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Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon Platform SOCs
December 08, 2019
Qualcomm announced the platform that's going to power the next generation of flagship phones: the Snapdragon 865. As expected, 5G is a huge focus, with both chips offering 5G support, which will usher in a wave of both premium and mid-range 5G devices in 2020. The upper-mid-range Snapdragon 765 and 765G (the latter a gaming focused variant) have an integrated 5G modem, but the 865 still relies on an external Snapdragon X55 modem for both 4G and 5G connectivity. Huawei’s external Balong 5000 5G modem supports sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrum, with download speeds up to 7.5Gbps. The Balong modem integrated into the Kirin 990 5G SoC is sub-6GHz only and tops out at 2.3Gbps. It’s the same with Samsung’s Exynos 980 SoC, which is missing mmWave support and peaks at 3.6Gbps with dual mode connectivity.
December 08, 2019
Qualcomm announced the platform that's going to power the next generation of flagship phones: the Snapdragon 865. As expected, 5G is a huge focus, with both chips offering 5G support, which will usher in a wave of both premium and mid-range 5G devices in 2020. The upper-mid-range Snapdragon 765 and 765G (the latter a gaming focused variant) have an integrated 5G modem, but the 865 still relies on an external Snapdragon X55 modem for both 4G and 5G connectivity. Huawei’s external Balong 5000 5G modem supports sub-6GHz and mmWave spectrum, with download speeds up to 7.5Gbps. The Balong modem integrated into the Kirin 990 5G SoC is sub-6GHz only and tops out at 2.3Gbps. It’s the same with Samsung’s Exynos 980 SoC, which is missing mmWave support and peaks at 3.6Gbps with dual mode connectivity.
- However, Samsung’s external Exynos 5100 modem part hits 6Gbps downloads with mmWave tech in tow, while the Exynos 5123 hits 7.35Gbps. Samsung is planning to pair its Exynos 990 with an external Exynos 5123 modem to hit blazing fast speeds and mmWave support. It’s clear that efforts to integrate 5G capabilities require compromises to performance. Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon explained that the company didn’t want to compromise performance on any front so no integrated modem Qualcomm needed the modem to be a certain size. Taking up space on the main processor means less computing power and more heat and the X55 modem is a big step up from today’s X50 found in current 5G phones. Download speeds jump from 5 to 7.6Gbps, and more 5G networks and spectrums are natively supported It’s far more power efficient, meaning better battery life on both 4G and 5G. The 865 supports image processing speeds of up to 2 gigapixels per second, The company is working with partners to release a 200MP camera sensor.
- TSMC has been fast advancing its manufacturing processes. It is on track to move 5nm node to commercial production in the second half of 2020, and will soon break ground for a 3nm facility where volume production will start in 2022. Next year promises to be a fruitful one thanks to 5G picking up momentum, but in the meantime, Taiwanese IC designers see orders slowdown from Chinese clients who are conducting year-end inventory checks. But phone vendors are set to launch more 5G devices in 2020, including foldable ones. But vendors of such foldable phones have to make sure they receive sufficient supply for OLED panels.
- TSMC to kick off 3nm process manufacturing in 2022: TSMC is firmly on track to move 5nm process technology to commercial production in the first half of 2020 and will kick off production of chips built using a newer 3nm process node in 2022, according to JK Wang, the firm's senior vice president for fab operations.
- Taiwan IC design houses see orders slowdown from China: Taiwan-based IC design houses have seen their China-based customers start slowing down their pace of orders due to year-end inventory checks at the clients, which may drag down revenues at those fabless chipmakers in November and December.
- AUO loses Motorola foldable Razr OLED orders to Chinese peers: Motorola has switched orders for flexible AMOLED panels for its new foldable smartphones to Chinese suppliers BOE Technology and China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) from Taiwan-based AU Optronics (AUO) who cannot provide sufficient production capacity, according to industry sources.
Source: Company
A number of brands have already confirmed that they have Snapdragon 865 or 765 phones in the works. The list includes HMD, Xiaomi, Motorola, and OnePlus, LG, Samsung, and others are expected to join the list as well. Xiaomi has already announced the 865-powered Mi 10, due out in 2020. The Xiaomi Mi 10 smartphone will be one of the first to use Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 processors, according to the company’s founder, Bin Lin, who talked about the unofficial phone on stage at the chip’s big reveal. Lin was just one of the special guests at Qualcomm’s lavish Tech Summit, currently underway in Hawaii, and additionally confirmed the Mi 10 would support dual-mode 5G. The Mi 10 is the sequel to the Xiaomi Mi 9, one of the first to use the Snapdragon 855 processor when it was released in late March last year. Stating concern over the sales potential of 4G-only phones next year, Xiaomi’s CEO Lei Jun said the firm will release 10 5G phones in 2020. His statement came at the same time China officially launched its 5G network, highlighting the importance of the new technology for Xiaomi, as it battles against local competition from Huawei, OPPO, and vivo
Figure 1: Xiaomi’s $2800 Foldable (M1)
Figure 1: Xiaomi’s $2800 Foldable (M1)
Source: Digital Trends
While Xiaomi was the most forthright about its plans for the Snapdragon 865 chip, several other phone makers committed to using the new processor. OPPO, will bring out a 5G phone with the Snapdragon 865 during the first three months of 2020, while Lenovo will also have 5G phones using both the Snapdragon 865 and the 765 too. However, it stayed quiet on a time frame. HMD Global called 5G its, “highest priority,” in 2020 and will use the Snapdragon 765 processor in at least one Nokia phone over the coming year, with the intention of making a 5G experience more accessible to everyone. Nokia’s Chief product officer Juho Sarvikas spoke about its intention to release a 5G phone in 2020 that costs half of the current crop of models. This could mean as little as $500 or $600.
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