The RK3399 and Snapdragon 845 are two types of ARM-based processors that are important for engineers, developers, and system designers to compare. Even though both chips came out around the same time, they are used for different purposes: 1) Rockchip mainly makes chips for embedded systems and small computers, while 2) Qualcomm designs high-end smartphones. This article compares these two chips in simple terms, looking at how they are built, how they perform, their graphics and AI features, power use, and how they are used in real life.
Overview of RK3399 and Snapdragon 845
Rockchip RK3399
The Rockchip RK3399 is a high-performance SoC designed primarily for single-board computers (SBCs), industrial devices, and AI edge systems. It features a big.LITTLE architecture with two Cortex-A72 cores and four Cortex-A53 cores.
Key characteristics:
- 6-core CPU (2× Cortex-A72 + 4× Cortex-A53)
- Mali-T860 MP4 GPU
- Strong multimedia and I/O capabilities
- Widely used in SBCs (e.g., Rock Pi, Pine64)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
The Snapdragon 845 (SDM845) is a flagship mobile SoC used in premium smartphones. It integrates Qualcomm’s custom Kryo 385 cores based on ARM Cortex designs and a powerful Adreno GPU.
Key characteristics:
- 8-core CPU (Kryo 385 architecture)
- Adreno 630 GPU
- Advanced ISP, DSP, and modem integration
- Optimized for mobile performance and efficiency
RK3399 vs Snapdragon 845: Specification Comparison Table
CPU Architecture and Performance
RK3399 CPU Design
The RK3399 uses ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture:
- 2× Cortex-A72 (performance cores)
- 4× Cortex-A53 (efficiency cores)
This configuration is optimized for:
- Balanced workloads
- Embedded Linux environments
- Multitasking in SBCs
However, it relies on older ARM core designs, which impacts peak performance.
Snapdragon 845 CPU Design
Snapdragon 845 features:
- 4× Kryo 385 Gold (based on Cortex-A75)
- 4× Kryo 385 Silver (based on Cortex-A55)
Advantages:
- Higher IPC (instructions per cycle)
- Better power efficiency
- More advanced scheduling
Benchmark Comparison
- Snapdragon 845 achieves higher scores, according to benchmark data:
- CPU Mark: ~3400 vs ~1559 for RK3399
- Single-thread performance:
- Snapdragon 845 is ~41% faster
Conclusion (CPU): In the Rockchip RK3399 vs Snapdragon 845 comparison, Qualcomm clearly leads in raw CPU performance due to newer cores and higher clock speeds.
GPU Performance: Mali vs Adreno
RK3399 GPU (Mali-T860 MP4) is based on ARM Midgard architecture and supports OpenGL ES 3.2 and Vulkan 1.0. It is suitable for basic UI rendering, light 3D workloads, and embedded graphics. In contrast, the Snapdragon 845 GPU (Adreno 630) is a custom Qualcomm GPU offering significantly higher performance and better driver optimization, especially for Android. Its advantages include enhanced gaming performance, GPU compute workloads, and AR/VR support. When comparing the two, the Adreno 630 is multiple times faster than the Mali-T860. The Mali-T860 is adequate for embedded applications but does not match the high-end capabilities of the Snapdragon 845 GPU.
AI and DSP Capabilities
RK3399 lacks a dedicated NPU unless using the RK3399Pro variant. AI workloads depend on the CPU and GPU (via OpenCL), but these offer limited efficiency for modern AI inference. In contrast, the Snapdragon 845 includes a Hexagon DSP and dedicated AI acceleration support, enabling neural network processing, on-device inference, and camera AI processing. Overall, the Snapdragon 845 is far superior for AI workloads due to its dedicated hardware acceleration and mature SDK ecosystem.
Power Efficiency and Thermal Design
Rockchip RK3399 is fabricated on a 28nm process, which results in higher power consumption and requires active cooling in many SBCs. In contrast, the Snapdragon 845 is built on a 10nm process, offering much better efficiency and being designed for battery-powered devices. Regarding efficiency, the Snapdragon 845 is significantly more power-efficient compared to the RK3399, which, though less optimized, remains acceptable for embedded systems with external power.
Software Ecosystem and Development
The RK3399, commonly used with RK30SDK-based development environments, offers Linux BSP, Android support, kernel customization, and driver-level control. Its strengths include open-source friendliness, hardware-level access, and flexibility for creating custom devices.
However, it faces challenges such as fragmented documentation and less polish compared to Qualcomm. In contrast, the Snapdragon 845 benefits from a robust Android ecosystem and Qualcomm SDKs, offering stronger support for camera pipelines, modem integration, and AI frameworks. Software-wise, the RK3399 is better suited for custom hardware and Linux, while the Snapdragon 845 excels in mobile applications.
Real-World Use Cases
The Rockchip RK3399 is best suited for single-board computers (SBCs), industrial automation, basic edge AI, digital signage, and media boxes. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 845 is ideal for smartphones, AR/VR devices, AI-powered cameras, and mobile gaming.
RK3399 vs Snapdragon 845: Key Differences
Strengths of RK3399 include strong I/O and peripheral support, an open development ecosystem, and suitability for embedded systems. In comparison, the Snapdragon 845 boasts much higher CPU and GPU performance, better AI capabilities, and superior power efficiency.
Conclusion
The RK3399 vs Snapdragon 845 comparison highlights two fundamentally different design philosophies:
- Rockchip RK3399 excels in embedded, customizable systems, offering flexibility, strong I/O, and open development via RK30SDK environments.
- Snapdragon 845 dominates in performance, efficiency, and AI, making it far superior for mobile and high-performance applications.
From a pure performance standpoint, Snapdragon 845 is clearly ahead. However, in real-world engineering decisions, the choice depends on the use case:
- Choose RK3399 for SBCs, industrial, and Linux-based projects
- Choose Snapdragon 845 for mobile, AI, and performance-critical applications
FAQ Section
1. Is RK3399 still relevant in 2025–2026?
Yes, especially in embedded systems and SBCs. It remains popular due to stability, cost, and ecosystem support.
2. Which is better: RK3399 or Snapdragon 845?
For performance → Snapdragon 845
For embedded development → RK3399
3. Does RK3399 support AI workloads?
Yes, but limited. It lacks a dedicated NPU (except RK3399Pro), so performance is lower.
4. Why is Snapdragon 845 faster than RK3399?
- Newer CPU cores (A75 vs A72)
- Higher clock speeds
- Better manufacturing process (10nm vs 28nm)
5. Is RK3399 good for Linux development?
Yes. It is widely used in Linux SBCs and supports open-source drivers and customization.
