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Mobile World Congress + dual core processors + Qualcomm = 2.5 GHz quad-core processors.
Wait, QUAD core, as in 4 cores?! That’s right folks. The hardworking engineers over at Qualcomm have sent word to MWC that their next generation of Snapdragon processors, the APQ8064, with codename Krait, will be quad core with theoretical speeds of up to 2.5 GHz for EACH core. These new chips are made with the latest 28 nm technology, as opposed to previous generations’ 65 or 45 nm.
The reasoning for these speeds is support for higher resolution screens, more strenuous multi-tasking, and even 1080p support for displays connected through HDMI ports. They will also have Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM radio, NFC, and support for up to 20 MP cameras, all built in. These new processors are promised to be twelve times faster than the outgoing Snapdragons, yet use up to 75% less power. And the graphics processor won’t be any slouch; the new Adreno 320 GPU along for the ride can process up to fifteen times faster than the first-gen Adreno. Interesting stuff indeed!
Now, there is a downside to all of this. It was just an announcement, they won’t be sampling the processors until early next year. So don’t think you’re going to get these monster processors this year; be prepared to be waiting until mid- to late 2012 before they show up in consumer friendly phones. But Qualcomm is already demonstrating their single and dual core chipsets with the new 28 nm tech at MWC right now. Expect to see smartphones sporting the newer, faster chips (with the newer, faster Adreno 305 GPU) this year.
If these specs hold true next year, who will be buying a quad core Snapdragon phone?
With additional reporting by Maddi Hausmann Sojourner