The 5G modem is discreet and Qualcomm will sell both chipset and the 2nd gen X55 Modem-RF as a bundle. This also makes Snapdragon 865 phones significantly more expensive then Snapdragon 855 phones from last year. Page Jumps:
Snapdragon 865 Vs Snapdragon 855Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Features and HighlightsBest Snapdragon 865 Phones
Snapdragon 865 vs Snapdragon 855: Specs
Snapdragon 865 Features and Highlights
Here are a few reasons why you should be excited about the Snapdragon 865? The good:
Snapdragon 865 upgrades prime and performance cores to new Cortex-A77-based architecture and promises 25% performance improvement along with a 25% improvement in power efficiency.Power cores remain the same. L3 cache has been doubled for improved performance and better power efficiency ( while processing light tasks).Qualcomm claims improvements in memory subsystems. The SD 865 also has support for LPDDR5 RAM which will make it to flagship phones next year.The Snapdragon 865 also gets Dolby Vision and HGL format support.The new chipset will support up to 144Hz display refresh rate.SD 865 shows remarkable improvement in camera capabilities. There’s now support for up to 200MP sensors, 8K230fps, and the time cap on 720@960fps slow-motion recording has been removed (so, it would be easier to shoot slow-motion footage).AI capabilities get a significant bump from 7 TOPs to 15 TOPs.Adreno 650 GPU sees a 25% improvement in graphics rendering over Adreno 640. Power efficiency improves by 35%Snapdragon 865 is also one of the first chipsets to support Google’s IdentityCredential API that will be a part of the upcoming Android 11.According to AndroidPolice, SD865 supports Google’s Project Mainline, which means driver updates will hit the device via Play Store instead of Over-the-Air.
The not so good:
Qualcomm isn’t customizing ARM’s Core architecture as it wasn’t generating enough return on investment.Qualcomm is using TSMC’s 7NP process to manufacture Snapdragon 855, which isn’t as cutting edge as the new EUV process (7+) that’s used on Kirin 990 5G and Exynos 990.The SD 865 does not have an integrated 5G modem, but Qualcomm still claims better power efficiency while using 4G networks as compared to SD 855.
Also Read: 10 Best Snapdragon 765 and 765G Phones to buy in 2022
Best phones with Snapdragon 865 Phones in 2022
Here are the phones with Snapdragon 865 chipset that are either launched or in the pipeline for launch:
1. Samsung Galaxy S20 5G/ S20+ 5G / S20 Ultra 5G
Samsung Galaxy S20-series phones are the first to debut with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chipset. Yes, the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and S20 Ultra all are powered by Snapdragon 865 Chipset, at least in the US. These 5G phones pack some really impressive hardware under their hood. All three get LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage and some serious camera muscle. In India and a few other markets, the S20-series will be powered by Exynos 990. Galaxy S20 Ultra Specifications Display: 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED (120Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 16GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: One UI 2.0 – Android 10 | Rear camera: 108MP + 48MP + 12MP + 0.3MP | Front camera: 40MP | Weight: 222g | Dimensions: 165.3 x 76.6 x 8.8 mm |Battery: 5000mAh 2. OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are both powered by Snapdragon 865 octa-core chipset paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 storage. OnePlus has further optimized its Oxygen OS software and high-refresh-rate screen for motion smoothness. The Pro variant has a better display, better camera, IP68 water resistance, and wireless charging support. However, OnePlus has tried to cover all essentials on both of these phones. In India, OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro are significantly cheaper than in western markets. OnePlus 8 Pro Specifications Display: 6.78-inch QHD+ AMOLED (120Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Oxygen OS – Android 10 | Rear camera: 48MP + 48MP + 8MP + 5MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 199g | Dimensions: 165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm |Battery: 4510mAh OnePlus 8 Specifications Display: 6.55-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Oxygen OS – Android 10 | Rear camera: 48MP + 16MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 180g | Dimensions: 160.2 x 72.9 x 8 mm |Battery: 4300mAh
3. Xiaomi Mi 10 5G and Mi 10 Pro 5G
Close on the heels of S20-series, Xiaomi introduced Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro, both of which join the Snapdragon 865 list. Both phones rock dual-mode 5G support (no, it’s not the same as dual SIM), LPDDR5 RAM, Wi-Fi 6 and can record 8K footage. Both Xiaomi phones pack similar 6.67-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen with 1,200 nits peak brightness. Mi 10 Pro and Mi 10 have different rear cameras and house 4780mAh and 4500mAh batteries, respectively. Xiaomi has launched the Mi 10 5G in India. Mi 10 Pro specifications Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: MIUI 11 – Android 10 | Rear camera: 108MP + 8MP + 12MP + 20MP | Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm |Battery: 4500mAh Mi 10 specifications Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: MIUI 11 – Android 10 | Rear camera: 108MP + 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.8 x 9 mm |Battery: 4780mAh
4. iQOO 3 5G
iQOO 3 made its debut on February 25. The brand has spawned out of Vivo as a separate standalone brand. It stars Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset along with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage. The iQOO crown jewel is bedecked with a punch-hole panel to the front. At the back, it has a 48MP Quad cam arrangement. Among other things, you also get 5G support, Android 10 based iQOO UI, and gaming-focused features. iQOO 3 specifications Display: 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 48MP + 13MP + 13MP + 2MP | Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 158.5 x 74.9 x 9.2 mm |Battery: 4400mAh
5. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
Recently Samsung announced the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition which comes in both 4G and 5G versions. Samsung is selling both exynos based LTE version and a Snapdragon 865 based 5G version of Galaxy S20 FE in India. The Galaxy S20 FE 5G flaunts a 6.5-inch Adaptive AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and has IP68 waterproofing. It comes with a triple rear camera featuring a 12MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto lens. Display: 6.5inch FHD+ Adaptive AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: 6GB | Storage: up to 128GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 8MP| Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 213g | Dimensions:159.8 x 74.5 x 8.4 mm | Battery: 4500mAh with QC 4.0 fast charger, Wireless charging support
6. Realme X50 Pro
Realme X50 Pro was launched on February 24, 2020. Besides Snapdragon 865 running inside, the phone has a lot going for it. It was the first 5G phone to launch in India. The Realme flagship packs a top-shelf spec-sheet including a 90Hz AMOLED display, a dual-punch-hole display, 4200mAh battery with 65W VOOC fast charging, and a 64MP quad rear camera setup. Realme X50 Pro specifications Display: 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 12MP + 8MP + 2MP | Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 205g | Dimensions: 159 x 74.2 x 8.9 mm |Battery: 4200mAh
7. Sony Xperia 1 II
Sony flagship for the year brings the premium and trendy eccentricities such as 5G, Snapdragon 865 chip, 4k HDR BT2020 OLED screen, and 4000 mAh power source. But the standout aspect of the Xperia 1 II (One Mark Two) is its camera-centric hardware and software goodies. For instance, it is the first phone with up to 20fps and 60 times per second AF/AE tracking burst for continuous autofocus. Plus, there is real-time Eye AF for humans and animals. Sony Xperia 1 II specifications Display: 6.5-inch 4K OLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 8GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP + 0.3MP | Front camera: 8MP | Weight: 181.4g | Dimensions: 165.1 x 71.1 x 7.6 mm |Battery: 4000mAh
8. Oppo Find X2 and Find X2 Pro
Oppo Find X2 Pro and Find X2 both have curved waterfall AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate and are powered by Snapdragon 865 octa-core chipsets. The main difference between the two is the periscope-style telephoto lens assembly on the Pro model. Other than that, both phones have similar performance configurations, run the same Color OS software, and support 65W fast charging. Oppo Find X2 Pro specifications Display: 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED (120Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 48MP + 13MP + 48MP| Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 217g | Dimensions: 165.2 x 74.4 x 8.8 mm |Battery: 4260mAh Oppo Find X2 specifications Display: 6.7-inch QHD+ AMOLED (120Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 48MP + 13MP + 48MP| Front camera: 32MP | Weight: 217g | Dimensions: 165.2 x 74.4 x 8.8 mm |Battery: 4200mAh
9. Redmi K30 Pro
Redmi K30 Pro is the cheapest Snapdragon 865 phone available as of today. This is a flagship killer that covers all the basics yet misses out on flagship frills like wireless charging and high-refresh-rate screen. The phone has an uninterrupted AMOLED panel (thanks to pop-up camera) and a massive 4700mAh battery. The primary rear camera has a 64MP sensor. And there is basic IP53 water resistance as well. The Redmi K30 Pro employs good quality LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage and supports 33W fast charging. Xiaomi has launched the Redmi K30 Pro as Poco F2 Pro in select markets. Redmi K30 Pro specifications Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 5MP + 13MP + 2MP| Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 218g | Dimensions: 163.3 x 75.4 x 8.9 mm |Battery: 4700mAh Also Read: Best slim and compact phones to buy in India in 2020
10. Motorola Moto Edge+
After a long hiatus, Motorola returns to the flagship turf with he Edge+. As the name indicates, it flaunts a curved edge. It isn’t here for just aesthetic reason but is functional too. You get edge lighting for notifications, battery charge meter, and swipe across the edges for switching between apps. Moving inwards, you get the Snapdragon 865 chip paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. On the camera front, you get a 108MP led triplet on the back and 25MP front-facing snapper. Amongst other things, you also get Android 10, 6K video recording, USB-C, 3.5mm jack, WiFi 6, 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, and an in-display fingerprint scanner. The device is powered by a 5000mAh battery that’s backed by an 18W fast charger. Moto Edge+ Specifications Display: 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: 12GB| Storage: 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 108MP + 16MP + 8MP| Front camera: 25MP | Weight: 203g | Dimensions: 161.07 x 71.38 x 9.6mm | Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charger
11. Vivo Nex 3S 5G
Vivo Nex 3 initially debuted with SD 855+ phone but was later upgraded to an ‘S’ variant with Snapdragon 865 octa-core chipset and a few other minor upgrades to display and connectivity options. Nex 3s has a pop-up camera and a curved AMOLED HDR10+ compliant waterfall display. It is available in Europe for a starting price of 630 Euros. Vivo Nex 3S 5G specifications Display: 6.89-inch FHD+ AMOLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 13MP + 13MP| Front camera: 16MP | Weight: 218g | Dimensions: 167.4 x 76.1 x 9.4 mm |Battery: 4500mAh
12. Black Shark 3, Black Shark 3 Pro
Xiaomi Black Shark 3 is a beast of a gaming phone that comes with a double-sided or “sandwich liquid cooling system”. Apart from top-notch gaming hardware, the handset boasts of enhancements like Gaming triggers, Black Shark GameEngine, and SolarCore intelligent game acceleration engine to further boost gaming performance. The handset supports the latest connectivity options including Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and has 65W fast charging. Black Shark 3 Specifications Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 5MP + 13MP| Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 222g | Dimensions: 168.7 x 77.3 x 10.4 mm | Battery: 4720mAh Black Shark 3 Pro Specificiations Display: 7.1-inch FHD+ AMOLED (90Hz) | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 12GB| Storage: up to 512GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 5MP + 13MP| Front camera: 20MP | Weight: 253g | Dimensions: 177.8 x 83.3 x 10.1 mm | Battery: 5000mAh
13. Nubia Red Magic 5G
Nubia Red Magic 5G is a flagship-grade gaming phone powered by Snapdragon 865. From the name, you know its a 5G-capable device. This year’s Red Magic embellishes a 6.65-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 144Hz refresh panel. It comes with the usual Gaming phone eccentricities such as a flashy design, Touch-sensitive shoulder buttons, accessories, and a frickin’ active fan inside for flushing heat. Nubia Red Magic 5G Specifications Display: 6.65-inch ;AMOLED screen; FHD+ resolution; 144Hz refresh rate| Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: up to 16GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP| Front camera: 8MP | Weight: 218g | Dimensions: 168.6 x 78 x 9.8 mm | Battery: 4500mAh with 55W fast charger
14. LG V60 ThinQ 5G
The LG V60 TinQ 5G is one of the rear phones in today’s time. It features both a Snapdragon 865SoC heart and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the edge. That’s right, the LG is one of few smartphone brands that continue to offer a headphone jack in their flagship phone. The LG V60 highlight includes an OLD screen, Quad DAC for audio with stereo speakers, 5000mAh battery. Where this phone fall short is optics mainly due to lack of a versatile setup. It is MIL-STD-810G compliant and IP68 water and dust resistant. Display: 6.8-inch FHD+ P-OLED | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 octa-core CPU | RAM: 8GB| Storage: up to 256GB | Software: Android 10 | Rear camera: 64MP + 13MP + 0.3MP| Front camera: 10MP | Weight: 213g | Dimensions: 169.3 x 77.6 x 8.9 mm | Battery: 5000mAh with QC 4.0 fast charger
List of best Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 phones in 2022
These are some of the best phones with the Snapdragon 865 processor. Most of the SD 865 phones are 5G ready and are also bigger and bulkier. This makes sense since the modem is discrete and also because 5G requires thicker Antennas and bigger battery capacities. Price list of the Snapdragon 865 Phones in India in 2022
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