Snapdragon 860 vs. 855 vs. 855 Plus: Which Is Better?

Snapdragon 855 Plus and Snapdragon 860 are broadly comparable, and both are a step above the original Snapdragon 855. The 855 Plus has the clearest official performance uplift over the 855: Qualcomm raised its maximum CPU clock and claimed 15% faster graphics rendering. The 860 arrived later, but shares the same broad platform family as the 855 Plus rather than introducing a major new CPU or GPU generation. For a used phone or tablet, cooling, battery condition, software support, and the rest of the device can matter more than the chip name.

Snapdragon 855 vs. 855 Plus vs. 860 at a glance

All three are 7-nm platforms built around Qualcomm’s Kryo 485 CPU family and Adreno 640 GPU. The most straightforward spec difference is the maximum CPU clock: up to 2.84 GHz on the 855 and up to 2.96 GHz on the 855 Plus and 860. Qualcomm’s documentation groups the 855 Plus and 860 on one platform page and brief.

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These are platform specifications, not guarantees about every retail device. Qualcomm’s 855 Plus/860 product brief lists up to 12 GB memory support for the 855 Plus and up to 16 GB for the 860; a manufacturer can build a device with less. The 855 Plus/860 brief also lists dual-display support at FHD+ 60 Hz for the 855 Plus and FHD+ 90 Hz for the 860. Those are platform capabilities, not evidence that a particular phone or tablet has such a display. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 brief and its 855/860 product brief provide the underlying specifications.

What the rankings mean in practice

Snapdragon 855: the baseline

Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 855 on December 4, 2018, as a 7-nm flagship platform for devices expected in the first half of 2019. Its Kryo 485 CPU reaches up to 2.84 GHz, and it uses an Adreno 640 GPU. It remains capable of everyday tasks and many games, but it is the slowest of these three on paper. Qualcomm’s launch announcement gives the original positioning and timing.

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Snapdragon 855 Plus: a modest but clear refresh

Announced in July 2019, the 855 Plus raised the maximum Prime CPU-core clock from 2.84 GHz to 2.96 GHz and was marketed as a gaming-focused refresh. Qualcomm claimed a 15% improvement in graphics rendering compared with the standard 855. That is Qualcomm’s platform-level claim, not a promise of 15% more frames per second in every game: real results depend on the game, device cooling, firmware, display resolution, and power limits. The broad CPU and GPU families remained Kryo 485 and Adreno 640. Qualcomm’s 855 Plus announcement describes the clock and graphics claim.

Snapdragon 860: later, but not a new performance generation

The 860 appeared later, in 2021, but Qualcomm’s product page and brief group it with the 855 Plus. They list the same broad 7-nm, Kryo 485, Adreno 640 and Spectra 380 platform family, including a maximum CPU clock of up to 2.96 GHz. Qualcomm does not publish a separate official benchmark establishing that the 860 is faster than the 855 Plus. It is more useful to think of it as a later, closely related variant or repositioning in the same family than as a new-generation flagship chip. Qualcomm’s shared 855 Plus/860 product page shows the grouping.

The 860 is not equivalent to the Snapdragon 865 simply because its model number is higher than 855. Independent comparison data distinguishes the 860’s Adreno 640 from the 865’s Adreno 650; that is a different platform, not a small naming variation. See Notebookcheck’s comparison context.

CPU performance: small peak-clock gap, larger device-to-device variation

At peak clock, the 855 Plus and 860 have a slight paper advantage over the 855: up to 2.96 GHz versus up to 2.84 GHz. That does not translate into a fixed percentage improvement across apps. CPU workloads differ, and a benchmark score is affected by the specific phone or tablet, its firmware and performance mode, its temperature, and the benchmark version.

For sustained work, heat and power limits matter. A thin device that quickly warms up may reduce its clocks, while a better-cooled device may hold performance longer. Consequently, one short benchmark—or the chip’s maximum clock alone—cannot establish which used device will feel faster over a long session.

GPU and gaming: prioritize the whole device

The 855, 855 Plus, and 860 all use the Adreno 640. The Plus has Qualcomm’s clearest documented graphics uplift over the 855, while the 860 is close to the Plus at the platform level. A practical paper ranking is 855 Plus ≈ 860 > 855, but the order can change in a particular game or during extended play.

• Cooling: Look for the device’s cooling design and sustained-performance behavior, not just its peak benchmark. A well-cooled 860 device can outperform a hotter 855 Plus device after both have been gaming for a while.
• Screen and settings: A high-refresh display does not mean a demanding game will sustain the same frame rate. Resolution and graphics settings also affect the workload.
• Battery and power limits: Battery condition and a device’s thermal or performance modes can affect gaming endurance and sustained speed.
• Memory and storage: More RAM can help with keeping apps open, but it does not automatically make the CPU or GPU faster. Storage speed and remaining capacity can affect loading and general responsiveness.
• Game optimization: Performance can differ between titles, even on devices with the same chip.

Qualcomm promoted the 855 Plus specifically around gaming. The ASUS ROG Phone II was its first device using that platform, according to Qualcomm’s device finder. That example identifies the chip association; it does not establish that every 855 Plus device has the same cooling or sustained performance.

Cameras, video, displays, and AI: the chip sets limits, not the finished experience

The shared Spectra 380 ISP family means these chips have closely related image-processing platform capabilities. Qualcomm’s 855/860 brief lists dual 14-bit ISPs, capture support up to 192 MP, and dual-camera capabilities. These are platform ceilings, not promises about a phone’s camera resolution, image quality, or video features. Sensor and lens quality, optical stabilization, image processing, HDR tuning, video bitrate, microphones, the camera app, and software updates all shape the result.

Display support is similarly a capability rather than a guarantee: the device maker chooses the panel, resolution, refresh rate, and implementation. The brief’s 855 Plus/860 dual-display figures—FHD+ at 60 Hz and FHD+ at 90 Hz respectively—should not be confused with the specifications of every device using those chips. The same qualification applies to platform-level AI and imaging features: the phone maker’s hardware and software determine which capabilities reach the user.

Connectivity: do not assume any of these chips means 5G

The platform documentation lists the Snapdragon X24 LTE modem. Qualcomm described 5G as an option using the separate Snapdragon X50 5G modem-RF system and associated components. So “Snapdragon 855,” “855 Plus,” or “860” by itself does not guarantee 5G; many devices using these platforms are LTE-only. Even when a specific device supports 5G, compatibility depends on its modem-RF implementation, carrier bands, and region. Confirm the exact model and bands before buying, especially for an imported device. Qualcomm’s 855 Plus announcement and platform page describe the platform context.

Which chip should you choose?

Choose an 855 device if it is the better overall deal

The original 855 makes sense when the device costs substantially less and has the better battery, display, camera, storage, or software situation. For browsing, streaming, messaging, and moderate gaming, the chip differences may matter less than the condition and quality of the device around it.

Choose an 855 Plus device for a gaming-focused bargain

The 855 Plus is the clearest official step up from the 855, particularly on graphics. It is attractive when gaming is important, the device has effective cooling, and the price premium over an otherwise comparable 855 device is small. A high-refresh screen and strong battery are useful only if the particular device can sustain the experience you want.

Choose an 860 device when its hardware and price are better

The 860 can be the better buy if the specific phone or tablet offers better cooling, battery condition, storage, or value than an 855 Plus alternative. Do not pay more just because “860” sounds newer: Qualcomm’s public specifications do not show a decisive generational advantage over the Plus model.

For a used-device purchase, inspect support and condition first

• Check when the device last received a security update and whether its manufacturer still supports it.
• Assess battery health, charging behavior, and replacement-battery availability.
• Confirm storage capacity and the device’s exact network bands for your carrier and region.
• Compare the actual screen, cameras, cooling, repair options, warranty, and return terms.
• Avoid treating RAM capacity or a high-refresh screen as proof of higher sustained chip performance.

All three are older platforms. If a newer supported phone offers better security coverage, efficiency, battery life, or 5G compatibility at a similar cost, those practical advantages may outweigh the relatively small SoC differences.

Device examples—and why the model still matters

The ASUS ROG Phone II is a Qualcomm-identified Snapdragon 855 Plus device, and the Xiaomi POCO X3 Pro is listed by Qualcomm under the Snapdragon 855 Plus/860 platform. These are useful examples of the chips in retail hardware, not blanket buying recommendations. Qualcomm’s POCO X3 Pro listing confirms the platform association.

For any specific used model, verify its current software support, regional network compatibility, battery condition, storage type, camera quality, and repairability. A chip label alone cannot establish those details, and Qualcomm’s device finder is a platform reference rather than a current retailer or condition report.

Bottom line

For chip performance, rank them Snapdragon 855 Plus ≈ Snapdragon 860 > Snapdragon 855. The 855 Plus is the clearest documented upgrade over the original 855; the 860 is later but closely related, not a major new generation. When choosing a used phone or tablet, compare the actual devices—especially their cooling, battery, display, software support, and connectivity—rather than buying by model number alone.

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