Phones are becoming faster. Qualcomm unveiled its newest, highest-end smartphone processor, the Snapdragon 888+, on Monday. The chipset boosts the Snapdragon 888, which was introduced earlier this year in premium phones such as the Moto Edge X30.
Qualcomm increased the clock speed of the Snapdragon 888+ CPU (the chipset brain) to 3GHz from 2.84GHz in the Snapdragon 888. The enhancement will allow phone users to perform more intensive tasks, such as streaming video and playing games, more efficiently. In addition, Qualcomm increased its artificial intelligence capabilities by more than 20%, making video calls and entertainment more immersive.
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Qualcomm said device makers are working on more than 130 designs that will use the Snapdragon 888 and 888+. The 888 Plus will be available in devices beginning in the third quarter.
"It powers profoundly intelligent entertainment experiences with AI-enhanced gaming, streaming, photography, and more," said Qualcomm incoming CEO, Cristiano Amon, during a virtual presentation at Mobile World Congress 2021. "It's all to bring the most premium mobile experiences to flagship Android devices around the world."
While the Mobile World Congress is taking place in Barcelona this week, most major corporations have chosen to participate virtually rather than sending employees to Spain. Qualcomm, as well as Samsung, Google, and Ericsson, are among those involved. 5G is expected to be a major topic at the conference, which typically brings together executives from handset manufacturers, chipmakers, networking providers, app and software developers, and a variety of other mobile-focused companies.
The continued advancement of 5G is more important than ever now that the coronavirus has drastically altered our world. The next-generation cellular technology, which boasts speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and lightning-fast responsiveness, has the potential to improve everything from simple video conferencing to telemedicine and advanced augmented and virtual reality. Few phones have been released in the United States this year that do not support 5G, and the ultra-fast, millimeter-wave version has become standard in devices such as Apple iPhone 12 lineup. While many consumers now have 5G phones, there has yet to be a "killer app" that demonstrates what the connectivity can truly do.
Amon spent much of his MWC keynote, which Qualcomm showed reporters ahead of the event, discussing Qualcomm efforts to extend 5G beyond the phone. Cellular technology developed by the company is now used in PCs, cars, smart internet of things devices, fixed wireless products, and infrastructure to power 5G networks.
"Qualcomm is really" executing on the opportunity that we now have for our technology to go beyond mobile," Amon said at a press conference ahead of the MWC.
Qualcomm also unveiled its second-generation 5G RAN platform for small cells alongside the Snapdragon 888 Plus. The technology will allow mmWave to be used in more places, both indoors and outdoors, as well as in new locations around the world. It will also introduce new lower band 5G capabilities in public and private networks, as well as small cell densification. Qualcomm new 5G DU X100 Accelerator Card will enable operators and infrastructure vendors to benefit from 5G high performance, low latency, and power efficiency.
In terms of phones, Qualcomm stated that more than 35 operators and device makers from around the world have committed to supporting mmWave. Although the technology has extremely fast speeds, it is not as dependable as 5G mid- and low-band versions. It can only travel short distances because it is obstructed by trees, windows, and other objects.
Verizon has been the most vocal supporter of mmWave, while virtually all other carriers around the world have favoured slower but more reliable versions of 5G. Even in the United States, mmWave is only found in densely populated areas or in venues such as sports arenas. However, Qualcomm stated that the mmWave footprint should improve.
"5G mmWave is often perceived as a very US-centric technology," Ignacio Contreras, Qualcomm senior director of product marketing, said during a press conference ahead of MWC. "However, if you look at the composition of these companies explicitly stating their support... this is far from a US-centric picture."
Qualcomm stated that connectivity will be available in China, Europe, Japan, Korea, North America, and SouthEast Asia. China Unicom intends to deploy mmWave for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, while Oppo intends to launch 5G mmWave devices "in the near future," possibly as early as next year, according to Contreras.