Qualcomm brings 5G to cheaper phones with Snapdragon 690 processor

Qualcomm presented the latest 5G chip in its range on Tuesday, which is aimed at cheap smartphones.

The processor called Snapdragon 690 is the first time Qualcomm offers 5G for the lower end of its smartphone chip range. It has been 5G modems for premium smartphones since 2016 (although they only appeared in devices a few years later), and it followed Processors for mid-range devices At the end of last year. These devices are not cheap.

The Galaxy S10 5G launched last year cost $ 1,299, while the regular S10 started at $ 900. Newer 5G premium phones are a little cheaper (the Galaxy S20 from early this year starts at $ 999), but they’re still not available to everyone. Qualcomm’s 7-pack chips, which will be available in cell phones this year, will cut costs significantly, but it is the 6-pack that does what many people consider cheap.

Phones based on the Snapdragon 690 cost between $ 300 and $ 500 when launched later this year, and include some features that are normally found only on premium devices. For comparison: Apple is new iPhone SEthat only runs in 4G networks, starts at $ 399. The Snapdragon 690 will be available in cheaper phones from companies like Nokia mobile phone manufacturers HMD, LG, Motorola, Sharp and TCL, which sell phones under the Alcatel and TCL brands.

“We want to bring more flagship experiences … to billions – things like impressive camera experiences, intense and interactive gaming, [and] fast-responding AI voice assistants, “said Deepu John, senior director of product management at Qualcomm, during a briefing with reporters ahead of the company news.

Currently running:
Look at that:

Health care can never be the same. Mobile can help

28:44

5G is the new, super-fast radio technology that is being introduced worldwide. It lives in many major cities in the United States, including China, South Korea and the UK. The technology will change our way of life and drive everything from self-driving cars to advanced augmented reality experiences.

This year should be the year 5G became mainstream. However, the spread of the novel corona virus has raised doubts as to how widely the technology will be used this year. The new corona virus, which causes a disease called COVID-19, was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year. Since then, it has become a full-blown pandemic that infects over 8.1 million people around the world. The outbreak has caused cities and countries around the world to block, close shops, cancel events, and force citizens to stay home to curb the coronavirus.

As a result, the largest drop in smartphone shipments was in February, when the novel corona virus devastated China, one of the largest markets in the world and an important production location. And Sales are expected to reach a 10-year low this year.

Cheaper 5G phones

While The pandemic has affected telephone sales in places like the United States, Qualcomm, Swedish manufacturer of network devices Ericsson and others have said that it will ultimately not stop 5G’s expansion around the world in the coming years. Phones are considered essential devices. Nonetheless, people who watch their spending may increasingly opt for cheaper devices such as those made possible by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 690.

The Snapdragon 690 offers 4K HDR support to capture more than a billion colors and take photos at up to 192 megapixels. It also supports 120 Hz displays for fast refresh rates and smooth scrolling. The Snapdragon 690 is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest AI engine for intelligent cameras, voice translation, AI-based imaging and AI-enhanced gaming.

The processor is also equipped with the new X51 5G modem from Qualcomm, which offers multi-gigabit speeds. The modem can download data at up to 2.5 Gbit / s over 5G networks and 1.2 Gbit / s over 4G LTE. The upload speed is 660 Mbit / s over 5 G and 210 Mbit / s over LTE.

However, it only supports a variant of 5G. The X51 only runs on low-band radio waves, not on the ultra-fast millimeter-wave network that is preferred by carriers like Verizon. These lower bands were preferred in countries such as China and Europe, and by US airlines such as T-Mobile.

“There is no doubt that we are committed to millimeter waves and make them ubiquitous,” said Kedar Kondap, vice president of product management, during a briefing with reporters. “It’s all a function of timing … and prioritization at the moment.”

While the Snapdragon 690 5G integrates into cheaper phones, it’s not the lowest-priced range of chips offered by Qualcomm. The company also offers its 4 and 2 processors, which do not yet have 5G. No schedule was specified when the new wireless technology would be available for these processor families.