Qualcomm unveils four new processors

It’s fair to say that it’s been quite a while since we’ve heard any interesting news regarding Qualcomm and its popular Snapdragon processors, other than a couple of names that were changed back in December.

Today though, we finally get some big news from the company, as it’s been announced that the Snapdragon family has grown by four. The new processors are the Snapdragon 625, 435 and 425, which are more smartphone and tablet focused, and the new Wear 2100, which is the company’s first wearable-focused processor.

Starting with the smartphone focused ones, first of all we have the Snapdragon 625, which is being positioned as the successor to the Snapdragon 617. The biggest improvement is perhaps the amount of power it uses, as it has been reduced by a very respectable 35% compared to the Snapdragon 617, meaning it should allow your battery to last quite a bit longer. Power usage aside, the processor features an octa-core setup with a 64-bit Cortex A53 chipset that can be clocked at over 2 GHz and is equipped with an X9 LTE modem, allowing for upload speeds of up to 150Mbps.

The new processor also supports 4K video, as well as dual camera setups – up to 24MP on the rear, and up to 13MP on the front. Finally, the processor is coupled with the Adreno 506 GPU.

Next up, we have the Snapdragon 435, which is yet another octa-core, 64-bit Cortex-A53 setup, though this can only be clocked at up to 1.4GHz. Regarding image sensor support, the 435 supports sensors of up to 21MP, though there is no 4K video support, which is understandable considering the processor only supports displays with resolutions no bigger than 1080x1920p. The highlight though, is in fact the integrated X8 LTE modem, which is a first for the Snapdragon 400 series, and allows download speeds of up to 300Mbps, as well as upload speeds of up to 150Mbps. Finally, this processor is coupled with the Adreno 505 GPU.

The last processor in the mobile line-up is the Snapdragon 425 – the most inferior of the three. Unlike the previous two, this is a quad-core setup, with four Cortex-A53 cores that can be clocked at up to 1.4GHz. There’s also an LTE Cat 4 X6 LTE Modem which allows for up to 150Mbps download speeds and up to 75Mbps for upload. The processor also supports cameras of up to 16MP. Finally, the Adreno 306 GPU.

Moving away from the mobile line-up though, Qualcomm also unveil its first wearable-focused processor, the Snapdragon Wear 2100, which is perhaps the most interesting one revealed today.

The new processor has been created with the goal of replacing the Snapdragon 400, a processor that is starting to age, considering it was originally created for smartphone use, but has been adapted to fit inside smartwatches. In fact, most Android Wear devices still rely on the Snapdragon 400 or their performance. The Wear 2100 is essentially an improvement in every aspect, compared to the 400, most importantly in size though, with this new chip being 30% smaller than the one it replaces, a very aspect when it comes to wearables because it will enable much smaller and thinner designs than previously. Size aside, the processor also consumes 25% less power, thanks, in part, to the new ultra-low power sensor hub, which will provide greater tracking accuracy as well as consume less power. The processor also supports 4G LTE, meaning we could be seeing a number of new independent smartwatches with SIM support in the near future, as well as low-power Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

"With the introduction of the Snapdragon Wear platform and Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC, Qualcomm Technologies is well-positioned to extend its progress in wearables technology by enabling sleek designs, long battery life, smart sensing, and always- connected experiences in the next generation of wearable devices," senior VP at Qualcomm, Raj Talluri

Fresh off of the new processor announcement though, LG didn’t hesitate in revealing that it is already working on its next wearable that will be powered by the new Wear 2100 processor and, considering the smaller size of the processor, expect the company’s next smartwatch to be a lot smaller, thinner and, most likely, lighter than previous one.

"We are delighted about Qualcomm Technologies’ next generation wearable plans, are planning to extend our collaboration with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor, and look forward to launching new smartwatches and other wearable devices that bring new and innovative use cases to consumers later this year," LG Electronics vice president of wearables David Yoon said.

Overall, Qualcomm’s new line-up is a clear improvement over its previous one, and, with the addition of the Wear 2100, we’ll most likely be seeing a number of new devices powered them in the near future, specifically around mid-2016, which is when the first devices should start to appear. What do you think of Qualcomm’s new line-up? Let us know in the comments below!