Skip to main content

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 870 will take 2021 gaming phones to a new level

Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 870 continues its push above 3.0GHz.

What you need to know

  • Qualcomm is launching the Snapdragon 870 5G Mobile Platform, focusing on providing a nominal boost over last year's Snapdragon 865+.
  • The new processor features a similar architecture as its predecessor, with a slightly higher clock speed of 3.2GHz for increased performance.
  • This is the first time Qualcomm has had two flagship 800-series chips at the start of a new year.

Today Qualcomm is announcing its latest chipset, the Snapdragon 870 5G Mobile Platform, in a surprising move that continues its nominal updates over the Snapdragon 865 that powered many of last year's best Android phones. Key to this latest chipset is its speed improvements over the Snapdragon 865+, which was already 10% faster than the original 865 on both CPU and GPU fronts. The Snapdragon 870 uses the same architecture as its predecessor but has an increased CPU clock speed of 3.2GHz, which should offer a boost in computing power.

That means we have a single Cortex A77 core that goes up to 3.2GHz, three A77 cores that go up to 2.40GHz, and four energy-efficient A55 cores at 1.80GHz. The Adreno 650 GPU is unchanged from the Snapdragon 865+, meaning you will see a 10% uptick in gaming performance from the normal Snapdragon 865.

The rest of the hardware is unchanged as well: you'll find a Hexagon 698 processor for AI tasks, dual 14-bit Spectra 480 ISP, and an X55 5G modem that delivers up to 7.5Gbps downlink. The only difference in terms of connectivity is that the 870 uses Qualcomm's FastConnect 6800 system with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, missing out on Wi-Fi 6E.

The Snapdragon 870 delivers the best features from the 865+ at a more affordable cost.

The platform is built on a 7nm node, can handle QHD panels up to 144Hz, and works with LPDDR5 RAM modules. The chipset is being positioned as a second flagship offering under the recently announced Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which powers the new Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphones. As a more direct follow-up to last year's flagship chipset, the 870 is in a unique position to offer flagship-level performance at a lower cost than the Snapdragon 888.

Last year, the Snapdragon 765 was in a similar position, powering many higher-tier smartphones like the Google Pixel 5. This was due to not only the cost of the Snapdragon 865 and 865+ but also the increased price sensitivity brought on by the ongoing global pandemic, forcing many to forgo more expensive smartphone offerings. The Snapdragon 765 hit a sweet spot between performance and cost, and since this is the first time Qualcomm has kicked off the year with two flagship chipsets, the Snapdragon 870 could similarly fill a void between premium mid-range and premium flagship smartphones.

Qualcomm's vice president of product management, Kedar Kondap, has stated that many partners have already pledged to use the new Snapdragon 870 in their upcoming flagships:

Building upon the success of Snapdragon 865 and 865 Plus, the new Snapdragon 870 was designed to address OEM and mobile industry requirements. Snapdragon 870 will power a selection of flagship devices from key customers including Motorola, iQOO, OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi.

It will be interesting to see how OEMs position upcoming flagship devices with the new chipset. Motorola recently teased its plans to start using Qualcomm 800-series chips in its G-lineup, which had many speculating whether that would be the 888 or an older chip like the 865. Similarly, OnePlus is also said to be working on a OnePlus 9E that will sit under the standard OnePlus 9 in terms of performance, and this could very well be the chip that powers it, given the company's commitment to using Qualcomm's latest chips.

The Snapdragon 870 could line up perfectly as a potentially more affordable option to this year's premium flagship smartphones, which also means we could see a broader mix of phones releasing in the coming months.

A Snapdragon beast

Samsung Galaxy S21

$800 at Samsung

Look no further.

The Galaxy S21 is Samsung's latest 5G smartphone. With the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset, a large AMOLED 120Hz display, triple-camera system, there's almost nothing you can't do with this smartphone.



Source: androidcentral
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The hidden cost of food delivery

Noah Lichtenstein Contributor Share on Twitter Noah Lichtenstein is the founder and managing partner of Crossover , a diversified private technology fund backed by institutional investors, technology execs and professional athletes and entertainers. More posts by this contributor What Studying Students Teaches Us About Great Apps I’ll admit it: When it comes to food, I’m lazy. There are dozens of great dining options within a few blocks of my home, yet I still end up ordering food through delivery apps four or five times per week. With the growing coronavirus pandemic closing restaurants and consumers self-isolating, it is likely we will see a spike in food delivery much like the 20% jump China reported during the peak of its crisis. With the food delivery sector rocketing toward a projected $365 billion by the end of the decade, I’m clearly not the only one turning to delivery apps even before the pandemic hit. Thanks to technology (and VC funding) we can get a ri
Read more

iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

The iPhone 15 Pro brings over 50 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, which was released two years prior. This buyer's guide breaks down every major difference you should be aware of between the two generations and helps you to decide whether it's worth upgrading. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, Macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and five hours of additional battery life. The ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro was discontinued upon the announcement of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, but it is still possible to get hold of it second-hand. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhone models is best for you and serves as a way to c
Read more

Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Contending in stunning fashion

Technics serves notice that everyone should notice these earbuds. Technics ventured into the wireless earbuds category to go after the big dogs in the race. Think of the likes of Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser on sound quality, as well as the best you can find on design and functionality. It's a combination that comes at a price, but if done right, it gets easier to justify spending more. That's the case Technics makes with its EAH-Z60 earbuds. Its newest pair aims to take what the company has done in the past and make it even better. The results are easy to like and are significant enough to consider them as serious contenders. Technics EAH-AZ60 review: Price and availability What's good What's not good The competition Should you buy? At a glance Technics EAH-AZ60 Bottom line: Technics didn't just do one thing right with the EAH-AZ60. It covered almost the whole gamut of what makes wireless earbuds feel and sound exceptional. As a result, the p
Read more

Cyber Monday Canada: Last-minute deals for everyone on your list

Best Cyber Monday Canada deals: Smart Home Audio Phones, Tablets & Accessories Wearables Laptops & PC Components Amazon products Gaming Televisions Cameras Lifestyle & Kitchen Toys & Kids Cyber Monday Canada is here, and retailers are rolling out the red carpet for customers who want to shop for everything from tech to kitchenware to games and everything in between. Unlike years past, Cyber Monday Canada deals look a bit different than normal. Instead of retailers trying to pack their stores with as many shoppers as possible, we're seeing tons of online deals that you can take advantage of from the comfort of your home. We've rounded up our favorites below, so feel free to browse through the best of what Canada Cyber Monday has to offer! This list is being updated with new Cyber Monday deals all the time, so check back often. Spotlight deals It's a Switch Nintendo Switch Fortnite Edition bundle $399.95 at Amazon It's a Switch.
Read more