Qualcomm preps 1GHz Snapdragon S4s for dual-core upgrades
updated 11:30 pm EST, Thu December 8, 2011
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 gets two entry models
Qualcomm chose the Uplink expo to unveil a pair of Snapdragon S4 processors built expressly for boosting smartphones. Both the MSM8225 and MSM8625 are dual-core, 1GHz chips and use relatively modest Adreno 203 graphics, but are intended more for retrofitting. The two slot into the previous-generation MSM72x5A and MSM72x7A designs, letting a phone builder take an existing design and give it a big speed boost without having to engineer a completely new platform inside.
Both have 3G inside and are more likely to occupy budget smartphones. Qualcomm is helping to speed up the process of developing phones from scratch with the chipsets through a third-generation Qualcomm Reference Design platform that provides a mix of hardware and software that's already tested to work. Many of these will be for areas in the developing world just graduating to 3G.
The MSM8225 and MSM8625 will be available to companies to use in the first half of 2012, both as part of the QRD and by themselves. Most devices using the new Snapdragons will run Android, although it's not exclusive.
Qualcomm plans to make the S4 its primary chip platform in 2012. It has variants that will scale up to 2.5GHz and just recently added several mid-range S4 models.
