Qualcomm has built a modular autonomous car system offering automakers a shortcut to self-driving vehicles, as the chip-maker attempts to extend its footprint outside smartphones and modems. The Qualcomm Snapdragon Ride platform includes multiple chips and accelerators for things like computer vision, packaged into a car-friendly form factor, and with a whole software suite for autonomous driving.
Windows on ARM processors, which has recently taken the form of Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms, isn't exactly a new story and, so far, it has never had its happy ending. Earlier this month, Qualcomm revealed yet another attempt to retell that tale, this time with a slight bent towards affordable Windows devices running on new 8c and 7c platforms. It could be bound to fail yet again, but it doesn't have to. In fact, the timing might be perfect but only if Qualcomm and Microsoft try to spin a different narrative.
The Snapdragon 865 is Qualcomm's latest-and-greatest chipset, set to be the 5G heart of most 2020 Android flagships, and unsurprisingly it blows right past its predecessor when it comes to benchmarks. I'm also here to tell you that, having sat with a Snapdragon 865 reference device and watched it clock up sky-high scores in apps like Antutu, Geekbench, and GFXBench, frankly you almost certainly shouldn't care about those numbers.
Just last week, Qualcomm unveiled the processors, what it calls platforms, that will power the next generation of Android smartphones for 2020 and maybe even beyond. Unsurprisingly, 5G was a core focus not just of the flagship Snapdragon 865 platform but also the "premium" Snapdragon 765. Of course, that started a guessing game of which phones will be the first to put either of those two inside and it seems that Xiaomi's Redmi subsidiary has beaten everyone to the punch, not just with the first Snapdragon 765 but the first Snapdragon 765G phone.
It's been a big week for mobility, and if you've been wondering what will be powering your Galaxy S11, Pixel 5, or any number of other Android flagships in 2020, Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit 2019 probably held the answer. The week-long event kicked off with new chipsets for smartphones before hitting AR/VR and finally computing, with 5G and AI ever-present themes along the way. Read on for the big news you need to know.
Qualcomm isn't giving up on putting its Snapdragon chips into laptops and 2-in-1 tablets, with the new Snapdragon 8c and 7c Compute platforms promising more options for the mainstream and entry-level. Joining the Snapdragon 8cx, the new chipsets will enable Windows notebooks and other form-factors with all-day battery life, baked-in cellular connectivity, and fanless designs.
Qualcomm has revealed its first mixed reality platform with 5G, the Snapdragon XR2 Platform, aiming to bring ubiquitous connectivity to augmented reality and virtual reality headsets and smart glasses. Debuting in reference design form today, Qualcomm's headset still isn't going to be mistaken for a sleek set of sunglasses, but the features might well make it worth it.
Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 865 chipset is going to be inside some of the most appealing flagship Android phones of 2020, but what arguably makes it most special is the tech that you won't even realize is in action. While the headline features of 5G, swifter CPU and GPU speeds, and higher resolution camera sensor support are likely to get the most attention, it could be the Hexagon co-processor that's more useful day to day.
Say hello to the Qualcomm chipset likely to be powering your flagship Android phone in 2020, with the Snapdragon 865 arriving to put a big dollop of 5G into your pocket. Successor to the Snapdragon 855 - found in devices like the Pixel 4, Galaxy Note 10, and OnePlus 7 - this new chipset includes 5G as standard along with more performance.
While the Snapdragon 865 may have broken cover today, the new Snapdragon 765 sets out to prove that Qualcomm hasn't forgotten the midrange when it comes to 5G and gaming. Targeting more affordable devices that still don't want to be without next-generation network support and advanced gaming features, the Snapdragon 765 further narrows the gap between the mid-tier and flagships.
The Nokia 9 PureView may have remained a niche phone with its unusual five camera array, but HMD isn't giving up on the concept. Come 2020 the Android phone-maker will be launching a new Nokia PureView phone that uses Qualcomm's freshly-announced Snapdragon 765 chipset, and tapping its power for new camera features.
Qualcomm doesn't just have a new Snapdragon 765 for midrange smartphones in 2020, but a new 5G modem too, the Snapdragon X52. Announced alongside the new Snapdragon 765 and 765G chipsets at Qualcomm's annual Snapdragon Summit, the new modem borrows the key features from the Snapdragon X55 5G modem.