(Credit: Qualcomm)
Smartphone makers will soon be able to bring more powerful features to affordable 5G phones thanks to the latest processor from Qualcomm. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 aims to enrich lower-cost devices with better connectivity and more capable multimedia functions. Qualcomm says Xiaomi will be one of the first companies to bring the 4s Gen 2 to market and it expects the platform will be widely available in phones by the end of the year.
Qualcomm used a 4nm process for the chip. The octa-core Kryo CPU includes two performance cores at 2.0GHz and six efficiency cores at up to 1.8GHz. It has an undefined Adreno GPU with hardware-accelerated H.265 and VP9 decoding.
(Credit: Qualcomm)The 4s Gen 2 supports up to 1Gbps speeds via standalone sub-6GHz 5G, though it doesn't include faster mmWave 5G. It can handle up to 100MHz bandwidth (2x2 MIMO) and is backward compatible with most older network types. The chip also provides dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1, which are well behind the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 standards. The Bluetooth can handle the aptX Adaptive codec at 96kHz. Critically, the chip supports dual-band (L1+L5) location services, which means more accurate directions in areas packed with trees or tall buildings.
The updated Spectra image signal processor (ISP) can handle a single camera up to 32MP or dual 16MP cameras with zero-lag 30fps capture. It can record a single 1080p video stream at 60fps, two 1080p streams at 30fps, and slow-motion at 720p and 120fps. Camera features include image stabilization, face detection, and noise reduction.
Other specs include support for Full HD+ displays with refresh rates up to 90Hz, Qualcomm Quick Charge 4+, support for memory up to LPDDR4x, UFS 3.1, and USB 3.2 Gen 1.
The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 is reserved for devices in markets where 5G is still growing. It's meant to help bring 5G connectivity and improved multimedia functions to more people at a lower price point. Qualcomm didn't name OEMs other than Xiaomi, though surely other phone makers will rely on the 4s Gen 2 in their designs.