New Snapdragon 210 processor to power cheap 4G LTE smartphones next year

By Andy Boxall Published September 10, 2014

Qualcomm-Snapdragon-phone — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Processor manufacturer Qualcomm’s newly announced Snapdragon 210 chip aims to bring 4G LTE connectivity to even the most basic smartphones in the very near future. Smartphones with 4G LTE connectivity are steadily coming down in price, and the feature is no longer only found on top-of-the-range hardware, but this chip could find its way into devices costing around $100. What’s more, Qualcomm has been using the Snapdragon 210 processor in reference design tablets too.

On the technical side, the Snapdragon 210 is a 1.1GHz quad-core chip which uses the Adreno 304 graphics processor, and is also equipped with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 system for fast battery recharging. It’ll handle cameras with up to 8 megapixels and an HDR mode. For 4G, the 210 will take on Cat 4 LTE, in both single and dual-SIM configurations. What’s not known is whether the 210 is a 64-bit chip, like the Snapdragon 410.

Recommended Videos

While mobile buyers in the U.S. and the UK are spoiled for choice when it comes to smartphones with 4G LTE, those in developing markets, where 4G is only just coming online, aren’t quite so lucky. The Snapdragon 210 could change this, helping to increase adoption of new, faster networks with sensibly priced phones. In India, where 4G LTE is in its early stages, local manufacturer Micromax is reportedly already planning a phone using the chip, ready for wider 4G connectivity next year.

Micromax may not sell smartphones internationally, but companies such as Microsoft, ZTE, and Huawei could use the 210 to spice up entry-level phones currently only offering 3G data speeds. The existing Snapdragon 200 chip is used in smartphones such as the Motorola Moto E and the Sony Xperia E1, both sold for around $100 to $130. Because Qualcomm has made the chip for both smartphones and tablets, reasonably priced 4G slates could become more common in the future too.

Qualcomm says the Snapdragon 210 chip will be ready for manufacturers to use during the first half of next year.

Topics

Senior Mobile Writer

Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…

Mobile

Qualcomm launches new Snapdragon 5G and 4G mid-tier chipsets

qualcomm snapdragon 778G+ 695 480+ 680 5G 4G MOBILE PLATFORM

Qualcomm usually refreshes its mid-range Snapdragon chipsets once a year. Breaking tradition, the chipmaker has now announced mid-cycle upgrades to several chipsets in the Snapdragon 7xx, 6xx, and 4xx series. The new launches include three 5G-enabled mobile platforms, including Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G, Snapdragon 695 5G, and Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G. Launched alongside these chipsets with 5G connectivity is the Snapdragon 680 with only 4G connectivity.

The Snapdragon 778G Plus and the Snapdragon 480 Plus offer minor upgrades over the Snapdragon 778G and 480 chipsets released earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 695 and the Snapdragon 680 are new additions to Qualcomm's lineup of mobile platforms. All of these offer minor upgrades instead of anything major as part of the company's fallback plan to keep its lineup refreshed despite the global semiconductor crisis.

Mobile

LTE vs. 4G: The differences explained

When it comes to wireless broadband standards, there are many acronyms to keep track of. However, few are more important than LTE and 4G. Knowing the difference between 4G and LTE (and now 5G) might give you a better basis of knowledge when you upgrade your phone or cell carrier. The discussion below outlines the basics.

Related reads

Mobile

New Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 chip means 5G phones will get much cheaper

A Snapdragon 7C processor held between fingers.

Qualcomm has announced a new 6-series Snapdragon processor, the Snapdragon 690, destined for mid-range phones in the near future. Why should you care about it? Because it’s the first 6-series chip to support 5G, and that means the price of 5G phones is ready to tumble. By how much? For reference, the Nokia 5.3 has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665 inside, and can be purchased for 125 British pounds, or about $160, while the new Motorola Moto E has the Snapdragon 632 chipset and is yours for $149. Last year, Google used the Snapdragon 670 in the $399 Pixel 3a.

That’s a lot less than the entry-level 5G phones we see now which use the Snapdragon 765G processor, including the 549 British pounds (about $690) Motorola Edge, and the 399 British pound (about $500) TCL 10 5G. The new wave of cheap 5G phones which use the Snapdragon 690 could potentially reduce this cost to $400 or much less, based on comparable phones today.