater global availability.
Since the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a new chip, the REDMAGIC 8 Pro was one of the first smartphones with it that you could buy internationally. Since then, of course, more phones have been sold with this chip.The central theme of the REDMAGIC 8 Pro is gaming, and for that it relies heavily on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

The central theme of REDMAGIC 8 Pro is gaming and it relies heavily on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to achieve its goal. To make the most of this powerful chip, the REDMAGIC 8 Pro also has a built-in cooling fan and a large heatsink with a vapor chamber that enables the phone to maintain peak performance for longer. The chip is surrounded by UFS 4.0 storage and LPDDR5X RAM. The phone further leans towards its gaming identity with a striking boxy design, shoulder grip trigger and a large 6,000 mAh battery with support for 65W USB PD fast charging. You also get a very clean front thanks to a screen with thin uniform bezels that has a camera below the screen. Gamers out there will also appreciate the 3.5mm headphone jack.

vivo X90 Pro Plus

vivo X90 Pro Plus

The Vivo X90 Pro Plus was launched in early 2023 mainly in the Southeast Asian countries, although it is also available in parts of Europe. Vivo X90 Pro Plus is a successor to the excellent vivo X80 Pro and X70 Pro Plus. It embodies the spirit of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in its entirety, with a host of features redundant to most users. It has a fantastic and versatile camera system on paper with four rear sensors. The main camera is a 50 MP Sony IMX989, which should deliver excellent results thanks to its 1-inch sensor. There's also vivo's V2 imaging chip on board, which again delivers excellent HDR performance across the board.

The Vivo X90 Pro Plus is a camera-centric smartphone that will do well for gaming and performance tasks. You can use the vivo X90 Pro Plus as a camera-centric smartphone, and you can equally use it for gaming and performance tasks. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ensures that you have no reason to be disappointed in any of these areas. It's a well-made high-end flagship, and you can pick up the 12GB/256GB variant in China right now for 6,499 Chinese Yuan (~$960). Vivo launched the predecessors vivo X80 Pro and X70 Pro Plus internationally, so we are crossing our fingers to see an international launch of the X90 Pro Plus as well.

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola Edge Plus

Motorola has been steadily upping its game lately with winners like the foldable Razr Plus, but its typical candy bar phones have improved quite a bit too. One of the best options out there is the Motorola Edge Plus.

You get ample performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC on board, supported by 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There's also a pretty attractive 6.7-inch panel with a 165Hz refresh rate.

Battery life isn't an issue with the Edge Plus as it can easily last more than a day. Our tests showed that you can go to bed on the first day with 69% battery left. If you lose the battery, there's also an ultra-fast 68W to get you back up and running as quickly as possible.

Motorola continues to give its best, as the Edge Plus is a great phone with a number of features, but it's also an incredible value. Motorola has had a rough history with Android updates, but the Edge Plus promises 3 full Android OS updates every two months and 4 years of security patches. It's not as fancy as Google or Samsung, but it's actually pretty solid for an Android phone maker.

Not everything is perfect. The camera system is not the best, the edge screen is sensitive to accidental touches and there is not always a screen present. Historically, Motorola has been known for its cleanest versions of Android, but this phone also has a lot of bloatware.

Despite its shortcomings, if you can get past its features, the Edge Plus is an excellent value, retailing for just $799.99 and often on sale for even less.

nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro

nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro

If this is the first time you're hearing about the REDMAGIC 8 Pro, we can't blame you. nubia is a sub-brand of ZTE and focuses mainly on the international sales of gaming smartphones. The Nubia REDMAGIC 8 Pro finds a place on this list due to its greater global availability.
Because the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is a new chip, the REDMAGIC 8 Pro was one of the first smartphones that you could buy internationally. Since then, more phones have of course been sold with this chip.

The central theme of the REDMAGIC 8 Pro is gaming, and for that it relies heavily on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The central theme of REDMAGIC 8 Pro is gaming and it relies heavily on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 to achieve its goal. To get the most out of this powerful chip, the REDMAGIC 8 Pro also has a built-in cooling fan and a large heatsink with a vapor chamber that allows the phone to maintain peak performance for longer. 

The chip is surrounded by UFS 4.0 storage and LPDDR5X RAM. The phone leans further into its gaming identity with a striking boxy design, shoulder grip trigger, and a large 6,000mAh battery with support for 65W USB PD fast charging. You also get a very sleek front thanks to a screen with thin uniform bezels and an under-display camera. Gamers will also appreciate the 3.5mm headphone jack.

vivo X90 Pro Plus


The Vivo X90 Pro Plus was launched in early 2023, mainly in Southeast Asian countries, but is also available in parts of Europe. Vivo X90 Pro Plus is a successor to the excellent vivo X80 Pro and X70 Pro Plus. It embodies the spirit of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in its entirety, with a host of features that will be redundant for most users. On paper, it has a fantastic and versatile camera system with four sensors on the rear. The main camera is a 50 MP Sony IMX989, which should deliver excellent results thanks to the 1-inch sensor. There is also vivos V2 display chip on board, which again delivers excellent HDR performance across the board.

The Vivo X90 Pro Plus is a camera-centric smartphone that does well for gaming and performance tasks. You can use the vivo X90 Pro Plus as a camera-centric smartphone and you can use it for both gaming and performance tasks. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ensures that you don't have to be disappointed in any of these areas. It's a well-made high-end flagship, and you can get the 12GB/256GB variant in China for 6,499 Chinese Yuan (~$960).

Vivo launched the predecessors vivo X80 Pro and X70 Pro Plus internationally, so we keep our fingers crossed for an international launch of the X90 Pro Plus.

Post a Comment

0 Comments
* Please Don't Spam Here. All the Comments are Reviewed by Admin.