Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon 480, a mid-range processor with 5G. The chip will enable the creation of affordable low-end smartphones that are compatible with this new standard, opening the door to the latest technology for even the most affordable models.
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Snapdragon 480 is a chip that is manufactured in 8 nm, a process used by most 700 series Snapdragons, including the recent Snapdragon 750G. The Snapdragon 765G is the only exception, as it is manufactured in a 7 nm process, like the Snapdragon 865 and 865+. Snapdragon 888 has made the leap to the 5 nm process, the most advanced process available today.
What Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 offers?
The new Snapdragon 480’s CPU has an eight-core Kryo 460 configuration running at up to 2GHz, divided into a two-core Cortex-A76 block and a six-core Cortex-A55 block, which means it is capable of delivering a good level of performance even with demanding tasks and applications. The GPU is an Adreno 619. According to Qualcomm, the performance improvement at the CPU and GPU levels compared to the previous generation is almost 100%.
In terms of CPU and GPU performance, the Snapdragon 480 will mark a major leap forward compared to the previous generation, but the most relevant aspect is undoubtedly the support of the 5G standard, thanks to its Snapdragon X51 modem, which promises speeds of up to 2.5GB/s in download (5G) and up to 660MB/s in upload (5G). With LTE networks both figures are reduced to a maximum of 800MB/s and 210MB/s.
Qualcomm has not forgotten about artificial intelligence. The new Snapdragon 480 comes with a Hexagon 686 DSP that promises up to 70% performance improvement in neural processing tasks compared to the Snapdragon 460. It supports noise and echo cancellation to improve call quality, and comes with a triple ISP that is capable of processing three images simultaneously, although with a maximum 13MP resolution.
Smartphones that rely on Snapdragon 480 will be able to mount a screen with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, as well as a camera up to 64MP or dual settings of up to 25MP and 13MP. As expected, this chip supports Wi-Fi 6 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.1, and features Qualcomm Signal Boost technology, which adjusts the antenna to improve signal quality.
When smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 will arrive?
The Snapdragon 480 is compatible with LPDDR4 memory at 2,133MHz and supports UFS 2.2 storage. The first smartphones equipped with this new chip are expected to start arriving in the coming months. We are not yet clear about the sales price, but since we have seen models with the Snapdragon 750G for between $300 and $350, it is likely that smartphones equipped with the Snapdragon 480 will be in the $250 range.
