Qualcomm revealed the Snapdragon 888+ on Monday, and it is the company’s most powerful mobile chipset. The Snapdragon 888, which was initially released this year in high-end devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S21, nicely boosts the new processor.
From 2.84 GHz to 3 GHz, Qualcomm increased the overclocking frequency of the Snapdragon 888 Plus’s processor. Users will perform more challenging activities, such as video streaming and playing online games, more efficiently, thanks to the upgrade. A 20 percent increase in AI capabilities was also provided by Qualcomm, making video conversations and other forms of media richer and more entertaining.
According to Qualcomm, over 130 devices are in development that will use the Snapdragon 888 and 888 Plus. In the 3rd quarter, smartphones will come equipped with the 888 Plus.
At the Mobile World Congress 2021, Cristiano Amon, Qualcomm’s new CEO, stated in a virtual briefing, “It feels profoundly intelligent entertainment experiences with AI-enhanced gameplay, streaming, photography and more” As stated by Google, “All of this is aimed at bringing premium-level mobile experiences to Android high-end smartphones worldwide.”
This week, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) takes place in Barcelona. But most of the world’s biggest corporations will attend it online rather than sending their members to Spain including Qualcomm, Samsung, Google, and Ericsson. The conference, which usually brings together CEOs from smartphone makers, chipmakers, network operators, app and software developers, and other mobile-focused organizations, will likely focus heavily on 5G.
Since the coronavirus has had a great impact worldwide, the continuous advancement of 5G is far more critical than it has ever been. Everything from simple video conferences to medical and complex augmented and virtual reality might be improved with the next generation of mobile technology, which touts speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and quick response.
There have been few smartphones released in the US this year without 5G, and the millimeter-wave version has been included as a standard feature in handsets such as Apple’s iPhone 12 range. Perhaps, there is no “killer app” that demonstrates the true potential of 5G connectivity even though many people own 5G handsets.
Amon spoke extensively about Qualcomm’s attempts to expand 5G across smartphones during his MWC speech, which the company previewed for the media ahead of time. Cellular technology from the firm is currently found in PCs, vehicles, intelligent IoT devices, fixed wireless goods, and the infrastructure that will support 5G networks.
“Qualcomm is delivering on the opportunity that we have now for our technology to move beyond mobile,” Amon said in a discussion with media before MWC.
Qualcomm also revealed its 2nd Gen 5G RAN small cell technology and the Snapdragon 888 Plus. mmWave can now be used in more places including indoors and outdoors, and in new countries throughout the world thanks to this innovative technology. It will also bring additional low-band 5G features to private and public networks, and small cell densification. Network operators and infrastructure providers will be able to reap the benefits of 5G’s superior efficiency, low latency, and power quality, thanks to Qualcomm’s new 5G DU X100 Accelerator Card.
Qualcomm claims that over 35 operators and device manufacturers worldwide have focused on supporting mmWave for mobile devices. Although the technology is fast, it’s not as stable as 5G mid- and low-band variants. There are trees, windows, and other barriers that make it difficult to travel long distances.
Verizon has been the most vocal advocate of mmWave, while nearly every other provider in the world has opted for slower but much more dependable 5G. However, mmWave can only be found in densely populated towns or sporting venues. Even so, Qualcomm expects mmWave’s coverage to increase.
“5G mmWave is often seen as a technology that is highly US-centric,” Ignacio Contreras, Qualcomm senior director of product marketing, said in a briefing with media ahead of MWC. It isn’t a US-centric picture based on the makeup of these corporations that have publicly stated their support.”
Qualcomm’s plans will cover China, Europe, Japan, Korea, and North and South America. According to Contreras’ report, a 5G mmWave device launch from Oppo might come as soon as next year. Meanwhile, China Unicom aims to deploy mmWave for the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Oppo also aims to sell mmWave handsets “in the coming years,” as reported by Contreras.
