Xiaomi has become famous all over the world as manufacturers who install top-end hardware into their devices. It is due to this, as well as the low price tag, that their smartphones are incredibly popular. Most even inexpensive devices take good photographs and have high-quality displays. But the main thing is that the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon processors are responsible for their operation, providing high performance.
The company plans to release dozens of smartphone models in 2019. Therefore, we have prepared an article about the chipsets that will be used in them. This material will help you avoid falling for the tricks of marketers and accurately choose a powerful device or gaming phone.
The first part of the article will be informative for those who want to understand the topic, and not just get an answer as to which chip works faster. We will analyze the features of new Qualcomm cores and processors. In the second, we will sum up the results and clearly explain what solutions to pay attention to, and we will also display a rating of current processors based on the power of cores and graphics chips.
Smartphone performance reaches new levels
This year we will see a scattering of new Qualcomm chipsets in devices from the Chinese brand. Some of them hardly need any introduction, such as the Snapdragon 855 (SDM8150). Everyone already knows that this is a flagship solution with the highest level of performance. But with mid- and budget-class processors (the most popular from Xiaomi), everything is not so clear.
There are many pitfalls that you can easily stumble over when choosing a powerful device, and it will perform, for example, in games not as well as you expected.
Below we will try to talk as succinctly as possible, but clearly about the features of processors in Xiaomi. After all, the American chipmaker Qualcomm has begun to mass produce inexpensive SoCs based on new, energy-efficient, but productive cores.
By the way, the sameSnapdragon 855 is not a processor, butSoC (system on a chip, single chip). That is, the board on which the processor subsystem is installed (for example,Kryo 360), graphic and many others.
Features of nuclear labeling
Almost any new generation processor is very good. By new generation we mean chips built on the new microarchitecture of ARM cores. Cortex-A55 are small, power-efficient cores, while A75 and A76 are large, high-performance cores. This is a kernel standard released by ARM Corporation. These developments are used by Qualcomm, Samsung, Apple, Huawei and MediaTek when creating their cores and pay a licensing fee to ARM.
In short, thenA55,A75 andA76 is much better than their predecessors in the faceA53,A72 andA73. Especially stands outA76. It is 35% more powerful thanA75.
They are more productive, energy efficient and support new technologies. Without going into numbers, we’ll just say with confidence: if it’s possible to get a phone with a processor with updated cores, it’s better to do so. It will be relevant longer, and you will get more pleasure from using it. The improvements in smooth operation, reduction in heating and battery consumption will be very noticeable.
Custom kernelsQualcomm basedCortex are calledKryo.
They have markings that it is advisable to understand so as not to be fooled by the speculations of marketers trying to confuse us.
The following CPUs are built on A55 (Kryo XXX Silver) + A75 (Kryo XXX Gold) cores:
- Kryo 360 (Snapdragon 670, 710, 712);
- Kryo 385 (Snapdragon 845).
The following CPUs are built on A55 (Kryo XXX Silver) + A76 (Kryo XXX Gold) cores:
- Kryo 460 (Snapdragon 675);
- Kryo 360 (Snapdragon 855).
Now, by looking at the characteristics of several smartphones, you can understand which of them is more powerful in terms of CPU.
Don't forget that the new flagshipSoC fromQualcomm have a 4 + 4 or 4 + 3 + 1 layout, and mid-segment ones have 6 + 2. The first number is the number of small cores, the second - large ones.
Rating of Qualcomm processors specifically based on processor power
CPU performance is important for system performance and less so for gaming. The better the cores, the faster applications open, browser tabs, conversions, etc. If these parameters are important to you, choose a smartphone based on SoC in accordance with the top list below.
#1 - Snapdragon 855
The flagship and most powerful chip, the appearance of which is only expected in Xiaomi gadgets. It is known that this is the ultimate solution with a powerful video accelerator and CPU. Its power is comparable to the latest Apple chips and will last for 3-4 years.
Interestingly, it is built according to the 4 + 3 + 1 scheme. That is, there is an “alpha core” for executing single-threaded processes and achieving high performance in benchmarks.
#2 - Snapdragon 845
Last year's flagship based on A55 and A75 cores. Extremely balanced chip. Energy efficient and still incredibly relevant due to fast graphics and four large cores that provide excellent performance.
#3 - Snapdragon 835
This chipset also turned out to be successful. Although it is based on the cores of the previous generation, they have a high frequency, and the graphic capabilities of this single-chip system are still superior to all younger and even newer models.
#4 - Snapdragon 675
"Golden Boy" episode six hundred. In terms of processor, it is more productive than the SDM670 (Snapdragon 670) and even 710, 712, which are a class higher. All this is thanks to the Cortex-A76 cores. It has the same computing power per thread as the SDM845. There are fewer large cores, so peak performance is lower. But it will still provide excellent smoothness and speed.
For us, as users, the most pleasant thing is that 675 is an affordable chipset, and it will be responsible for the operation of the future “people's” smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro.
#5 - Snapdragon 712
An overclocked version of the 710, which relies on a graphics accelerator. In this parameter, it has “galloped away” far from the 675 and is slightly ahead of its predecessor. But it has a large cluster on the A75, so it will perform single-threaded tasks worse than the chip in fourth place.
#6 - Snapdragon 710
The same 712, as you already understood, but with lower frequencies. It “blew up” the market for mid-budget smartphones, as it delivered speeds in everyday tasks at the level of the Snapdragon 835, the flagship SoC of 2017. At the same time, it had powerful graphics, did not overheat and ran all games at maximum speed.
#7 - Snapdragon 670
It is weaker in CPU, but ahead of the 675 in graphics. A very good chipset. Its lag from fourth and fifth places is insignificant due to weak design differences.
#8 - Snapdragon 660
“Old Man”, which has been on the market for four years now. An extremely high-quality and balanced processor that has not lost its relevance for a long time. Its video accelerator is only slightly weaker than that of the 675, but the A53 and A73 cores do not produce such a smooth picture and performance per thread. There is also strong throttling (frequency drop due to overheating), and energy efficiency leaves much to be desired.
#9 - Snapdragon 636
This is a stripped down 660. It has an acceptable level of performance on the CPU, but the graphics capabilities are almost 30% inferior to its “big brother”. But there is no throttling, and it slowly drains the battery.
Rating of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors by video accelerator power
In the previous paragraph, we indicated the distinctive features of each of the chips, so in this one you will find simply the TOP of the most productive smartphones in games.
| Processor performance comparisonQualcomm in synthetic tests | |||||
| № | Name | Geekbench Single-Core | Geekbench Multi-Core | AnTuTu | AnTuTu (graphics) |
| 1 | SDM8150 | 3400 | 10 500 | 370 000 | 160 000 |
| 2 | SDM845 | 2400 | 9100 | 275 000 | 110 000 |
| 3 | SDM835 | 1900 | 6400 | 215 000 | 85 000 |
| 4 | SDM712 | 1950 | 6100 | — | — |
| 5 | SDM710 | 1850 | 5900 | 170 000 | 48 000 |
| 6 | SDM670 | 1850 | 5900 | 160 000 | 44 000 |
| 7 | SDM675 | 2400 | 6500 | 180 000 | — |
| 8 | SDM660 | 1620 | 5900 | 140 000 | 32 000 |
| 9 | SDM636 | 1350 | 4900 | 115 000 | 22 000 |
As you can see, the 675th “dragon” sank greatly here. As conceived by Qualcomm, it has excellent cores, but is inferior to its peers in terms of graphics. Not the most universal solution. Ideal for those who do not need to play at maximum settings, but just need a very fast device.
Pay attention to how far the flagships have moved away from mid-budget phones in terms of graphics power. That's why we say they'll last four years or more for gaming. After all, stagnation in the development of chips should soon begin, as happened in processors for PCs.
Comparison table of power and characteristics of Qualcomm processors
This is probably the most visual part of the article, since here you will find the test results of each chip and its main specifications.
| Name | CPU | GPU | Technical process | Memory |
| SDM8150 | 1x Kryo 485 × 2.84GHz + 3x Kryo 485 × 2.42GHz + 4x Kryo 485 × 1.80GHz | Adreno 640 | 7nm | Quad channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM845 | 4x Kryo 385 Gold × 2.8 GHz + 4x Kryo 385 Silver × 1.8 GHz | Adreno 630 | 10nm+ | Quad channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM835 | 4x Kryo 280 × 2.45 GHz + 4x Kryo 280 × 1.9 GHz | Adreno 540 | 10nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM675 | 2x Kryo 460 Gold × 2.0 GHz + 6x Kryo 460 Silver × 1.7 GHz | Adreno 612 | 11nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM712 | 2x Kryo 360 Gold × 2.3 GHz + 6x Kryo 360 Silver × 1.8 GHz | Adreno 616 (overclocked) | 10nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM710 | 2x Kryo 360 Gold × 2.2 GHz + 6x Kryo 360 Silver × 1.7 GHz | Adreno 616 | 10nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM670 | 2x Kryo 360 Gold × 2.0 GHz + 6x Kryo 360 Silver × 1.7 GHz | Adreno 615 | 10nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM660 | 4x Kryo 260 Gold × 2.2 GHz + 4x Kryo 260 Silver × 1.8 GHz | Adreno 512 | 14nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
| SDM636 | 4x Kryo 260 Gold × 1.8 GHz + 4x Kryo 260 Silver × 1.6 GHz | Adreno 509 | 14nm | Dual channel LPDDR4X |
Conclusion
This information is enough for you to take a look at several different phones (not just from Xiaomi) and evaluate their potential level of performance. This is especially useful for mobile gaming enthusiasts and users who want the most powerful device possible, but are confused by the variety of modern single-chip systems.
In the future, we will publish articles about the most productive Xiaomi smartphones. In addition, there will be a comparison of the processors used in the devices of this company with the chipsets of competitors.
Qualcomm is a well-known developer of chipsets for mobile devices. Its arsenal includes processors for smartphones of all price categories. In the upper price niche, the company is the leading supplier of SoCs for phones; in the middle, it also has an impressive market share, and only in the budget category are Taiwanese competitors represented by MediaTek.
Qualcomm chipsets are usually equipped with a special Hexagon DSP (digital signal processor). It is responsible for processing voice, sound, and sensor readings in order to reduce the load on the main cores and optimize power consumption.
Our article will tell you what current processors are in the Qualcomm lineup at the beginning of 2017. The material does not consider discontinued and rare products, like the Snapdragon S4, but is dedicated only to those found in smartphones that are being sold or are about to be sold.
Chipsets for very inexpensive smartphones (under $100) are clearly not the company’s strong point. However, Qualcomm has plenty of budget chips in its arsenal. Traditionally, they come out under model numbers 200 and 400 series.
Snapdragon 200
An old budget processor, available in 4 versions. All of them have 4 cores made using the 28 nm process (the earlier ones were made using the 45 nm process), but differ in the type of these cores, as well as graphics. The 2 models with 1.4 GHz have Cortex A5 microarchitecture (32-bit) and Adreno 203 graphics, clocked at 300 MHz and with a performance of 9 GFLOPS (billions of floating point calculations per second). Models with a frequency of 1.2 GHz are equipped with Cortex A7 cores (also 32 bits) and Adreno 302 graphics (400 MHz, 12 GFLOPS).
All chipsets in the series are equipped with a single-channel LPDDR2 controller (300 MHz). Displays with resolutions up to 1280x720 pixels are supported. This chipset does not have an ISP, so the camera resolution depends on what the external image processor supports (Qualcomm usually uses an ISP made by Texas Instruments). The modem works with Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz networks, GSM, CDMA and HSPA operators, depending on the version (no LTE).
The maximum camera resolution that the chipset can support is 8 megapixels.
Snapdragon 210
This is a development of the previous model; the processor is produced according to 28 nm standards. It has 4 Cortex A7 1.1 GHz cores, Adreno 304 graphics. Its frequency is 400 MHz, performance is 21 GFLOPS.
The memory controller supports LPDDR3 and LPDDR2 chips up to 533 MHz. The display controller is designed for resolutions up to 1280x720; there is no image processor in the chip. The modem is designed for Wi-Fi networks 2.4 GHz, GSM, HSPA, CDMA and LTE Cat. 4.
The maximum camera resolution supported by the chipset is 8 megapixels. There is even support for second generation fast charging technology. This is an old technology that, on paper, allows you to charge smartphones in less than three hours, but in practice, the chipset in question is unlikely to be found in a smartphone with second-generation fast charging from Qualcomm.
Snapdragon 410
A processor for smartphones of a higher class than the 200th model. Based on 64-bit architecture, but produced according to the same 28 nm standards. Has 4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1.4 GHz. Graphics processing is handled by the Adreno 306 GPU, with a frequency of 400 MHz and a performance of 21 GFLOPS.
The chipset is equipped with a single-channel LPDDR2/3 (533 MHz) RAM controller. The display resolution can reach FullHD 1920×1080 pixels. There is no built-in ISP; cameras up to 13 MP are usually supported. The radio module supports Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, cellular networks up to LTE Cat. 4.
The maximum supported camera resolution is 13.5 MP. Fast charging technology may be of the second generation.
Snapdragon 425/427
These Qualcomm processors belong to the budget category and are a continuation of the 415 model. They are also manufactured at 28 nm and have 4 Cortex A53 cores. They operate at a frequency of 1.4 GHz, Adreno 308 graphics are installed on board. The GPU frequency is unknown for certain (the only smartphone with this SoC, Xiaomi Redmi 4A, will not be widely sold), the approximate performance is about 30 GFLOPS.
Both processors are designed for LPDDR3 memory (667 GHz). Display resolution – HD 720. The differences between Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 and 427 are in the networks: both support Wi-Fi of two standards and all 2nd and 3rd generation networks. But the 425 has LTE Cat 4, and the 427 has LTE Cat 7.
The 425th model supports its own second-generation fast charging technology, the 427th model supports 3rd generation fast charging. The camera can be a maximum of 16 megapixels for both.
Snapdragon 430/435
These Qualcomm processors are the most advanced in the budget segment. Both are manufactured using a 28 nm process technology and have 8 Cortex A53 1.4 GHz cores. Graphics processing is handled by the latest generation Adreno 505 accelerator. The clock frequency of the video processor is 450 MHz, and the theoretical performance is up to 49 GFLOPS.
The memory controller is designed for LPDDR3 800 chips. The display resolution can be either HD or FullHD. Both chipsets support almost all current networks, but the 430 model has an LTE Cat 4 modem, and the 435 has a Cat 7 modem.
Qualcomm third generation fast charging is supported. The chipsets can process camera images at a resolution of 21 megapixels.
Mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets
Among mid-range chips, Qualcomm has good SoCs for both mid-budget and almost flagship devices. They are usually in the 600 series, but there is one exception.
Snapdragon 615/616/617
Inexpensive mid-level processors aimed at mass-segment smartphones. They are produced according to the 28 nm process technology and have 8 Cortex A53 cores in a 4+4 configuration. They differ in frequencies and modems. In the 615 model, 4 fast cores operate at 1.5, in the 616 - 1.7, in the 617 - 1.5 GHz. Another cluster of 4 cores is overclocked to 1.2 GHz everywhere. Graphics processing is handled by Adreno 405, 550 MHz, with a performance of 60 GFLOPS.
The RAM controller is single-channel LPDDR3, 800 (in models 615 and 616) or 933 MHz (617). The chips can display images on displays up to QHD 2560x1600 (the 617th is only Full HD 1920x1080). Cellular modules of models 615 and 616 support networks up to LTE Cat 4, in 617 – LTE Cat 7. All processors for smartphones in this series work with Wi-Fi of both bands. The first two models support Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging technology, and 617 already supports Quick Charge 3.0. Photos on the camera can be processed at a maximum resolution of 21 megapixels.
Snapdragon 415
Cheaper version of the 615 model. The first eight-core Qualcomm processor for smartphones, designed to interest the Chinese in multi-core technology and give an answer to MediaTek chips (Qualcomm representatives themselves once mentioned this). Despite belonging to the 400 series, it is a representative of the middle level. Produced using a 28 nm process technology, it has 8 Cortex A53 1.4 GHz cores. Graphics coprocessor – Qualcomm Adreno 405, 465 MHz, 50 GFLOPS.
The RAM controller can work with LPDDR3 667 chips. The chipset supports screens with a resolution of up to 1920x1080 pixels. The Wi-Fi module operates with frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz, and there is also support for all networks, up to LTE Cat 4.
Fast charging technology version 2 is supported. Camera images can be processed at 13 megapixel resolution.
Snapdragon 650 (originally introduced as 618)
A powerful mid-range Qualcomm processor, originally numbered 618. It was introduced in 2015. Then its production was suspended due to problems with overheating and it was re-launched in 2016 under number 650. It is produced using the 28 nm process technology. It has 6 cores, of which 2 are powerful Cortex A72 with a frequency of 1.8, another 4 are economical Cortex A53 1.4 GHz. Graphics subsystem – Adreno 510, 600 MHz, speed of about 180 GFLOPS.
The chipset is equipped with a dual-channel LPDDR3 memory controller with a frequency of up to 933 MHz. Screen resolution - up to QHD 2560×1600 pixels. It is equipped with a modem that supports all networks up to LTE Cat 7, and Wi-Fi can work in 2.4 and 5 GHz networks.
The chipset supports Quick Charge™ 3.0 fast charging technology. The camera module can be a maximum of 21 megapixels.
Snapdragon 652/653
Powerful eight-core processors manufactured using the 28 nm process technology. In fact, these are more advanced versions of the 650 model. 4 Cortex A72 cores have frequencies of 1.8 (652) or 1.95 GHz (653), 4 Cortex A53 – 1.4 (652) or 1.44 (653) GHz. Graphics processing is handled by Adreno 510, 600 MHz, 180 GFLOPS.
Both chips are equipped with a memory controller that works with two LPDDR3 933 channels. Screens up to 2560x1600 pixels are supported. Both models are equipped with Wi-Fi ac (5 GHz) and LTE Cat 7, but the 653 model has upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps, and the 652 – 100 Mbps. The interface connector of smartphones with these chips must only support USN 2.0.
Both models support third-generation fast charging, 21-megapixel camera shots, and 4K video recording at 30 frames per second.
Snapdragon 625/626
Qualcomm smartphone processors that were widely used in 2016. The chipsets have proven themselves well. They are produced using a relatively thin 14 nm process technology, which results in economical power consumption and no heating. Equipped with 8 Cortex A53 cores. The clock frequency in the model 625 is 2, 626 is 2.2 GHz. 3D processing is handled by the Adreno 506, 650 MHz graphics accelerator, with a performance of about 130 GFLOPS.
A single-channel LPDDR3 933 controller is responsible for communication with the RAM. The maximum screen resolution is 1920x1080 pixels. The radio module is designed for networks up to LTE up to Cat 7, as well as Wi-Fi in two bands. A feature of Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 is also support for USB 3.0.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology is supported. The video can be captured in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. Image resolution is 24 megapixels.
Snapdragon 660
An upcoming processor, based on which no smartphone has yet been announced. It is built on a thinner 14 nm process technology and is equipped with 8 cores of its own Kryo microarchitecture (an ARM-based development by Qualcomm). 4 powerful cores have a frequency of 2.2, 4 economical ones - 1.9 GHz. Adreno 512 is provided for graphics (according to preliminary data - about 200 GFLOPS).
The chipset provides for the installation of LPDDR4 1866 memory in smartphones, in 2 channels. According to available information, support for LTE Cat 9 is provided. The resolution of the displays is unknown, since the first smartphones on the chip will appear no earlier than spring 2017.
Flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon processors
Qualcomm produces SoCs for top smartphones under model numbers of the 800 series. In them, developers introduce all the advanced achievements in the field of SoCs.
Snapdragon 820
The flagship chipset of 2016 is one of the best solutions on the market so far. Manufactured using a 14 nm process technology and equipped with 4 Kryo cores. 2 of them operate at a frequency of 2.15, another 2 – 1.6 GHz. There is a version with 1.8 and 1.36 GHz, characterized by reduced power consumption. Graphics accelerator – Adreno 530, 625 MHz, 499 GFLOPS.
The memory controller is four-channel LPDDR4 1866. The maximum screen resolution is 4K 3840x2160. Cellular networks – up to LTE Cat 12 (which is just emerging in the world) and Wi-Fi ac and ad (WiGig).
Supports Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology and WiPower wireless charging technology. Cameras are supported in 28 megapixel resolution.
Snapdragon 821
An optimized and slightly overclocked version of the previous smartphone processor. Frequencies remained the same or increased to 2.35/1.6 GHz. The graphics accelerator is overclocked to 650 MHz (519 GFLOPS).
Snapdragon 835
The processor was introduced in January 2016 at CES 2017. The first smartphones based on the 835 should appear around MWC 2017 (late February). Manufacturing process – 10 nm. Powered by eight Kryo 280 cores. Adreno 540 video chip. The maximum frequency of the powerful 4 cores is 2.45 GHz. Another 4 cores for less demanding tasks operate at a frequency of 1.9 GHz.
Memory controller – four-channel LPDDR4. Supports QHD and 4K displays. The wireless module is designed for Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ad networks, and supports LTE up to Cat 16 (up to 980 Mbit/s, not yet implemented on a mass basis by any global operator). The Snapdragon 835 chipset gets an LTE X16 modem, 4x4 MIMO, three layers of security, and machine learning.
The 4th generation Quick Charge fast charging technology will be supported, which is 20% faster than the third generation.
The 835 chipset will have the ability to electronically stabilize video in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Supports a 32 MP camera or two 16 MP cameras. .
These two models should be the most powerful from Qualcomm for a long time. The press release describes them as the most powerful and energy-efficient mobile chipsets in history.
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Qualcomm are quality solutions in the smartphone market. The company offers various options for both budget devices and more expensive models. Currently, the company's best processor is the Snapdragon 850, but it is only available in laptops. For mobile devices, the best option is the Snapdragon 845. At the beginning of next year, sales of smartphones based on the Snapdragon 855 processor will start, which should become a competitor to the Apple A12 Bionic and Kirin 980.
Qualcomm's flagship processor lineup consists of the Snapdragon 845, Snapdragon 835, and Snapdragon 821. Almost no one uses the latter two processors anymore, but they are still good options. For example, Snapdragon 835 will handle any PUBG game perfectly. You can buy smartphones with a Snapdragon 845 processor with a reserve for the future.
For mid-budget devices, Qualcomm offers Snapdragon 710, Snapdragon 670 and Snapdragon 660 processors. The latter processor is only a slightly cut-down version of the Snapdragon 835, so, for example, the Mi A2 will not be much weaker in performance than last year’s flagships. The Snapdragon 710 is perfect for both those who like to play games and those who like good battery life due to its 6 energy-efficient cores.
Among Qualcomm's budget processors, the best option at the moment is the Snapdragon 636, which is a stripped-down version of the Snapdragon 660. The Snapdragon 636 can be compared in terms of performance to the Snapdragon 820, but unlike older processors, the 636 supports QC 4.0, LPDDR4X, DSP Hexagon 680 and X12 LTE.
Which Snapdragon processor is better? To answer the question, we will compare current models of Qualcomm chipsets, which can be found not only in old smartphones, but also in phones produced in 2017. First, we will compare the characteristics of Snapdragon processors and talk about the key features of each model, after which we will confirm our predictions regarding operating speed with the results of testing smartphones in popular benchmarks.
Characteristics of Snapdragon processors
The key characteristics of any processor are the manufacturing process, the architecture of the central processor cores, the number of cores and their clock speed, as well as the graphics accelerator of the chipset. These specifications should be given the closest attention.
The heating of the smartphone, the degree of its susceptibility to throttling (a drop in clock frequency under load) and the operating time of the smartphone on a single charge depend on the technical process. The “smaller” the technological process, the more economically the chipset uses the battery.
The architecture of the cores, their number and clock frequency affect the speed of operation. Powerful cores, particularly Cortex A72 or Kryo, consume more power but perform many more operations per clock. Simply put, they are faster. Economical cores, which include cores based on the Cortex A53 architecture, are designed to solve simple tasks. They do not consume the battery as aggressively, but they also work slower with processes.
| 430 | 625 | 650 | 820 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technical process | 28 nm | 14 nm | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Number of Cores | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Processor architecture | 8x ARM Cortex A53 | 8x ARM Cortex A53 | 2x ARM Cortex A72+ 4x ARM Cortex A53 | 4x Kryo CPU |
| Clock frequency | up to 1.4 GHz | up to 2.0 GHz | up to 1.8 GHz | up to 2.15 GHz |
| Graphics accelerator | Adreno 505 GPU | Adreno 506 GPU | Adreno 510 GPU | Adreno 530 GPU |
| LTE modem | LTE Cat.4 download 150 Mbps transmission up to 50 Mbit/s | LTE Cat.13/7 download 300 Mbps transmission up to 150 Mbit/s | LTE Cat.7 download 300 Mbps transmission up to 100 Mbit/s | LTE Cat.13/12 download 600 Mbps transmission up to 150 Mbit/s |
The number of processor cores affects the speed of the phone in multitasking mode. If the cores are built on the same architecture, then the more there are, the better. But when switching to a new architecture, the rule no longer works.
Smartphones with a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor are faster than 8-core phones built on previous generations of chipsets. The difference in speed is explained by the fact that the improved cores perform more operations per unit of time, due to which they confidently outperform their “slow” predecessors.
The graphics adapter determines the speed of the smartphone in games and when working with 3D graphics. Qualcomm Snapdragon processors use different generations of Adreno graphics, which are a priori characterized by high performance. Updated versions of the adapter with a larger index are faster than their predecessors, which affects the framerate. This will be clearly visible from the benchmark results.
Key features of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors
In this part of the article we talk about the key features of various models of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses in terms of efficiency, operating speed and degree of heating when solving complex (and not so complex) problems.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 is the weakest chipset on our list. Its only advantage is its low cost. Manufacturers who want to offer the buyer an inexpensive smartphone choose this chipset as a compromise solution.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor is built on 8 reference Cortex A53 cores, which operate at a very low frequency by modern standards 1.4 GHz. Accordingly, you can forget about the high speed of the smartphone even before purchasing it. Graphics accelerator Adreno 505 also grazes the rear ones. It will still allow you to play at minimum settings, but the framerate will be low.
Since the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 is manufactured using a 28 nm process, it drains the battery relatively quickly for such a slow processor. Compare battery life ratings and . Due to the same technical process, heating in games and when working with heavy applications will be noticeable.
Snapdragon 625 processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 is a very interesting chipset, in a sense, even cool. Of course, we are not talking about cosmic speeds here; the main advantage of the model is extremely low energy consumption with an almost complete absence of heating and throttling.
Excellent energy efficiency is explained by the fact that the Snapdragon 625 processor is manufactured using a modern 14 nm process technology. For the same reason, he always remains cold, even in games. Graphics accelerator power Adreno 506 Enough for playing at minimum and medium settings.
The speed of the central processor is not prohibitive, but higher than that of the S430. The performance of the smartphone is also higher - Android will run smoothly, and there should be no problems with applications, at least if the Snapdragon 625 is paired with at least 3 GB of RAM. ( .)
Snapdragon 650 processor
Compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon processors that we reviewed earlier, the 650 Dragon is almost a champion in terms of speed. This is explained by the fact that the processor architecture uses improved Cortex A72 cores. Yes, the total number of cores is smaller, but by performing more operations per clock cycle, the processor runs much faster, as do the phones built on it.
A graphics accelerator gives a performance boost in games Adreno 510. When compared to the Snapdragon 625 and 430 processors, the difference is obvious. You will find the comparison results at the end of the publication in GFX benchmarks. The frame rate in games will be higher, and you can play not only at medium, but also at maximum settings.
The disadvantage of the Snapdragon 650 processor is that it is produced according to the 28 nm process technology. Because of this, the chipset gets very hot and drops frequencies under heavy load, including in 3D toys. This feature should be taken into account by those who like to play for a long time and do not want to experience a drop in fps. Battery consumption is also higher, and the battery life of the smartphone is shorter.
A few words about Snapdragon 652. It differs from the 650 model in the increased number of cores to eight, with additional cores built on the Cortex A72 architecture (powerful). Thanks to this, it is even faster, although it does not reach the S820. The disadvantages due to the 28 nm process technology are the same - throttling and high battery consumption.
Snapdragon 820/821 processors
Qualcomm Snapdragon 820/821 - top chipsets of 2016. Their strengths are high operating speed and relatively low battery consumption, as for fast processors. The chipsets are equipped with the Adreno 530 graphics accelerator, which last year broke records and outperformed almost all competitors.
If you need a very fast smartphone, or if you want to play heavy games at maximum framerates, smartphones with a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor are an excellent choice. Excellent, but not without its shortcomings. The problem is that smartphones based on the Snapdragon 820, despite the 14 nm manufacturing process, are susceptible to overheating, and they sometimes heat up to uncomfortable temperatures.
Qualcomm engineers tried to solve the problem in one of the versions of the Snapdragon 821. The “cold” version of the S821 received the AB index, and it operates at the same reference frequencies as the S820. Smartphones with a quad-core Snapdragon 821 processor are not always faster than 820 Dragon phones, but they can be cooler. In a sense, this is even better, because the 820 is already fast enough.
The Snapdragon 821 version with the non-AB index is a processor overclocked to 2.3 GHz on the same architecture and with the same number of cores (4 Kryo CPU cores). An example of a smartphone with a 4-core Snapdragon 821 non-AB processor. For comparison, or are built on the Snapdragon 821, which operates at reference frequencies without increasing processing power.
Snapdragon 835 processors
The latest Snapdragon 835 chipset is a blast in terms of performance. In this publication we will not talk about it in detail, because a special material is devoted to comparing the S835 and S821 processors.
Snapdragon processors: comparison in benchmarks
Let's move on to comparing Snapdragon processors in popular benchmarks. There will be a lot of charts below that may not display correctly in older browsers and some built-in browsers on mobile platforms. If you encounter this problem, open the publication in the current build of Mozilla, Opera or Chrome.
A few explanations about the benchmarks. GeekBench evaluates the power of the central processor, which affects the smooth operation of the operating system.
Snapdragon processors in GeekBench 4 (multi-core)
Snapdragon processors in GeekBench 4 (single-core)
In Antutu and BaseMark OS 2.0 we compare the overall speed of the smartphone.
Snapdragon processors in AnTuTu 6
Snapdragon processors in BaseMark OS 2.0
GFX tests evaluate the power of the graphics accelerator, which correlates with the speed of working with 3D graphics and frame rates in games.
GFX 3.1 Manhattan
GFX 3.1 Car Scene
Snapdragon processor comparison: summary
Any conclusions or comments on the test results are unnecessary; all that remains is to summarize the above and highlight the key features of Snapdragon processors:
- Snapdragon 430: a budget option, a compromise between the comfort of using the phone and its cost.
- S625: the best choice for those who need a cool smartphone with high battery life.
- S650/652: a good option for gamers and those looking for a fast and inexpensive smartphone.
- S820: a very fast chipset that will last for a couple of years. Smartphones with a quad-core S820/S821 processor are not cheap, although there are affordable options.
- S835: the best processor at the time of publication.
New publications
The processor is the main component of a smartphone. Not only the performance in games depends on its power, but also the speed with which it will download data from the Internet, as well as the maximum allowable resolution of the camera sensor and much more. We would like to talk about which market representatives are considered the most successful in a special article. It represents a rating of mobile processors in 2019.
#10 – Snapdragon 665
Snapdragon 665 is a representative of the mid-segment, which appeared on the market quietly and without any announcements. The chipset debuted in the Xiaomi Mi CC9e and Mi A3 smartphones and became the ideological successor to the Snapdragon 660, the same processor installed in the popular Redmi Note 7. There were no fundamental changes in it, just the main parts were improved. So, for example, now each of the 8 cores in the chipset is able to overcome the frequency limit of 2 GHz, which determines the speed of the mobile processor.
The type of technological process has also changed - from 14 to 11 nanometers. According to experts, the value greatly affects the energy efficiency and heating of the chipset. In practice this has been confirmed. In addition, the chipset received an improved Adreno 640 graphics unit, a new DSP signal processor and Spectra 165, which is responsible for image processing. Among the shortcomings of the Snapdragon 665, we can only highlight the downgrade of fast charging from Quick Charge 4 to Quick Charge 3.
No. 9 – Kirin 810
Huawei's proprietary creation, the Kirin 810, took ninth place in the ranking of smartphone processors. It appeared on the market in the summer of 2019. The chipset is manufactured using a 7-nanometer process technology with two Cortex-A76 cores capable of accelerating to 2.27 GHz, which are responsible for resource-intensive tasks. They are complemented by six Cortex-A55 with a clock frequency of up to 1.88 GHz. They come into play when solving day-to-day processes.
The chipset was used in the Huawei Nova 5 and Huawei 9X Pro smartphones, showing excellent energy efficiency and performance coupled with low heating. Interestingly, the processor supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, NFS and LTE-modem with download speeds of up to 1.4 GB/second. The downside is that there is no shooting in 4K resolution.
No. 8 – Kirin 970
Kirin 970 is another Huawei processor. It consists of 4 Cortex-A73 cores with a frequency of 2.36 GHz and the same number of Cortex-A53 with a frequency of 1.84 GHz. A similar set was used in the Kirin 960. The key improvement over the latter is the improved LTE module, which now allows for a maximum download speed of 1200 Mbit/s.
There have also been changes in the graphics department. The ARM Mali-G72MP12 is now in charge, with architectural improvements resulting in improved gaming performance. The chipset was also one of the first to feature the NSU neuromorphic processor. With its help, machine learning of the smartphone is implemented.
#7 – Snapdragon 710
The Snapdragon 710 is a processor for Android smartphones that was controversial at launch. On the one hand, it is too good for middle-class devices, while it does not reach flagships in a number of parameters. He debuted in Xiaomi Mi 8 SE. The chipset became the first in the 700 line of the manufacturer Qualcomm.
In terms of cores, it looks even worse than the Snapdragon 660 - ARM Cortex A75 with a frequency of 2.2 GHz and six energy-efficient ARM Cortex A55 1.7 GHz. However, the whole point lies in the use of Kryo 360 - an improved architecture and 10-nanometer process technology. Due to these points, it was possible to reduce heat generation, increase productivity and energy efficiency.
The Snapdragon 710 includes a second-generation Spectra 250 image processor. It provides hardware noise reduction, image processing from two cameras up to 16 MP, 4K video shooting, HDR image output, and unlocking the smartphone using face identification.
#6 – Snapdragon 712
At the equator of our top mobile processors for smartphones is the Snapdragon 712. This is an improved version of the previous representative of the selection. The key change compared to it was the Adreno 616 graphics core with a 10% performance increase. It is worth noting the appearance of the Snapdragon X15 LTE Cat LTE modem, which guarantees download speeds of up to 800 Mbit/s and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s.
Interestingly, devices with Snapdragon 712 also charge faster. It's all about its support for Quick Charge 4+ technology. So such smartphones are able to replenish half of all their resources in 20 minutes. There is also support for one camera up to 32 MP, or two cameras up to 20 MP and sound-enhancing technologies such as TrueWireless Stereo Plus and Broadcast Audio.
#5 – Snapdragon 730G
The Snapdragon 730G is content with fifth place in our mobile processor performance rankings. The emphasis in its development was on improving work with AI and higher performance in solving resource-intensive tasks compared to its predecessors. The chip is designed for gaming smartphones, which is reflected by the G prefix in the name. In practice and in tests, this is confirmed - the Adreno 618 graphics core shows an 18% increase in efficiency compared to the regular 730 model.
The processor uses special technology aimed at reducing frame rate drops and improving the gaming processor. Another innovation of the processor is the ability to control the priority of Wi-Fi connections to improve the quality of Internet connections in games.
No. 4 – Exynos 9820
Exynos 9820 is Samsung's flagship processor released at the end of 2018. This is what the Samsung Galaxy S10 is equipped with. The performance of the chipset is at the top level. For at least the next few years, he will be able to avoid experiencing difficulties in modern games. The main culprit of success is the graphics unit - Mali-G76 with 12 cores. It is 40% more powerful than the Mali-G72 used in the Exynos 9810 and has a 35% increase in energy efficiency.
For machine learning, an NPU neuroblock is provided, which is 7 times faster than its predecessor. The list of strengths of the processor also includes the ability to process signals from 5 cameras simultaneously, including an IR sensor for face recognition. You can record video in 8K resolution at 30 frames per second or 4K at 60 frames per second.
No. 3 – Kirin 980
“Kirin 980” is a premium processor from the Chinese developer Huawei, which has received many positive reviews. Its characteristics correspond to premium status. The chipset was the first on the market to use Cortex-A76 cores capable of overclocking to 2.6 GHz. Subsystem designs are specifically optimized to achieve a balance between energy efficiency and performance.
In the list of advantages of the Kirin 980 we will also add its support for the fastest RAM in the world at the time of the processor’s release - LPDDR4X, operating at frequencies up to 2133 MHz and equipped with a dual neuromodule. The processor is doing quite well in terms of data transfer - the LTE Cat.21 communication standard guarantees download speeds of up to 1.4 Gbit/s.
No. 2 – Apple A13
Apple A13 is the company's latest chipset used in the new generation iPhone 11. Compared to its predecessor, it has become 30% more productive and 40% more economical. True, it is difficult to evaluate the first - even for the Apple 12 it was not easy to find a task that would load it to its fullest.
Another important advantage of the model is improvements in the artificial intelligence unit, thanks to which it is now capable of processing up to 1 trillion operations every second. Therefore, if you are asked which processor is better for a smartphone in terms of machine learning, feel free to say Apple A13.
#1 – Snapdragon 855
The first place in the selection is occupied by the Snapdragon 855 from Qualcomm, which immediately became the hero of many reviews after its release. This is a top solution for Android devices. Therefore, if you don’t know which processor is better for an Android smartphone, here’s your answer. The eight cores of the chipset are divided into three clusters - high-performance, mid-performance and energy-efficient. For those who don’t know what they affect, thanks to this distribution, processor performance has increased by 45% compared to the 845th “dragon”. This is confirmed by the fact that smartphones based on the flagship chipset are located at the top of the AnTuTu table.
Snapdragon 855 supports photosensors with a resolution of up to 48 MP. In addition, it is capable of functioning with dual modules of 22 MP each. It is noteworthy that thanks to the processor, the owner can edit the video directly during creation - for example, use the bokeh effect or replace the background. The voice assistant also excelled. When recording video, it can cut out extraneous noise and echoes, distinguishing and highlighting the owner’s voice even on a busy street.
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