Why the Nothing Phone 3 Uses the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 Instead of the 8 Elite

Nothing’s AI head, Sélim Benayat, recently shared the reasoning behind the choice of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 for the Phone 3, admitting that pricing played a significant role. With the aim to keep the phone affordable, Nothing opted for this chipset instead of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite. Qualcomm’s premium chipsets, like the Snapdragon 8 Elite, come with a high price tag due to the inclusion of custom Oryon cores, resulting in a considerable price bump-some estimates claim up to $240 per unit.

This made it challenging for manufacturers, including Nothing, to maintain competitive pricing.

In an interview with TechRadar, Sélim explained that despite the choice of a non-flagship chipset, Nothing’s primary focus was on delivering a great user experience rather than just chasing the latest specs. ‘We wanted to create an experience that aligns with what people actually need,’ he said. The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, though not the top-of-the-line option, allowed the company to keep the Phone 3’s price competitive while still delivering a solid performance for everyday tasks.

While Nothing has yet to confirm whether they’ll ever use Qualcomm’s flagship SoCs, the cost of such chips could be prohibitive, especially when the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 arrives with an even higher production cost, thanks to the 3nm process. If Nothing plans to release a premium flagship in the near future, it might consider using this more expensive option, but only if it aligns with their broader vision for user experience and affordability.