Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 vs Dimensity 7060: Specs & Benchmarks

Comparing the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 and Dimensity 7060 shows two mid-range chipsets with similar real-world performance, but the Snapdragon has a clear edge in sustained gaming and modem efficiency, while the Dimensity often wins on raw CPU benchmark numbers. Both are built on an 8-core layout with two performance cores and six efficiency cores, and both support 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and LPDDR5 RAM. The practical difference in daily use is small, but the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 typically delivers better thermal stability and battery life under load.

Background: Where These Chips Come From

The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is a 2024 Qualcomm chip, the successor to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1. It is fabricated on TSMC’s 6nm process, which is the same node used for the Snapdragon 778G and 695. The Dimensity 7060 is a 2023 MediaTek chip, also on a 6nm process, and is essentially a rebranded Dimensity 1080 with a few tweaks. Both are aimed at the $200–$350 smartphone segment, powering devices like the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) and the Honor 90 Lite.

The naming is a bit misleading: the “6s Gen 3” sounds newer than the “Dimensity 7060,” but in terms of release timing, the Dimensity came first. Qualcomm’s “s” suffix usually indicates a small refresh, and here it means a slightly higher clock speed on the CPU compared to the 6 Gen 1.

Core Specs: CPU, GPU, and Memory

Both chips use a 2+6 CPU layout, but the core architectures differ:

• Snapdragon 6s Gen 3: 2x Cortex-A78 at 2.3 GHz + 6x Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz, Adreno 619 GPU, supports LPDDR5 at 3200 MHz and UFS 3.1.
• Dimensity 7060: 2x Cortex-A78 at 2.6 GHz + 6x Cortex-A55 at 2.0 GHz, Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, supports LPDDR5 at 3200 MHz and UFS 3.1.

The Dimensity has a higher CPU clock (2.6 vs 2.3 GHz), which gives it a slight edge in single-core and multi-core synthetic tests. In Geekbench 6, the Dimensity 7060 typically scores around 950 single-core and 2400 multi-core, while the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 scores around 900 and 2200 respectively. That’s a 5–10% difference, noticeable in benchmarks but not in everyday scrolling or app launches.

The GPU is where the Snapdragon pulls ahead. The Adreno 619, though older, has better driver optimization and sustained performance in games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact at medium settings. The Mali-G77 MC9 has nine cores, which sounds impressive, but it often throttles after 15–20 minutes of gaming due to heat. In GFXBench Aztec Ruins (High Tier), the Snapdragon scores around 18 fps, while the Dimensity scores around 16 fps.

Benchmark Breakdown: What the Numbers Mean

Here’s a summary of typical benchmark results (based on average scores from public test databases):

• AnTuTu 10: Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 ~ 480,000; Dimensity 7060 ~ 500,000. The Dimensity leads by about 4%.
• Geekbench 6 (single/multi): Snapdragon 900/2200; Dimensity 950/2400. Dimensity leads by ~5–8%.
• 3DMark Wild Life (Sling Shot): Snapdragon ~ 4,500; Dimensity ~ 4,200. Snapdragon leads by ~7%.
• PCMark Work 3.0: Both around 11,000 points, essentially identical.

The key takeaway: the Dimensity wins CPU-heavy tasks (like video editing or compiling) and the Snapdragon wins GPU-heavy tasks (like gaming). For a typical user, the difference is imperceptible. The Snapdragon’s advantage in sustained performance is more important than a 50-point Geekbench lead.

Real-World Performance and Thermal Throttling

In real-world tests, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 maintains its peak performance for longer. The Adreno 619 is more efficient at lower clock speeds, and Qualcomm’s thermal management is more aggressive. In a 30-minute gaming session, the Snapdragon phone might drop to 85% of its maximum frame rate, while the Dimensity phone might drop to 70%. This is because the Mali-G77’s nine cores generate more heat, and the CPU and GPU share the same thermal budget.

For everyday tasks like social media, video streaming, and navigation, both chips are overkill. They can easily handle 60 Hz displays, and some phones with these chips support 120 Hz panels. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 has a better ISP (image signal processor) for camera processing, which means slightly faster HDR capture and less shutter lag. The Dimensity 7060 supports 108MP cameras, while the Snapdragon supports up to 108MP as well, but the Snapdragon’s processing is more natural in color.

Connectivity and Battery Life

Both chips integrate 5G modems. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 uses the X62 modem, which supports sub-6 GHz and mmWave (though mmWave is rarely enabled in mid-range phones). The Dimensity 7060 uses the MediaTek M80 modem, which also supports sub-6 GHz and mmWave. In practice, both deliver similar download speeds (up to 2.5 Gbps theoretical), but the Snapdragon modem is more power-efficient. In battery tests, phones with the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 tend to last 30–60 minutes longer than comparable Dimensity 7060 phones with the same battery size, especially in mixed usage with 5G on.

Wi-Fi is also comparable: both support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. The Snapdragon has a slight edge in Wi-Fi range due to better antenna tuning, but this varies by phone design.

How to Choose: Which One Should You Get?

Your choice depends on your priorities:

• If you game on your phone: Choose the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3. It has better sustained frame rates and less thermal throttling.
• If you do heavy multitasking or video editing: The Dimensity 7060’s higher CPU clock gives a small edge in export times and app load times.
• If you care about battery life: The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is more efficient, especially under load.
• If you use the camera a lot: The Snapdragon’s ISP is more mature, producing better low-light photos and faster autofocus.

In most mid-range phones, the difference in price between these chips is negligible. Look at other features like screen quality, battery size, and software updates before deciding based on the chip alone.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

A common misconception is that the Dimensity 7060 is a “gaming chip” because it has a 9-core GPU. In reality, the Mali-G77 is an older architecture (2019) and is less efficient than the Adreno 619. Another issue is that some budget phones with these chips use eMMC storage instead of UFS, which bottlenecks the CPU. Always check the storage type in the phone’s specs.

Another problem is thermal throttling on the Dimensity 7060. If you play games for more than 20 minutes, you may notice frame drops. This can be mitigated by using a phone with a good vapor chamber cooling system, but not all phones have that. The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is less prone to this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Dimensity 7060 better than the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3?

In raw CPU benchmarks, yes, the Dimensity 7060 scores slightly higher. But in gaming and battery life, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is better. For most users, the Snapdragon is the safer choice.

Can the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 handle 120Hz displays?

Yes, it can, but the phone manufacturer must enable it. Many phones with this chip offer 120Hz refresh rates, but the GPU may not sustain high frame rates in heavy games at that refresh rate.

Which chip has better 5G performance?

Both are similar, but the Snapdragon X62 modem is slightly more power-efficient. In terms of speed, you won’t notice a difference in real-world usage.

Is the Dimensity 7060 good for emulation?

For PSP and Nintendo DS emulation, both chips are fine. For Nintendo Switch emulation, the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 is better because of Adreno’s better driver support and OpenGL compatibility.

Do these chips support 4K video recording?

Yes, both support 4K30 video recording, but the Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 has better stabilization and dynamic range due to its ISP.

Which chip is more future-proof?

The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3, because Qualcomm provides longer software support for its chips, and the Adreno GPU is more likely to receive driver updates for new games.

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