Qualcomm is a well-known developer of chipsets for mobile devices. In its arsenal there are 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 in the face of MediaTek reigning.
Qualcomm chipsets are usually equipped with a dedicated Hexagon DSP (Digital Signal Processor). It is responsible for processing voice, sound, 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 as of the beginning of 2017. The material does not consider discontinued and rare products, like the Snapdragon S4, but is devoted only to those that are found in smartphones on sale or upcoming.
Chipsets for very inexpensive smartphones (up to $ 100) are clearly not the strong point of the company. However, Qualcomm has enough 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 according to the 28 nm process (the earlier ones are made according to the 45 nm process), but differ in the type of these cores, as well as graphics. 2 models with 1.4 GHz have Cortex A5 micro-architecture (32-bit) and Adreno 203 graphics, frequency of 300 MHz and 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 of the series are equipped with a single-channel LPDDR2 controller (300 MHz). Displays with a resolution of 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 (usually Qualcomm uses an ISP from 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 handle is 8 megapixels.
Snapdragon 210
This is a development of the previous model, the processor is manufactured at 28 nm. Has 4 cores Cortex A7 1.1 GHz, graphics Adreno 304. Its frequency - 400 MHz, performance - 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 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 meet in a smartphone with Qualcomm's second-generation fast charging implementation.
Snapdragon 410
A higher-end smartphone processor than the 200th model. Based on 64-bit architecture, but manufactured according to the same 28 nm standards. Has 4 Cortex A53 cores up to 1.4 GHz. Graphics processing is handled by GPU Adreno 306, 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, usually cameras up to 13 MP are 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 megapixels. Fast charging technology may be 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 1.4 GHz, the Adreno 308 graphics are installed on board. The GPU frequency is not known for certain (the only smartphone with this SoC, Xiaomi Redmi 4A, will never get into the mass market), 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 networks of the 2nd and 3rd generation. 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 the 3rd generation fast charging technology. 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 the 28 nm process technology and have 8 Cortex A53 1.4 GHz cores. Graphics processing in them is handled by the latest generation accelerator Adreno 505. 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 has an LTE Cat 4 modem, and the 435 has a Cat 7 modem.
Qualcomm's third generation fast charging is supported. The chipsets can process a snapshot of the camera at a resolution of 21 megapixels.
Qualcomm mid-range Snapdragon chipsets
Among mid-range chips, Qualcomm has good SoCs for both mid-budget and near-flagship devices. They are usually 600 series, but there is one exception.
Snapdragon 615/616/617
Inexpensive mid-range processors targeted at mainstream smartphones. Manufactured according to the 28 nm process technology, they have 8 Cortex A53 cores in a 4 + 4 configuration. Differ in frequencies and modems. In the 615 model, 4 fast cores work 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.
RAM controller single-channel LPDDR3, 800 (in models 615 and 616) or 933 MHz (617). The chips can display images up to QHD 2560 × 1600 (617th only Full HD 1920 × 1080). 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 the 617 already has Quick Charge 3.0. Pictures on the camera can be processed at a maximum resolution of 21 megapixels.
Snapdragon 415
A cheaper version of the 615th model. The first eight-core Qualcomm smartphone processor designed to interest the Chinese in multi-core and provide an answer to MediaTek chips (this was once mentioned by Qualcomm representatives themselves). Despite belonging to the 400 series, it is a representative of the middle level. It is manufactured using the 28 nm process technology, 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 1920 x 1080 pixels. The Wi-Fi module works with 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies, and there is also support for all networks, up to LTE Cat 4.
Supports fast charging technology of the second version. Camera images can be processed in 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 re-launched into production in 2016 under the number 650. It is produced according to the 28 nm process technology. It has 6 cores, of which 2 are powerful Cortex A72 with a frequency of 1.8, and 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. Equipped with a modem supporting 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 up to 21 megapixels.
Snapdragon 652/653
Powerful eight-core processors manufactured using the 28 nm process technology. In fact - 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 busy with Adreno 510, 600 MHz, 180 GFLOPS.
Both chips are equipped with a memory controller working 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 a upload speed of up to 150 Mbps, and the 652 - 100 Mbps. The interface connector of smartphones with these chips should only support USN 2.0.
Both models support third-generation fast charging, 21MP camera shots, 4K video recording at 30fps.
Snapdragon 625/626
Qualcomm smartphone processors that were widely used in 2016. The chipsets have worked well. They are manufactured using a relatively thin 14 nm process technology, which provides economical energy consumption and no heating. Equipped with 8 Cortex A53 cores. The clock frequency in the model 625 is 2, 626 - 2.2 GHz. 3D processing is handled by the graphics accelerator Adreno 506, 650 MHz, 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 1920 x 1080 pixels. The radio is designed for networks up to LTE up to Cat 7, as well as Wi-Fi in two bands. Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 also features USB 3.0 support.
Supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology. Filmed video is possible in 4K resolution at 30 frames per second. The resolution of the pictures is 24 megapixels.
Snapdragon 660
An upcoming processor, on the basis of which no smartphone has yet been announced. It is built on a finer 14 nm process technology, equipped with 8 cores of its own Kryo microarchitecture (Qualcomm's development based on ARM). 4 powerful cores have a frequency of 2.2, 4 economical ones - 1.9 GHz. Adreno 512 is provided as a 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 display resolution is unknown, since the first smartphones on the chip will appear no earlier than spring 2017.
Qualcomm Snapdragon Flagship Processors
Qualcomm releases SoCs for top-end smartphones under model numbers of the 800 series. In them, the developers implement all the advanced achievements in the SoC field.
Snapdragon 820
The flagship chipset of 2016 is one of the best solutions on the market to date. Manufactured on a 14 nm process technology, equipped with 4 Kryo cores. 2 of them operate at 2.15 GHz, another 2 - 1.6 GHz. There is a version with 1.8 and 1.36 GHz, which features reduced power consumption. Graphics accelerator - Adreno 530, 625 MHz, 499 GFLOPS.
Memory controller - four-channel LPDDR4 1866. Maximum screen resolution - 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 28MP resolution.
Snapdragon 821
Optimized and slightly overclocked version of the previous processor for smartphones. The 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 presented in January 2016 at CES 2017. The first smartphones based on the 835 should appear around MWC 2017 (at the end of February). The manufacturing process is 10 nm. Powered by eight Kryo 280 cores. Adreno 540 video chip. The maximum frequency of powerful 4 cores is 2.45 GHz. Another 4 cores for less demanding tasks run at 1.9 GHz.
The memory controller is a 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, support for LTE up to Cat 16 (up to 980 Mbps, has not yet been introduced 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 3rd generation.
The 835 chipset will have the ability to electronically stabilize videos in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. Supports 32MP camera or dual 16MP cameras. ...
These two models should be the most powerful from Qualcomm for a long time. In a press release, they are described as the most powerful and energy efficient mobile chipsets in history.
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Alcatel smartphones have never been ultra-fast - even the flagship models received mid-range processors, and the budget sector did not stand out in performance. It was not allocated that no model is stored in memory, with the exception of the flagship Idol.
Pop 4S was also not created as an extremely powerful mobile phone. On the contrary, it was a solid option for those who did not like "Chinese" and could not save up for Korean middle-class smartphones. It is now that the dam has burst and all sorts of Xiaomi Redmi and Honor / Huawei with the suffix "lite" poured into cellular salons at a reasonable price, and at the beginning of 2016 the choice was much more modest. This is probably why Alcatel asked for a smartphone as much as 19 thousand rubles.
Fans of Chinese phones did not appreciate such an initiative and went to buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, and lovers of beautiful nameplates on the case sighed and got a loan for Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016), with a protective film and an extended warranty, but of course!
As a result, the popularity of Pop 4S did not work out, and it began to fall in price sharply. So much so that last year's middle-class smartphone in some salons is now sold for 6500 rubles! For this money, even from China, you can order only the cheap Xiaomi Redmi 4A, which will not have eight cores, no Full HD display, no NFC (Android Pay), or a fingerprint scanner. And the Pop 4S even has a discrete DAC (AK4375). It's cheap and well-tuned, but even in this condition, it produces better sound in headphones than almost all quad-core budget smartphones for the same money.
There are also plenty of shortcomings in cheap Alcatel - a consumer display, which is automatically adjusted to a good level of contrast, cameras are exactly at the level of smartphones for 8 thousand rubles, stuffed with all sorts of garbage and a little "buggy" firmware (without the prospect of updating Android, as is customary for Alcatel ), and autonomy, which, with grief, is enough for a day. The question of reliability remains open, which at Alcatel dances widely from model to model, and yet in the new Pop 4S for 6.5-8 thousand rubles, the pros outweigh the minuses.
| What is the price | 6.5 - 10 thousand rubles (official retail) |
| What is known about the filling | MediaTek Helio P10M (MT6755M)- this is when the eight cores of a standard processor were "strangled" a little in order to push it into budget mobile phones at a more interesting price. Quite gluttonous under load, otherwise it does not cause problems. In applications, the difference with “just Helio P10” is hardly noticeable, but in games the deformed Mali-T860 “blown away” to the level of Adreno 505 (Xiaomi Redmi 4X, Nokia 6), and with a screen in Full HD resolution it pulls games either on medium or on minimum detail. |
| As a model for a couple of years ahead - so-so, but nothing as powerful and sophisticated for 6-8 thousand rubles in cellular stores can not be found. If Xiaomi / Meizu / LeEco are not on the horizon for the same money, the Pop 4S will do. For all its shortcomings, it is much better than the "buggy calculators", for which they ask for 10 thousand rubles in chain stores. |
Moto G5 - fast processor and nothing extra in the system
Smartphones with good modern processors today start from 10-12 thousand rubles - for this money you can count on a Chinese mobile phone that will be much faster than the flagships of previous years (Sony Xperia Z3 / Samsung Galaxy S5) or new Samsung / Sony / LG cost 20-25 thousand.
You can even buy a smartphone with a rare processor and 4 GB of "RAM" - some ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML with Intel Atom and powerful graphics on board. But only if monsieur knows a lot about perversions, because in Android everything that is rare or outdated in modern conditions does not work optimally through jo. That is, it almost always turns out that the new simple "state employee" without heating and stumbling performs the same tasks as the fire-breathing flagship of 2015 "I can't jump over."
Although the "warriors of Aliexpress" and for 7-8 thousand can not deny themselves anything - there is enough money for both a cheap reliable Redmi 4X, and fast, like the flagships of 2016, LeEco Cool1. And the trendy, stylish, though not so fast Meizu. But those who do not want / cannot buy smartphones in Chinese stores, whatever one may say, are the majority, so today we will dance from the official retail.
And in this very retail, your Xiaomi does not look so sexy anymore - the Redmi 4X "in the minimum" (2/16 GB) for 12 thousand rubles is in close competition with the faster Wileyfox Swift 2 and the more sensible Honor 6C in taking photos. Therefore, I will prefer the Moto G5, and I have five reasons for this:
The first reason is the software, it is very old and fat in Xiaomi. The second is, after all, the price, in Xiaomi it is very impudent. And, let's be frank, a truly powerful budget Redmi is definitely not a 4X that works just "within the bounds of decency", you can't count on more under the yoke of MIUI on 2 gigabytes of RAM. The Moto G5, on the other hand, is one of the lightest Android of its kind, and this is very helpful. And in Motorola, a phenomenally bright and clear display (by the standards of state employees) - comparable in price Xiaomi and ASUS were not close!
Everything else in the G5 is made "for four" - an average quality camera (by default it shoots better than in Redmi 4X, but does not "drag" beyond that either in HDR or in manual mode), average autonomy for a day, typical for Snapdragon 430 sound in headphones. Of the lovely old believers, you should lick your lips on the separate SIM (two) and microSD slots. No more surprises, and that's good, because you can't imagine how many "jokes" (most often in a bad sense of the word) are hidden in smartphones worth 10 thousand rubles.
| What is the price | 10 thousand rubles (official retail) |
| What is known about the filling | Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937)- twice Red Banner Orders of the Californian capitalists and budgetary Chinese phones eight-core. In 2014 he was ranked as a "mid-range processor" under the index Snapdragon 615 (Samsung Galaxy A7, Lenovo Vibe Shot, ASUS ZenFone Selfie). In 2016, he received a new name and was exiled to smartphones of the "budget, but no longer scrap" level. "Spins" games at low / medium (depending on the game) detail in smartphones with HD-display, and only at low, with occasional slowdowns, in Full HD. There is no power reserve for years to come in this model, but the speed of work on a non-dirty Android is already enough for everyone except the maximalists “I want this to turn on instantly!”. At least with the Snapdragon 430, there is no feeling that "damn scrap metal will now freeze while uploading a photo to VKontakte." |
| Is the smartphone good minus the processor? | To run faster, you don't need to build muscle, but lose weight - that's the whole Moto G5. "Flutters" on a budget processor with the speed of more expensive models. Honestly, apart from the quality of the display, it does not surprise with anything, but a smart-designed smartphone at a reasonable price is already a blessing. |
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime is the most "evil" budget employee in a 5-inch case
Almost any Xiaomi smartphone can be called the fastest for your money, without even looking at the rating plate - Chinese "discounters" knock out super-discounts on cool chips from processor manufacturers. But Redmi 4 Prime is an outstanding mobile phone even by such standards. Because among the clumsy powerful "shovels" this is the fastest compact smartphone - it combines exactly 5 inches of Full HD-display and the processor, which is now equipped with twice as expensive models.
Nobody talks about this, but the performance of budget smartphones is growing by a teaspoon, if at all, in recent years. While for flagships, hardware manufacturers are trying to "shoe a flea" and release an even faster, even more economical processor, with new cores and "full minced meat", then in state employees, manufacturers often play the fool, sticking new names on old processors or symbolic overclocking (" "hot" smartphone becomes a little faster, but heats up more and eats more energy).
Especially MediaTek has succeeded in this, which ... degrades cheaper processors every year instead of introducing faster options for the same money. MediaTek MT6752 degenerated into a slightly slower MT6753, and then it was subjected to "secondary castration" and turned into an even weaker MT6750. Qualcomm "stabbed" the gluttonous, but fast Snapdragon 650/652 and rolled out instead a very economical and fast in applications, but dead in games Snapdragon 625.
Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime
Therefore, when the Motorola Z Play was born, in which they asked 35 thousand rubles for the Snapdragon 625, it, to put it mildly, "did not take off." But Redmi 4 Prime with the same "heart" has become a mega-popular and, for some time, a scarce smartphone.
And it is understandable why - the brutal performance for only 11 thousand rubles in a smartphone with a metal body, a clear screen, an impressive storage (32 or 64 GB), and even with a capacious battery (4100 mAh), “blown away” all enthusiasts. Yes, all Redmi have and still have cheap cameras, the case is also far from premium both in appearance and in touch, and the charging speed is far from Quick Charge and similar "bells and whistles".
But Redmi 4 Prime is a unique racing projectile among budget smartphones, which has not been replaced, is not and, apparently, will not (Xiaomi discontinued the Redmi 4 Prime and left it to replace the less fast Redmi 4X). It hasn't dropped in price even 9 months after its release, but it's worth hunting for it if you want to get a powerful, compact and budget smartphone at the same time.
| What is the price | 15 thousand rubles (official retail) 12 thousand rubles ("gray" retail) |
| What is known about the filling | - Imagine that a secret clan of auto mechanics smelted parts of "Zhiguli" and assembled a car from ultra-light and super-durable alien materials, and the old engine made of these materials was adjusted for high-octane fuel and "wasted" for greater power. Such a Zhigul will still not look like a Mercedes from the outside, it will not be as comfortable as premium cars inside, and is unlikely to become the record holder for overclocking on planet Earth (do you remember that the engine is ancient, albeit tuned?), But it will deliver a lot fifth point inconvenience to all non-racing cars at traffic light starts. This is how the Snapdragon 625 looks like, which in a past life was a dull mid-range processor of the 2014 sample, and then it was made on a new 14 nm process technology (less heating, lower power consumption) and “fired up” all eight cheap cores to the maximum. As a result, the newly reborn chip simply flies in applications, turns sour in games and is only suitable for medium detail settings at Full HD. But he knows how and loves to work in intensive mode, easily pulls a pack of instant messengers + music + browser and does not "tweet" at the same time. You'll like it. |
| Is the smartphone good minus the processor? | Well, how can I tell you - on the one hand, you pay another 4 thousand rubles, and in return for this Redmi you buy on Aliexpress a much cooler and faster flagship Xiaomi Mi 5s. But on the other hand - "the damn Muscovite is completely drunk, for you already 4 thousand rubles is not money ?!" And from such a bell tower for exactly 12 thousand Redmi 4 Prime beats all competing mobile phones. |
| Except, perhaps, the same steepness LeEco Cool1 for 8 thousand. But you will not find this model in Russian stores, and there is a chance to have problems with the FSB when delivering from China - there is no notification. With Xiaomi, such problems are a thing of the past, although we have not forgotten and someday we will remember the guilty ones by the first number. |
Huawei nova - not very cheap, but good in everything
You see, what is the tragedy of fast budget smartphones - they are fast, but at the expense of something else. In Moto G5, for example, the battery capacity was shredded, in Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime the quality of the cameras is “lame”, Alcatel is simply famous for the “curvature” of firmware and rapid wear and tear. There is no middle ground. In rare cases, it appears, but immediately leaves the boundaries of what we mean by the phrase "budget smartphone".
Wake me up in the middle of the night and ask, what kind of smartphones are these in 2016 “not state employees, but not flagships, but they just know how to do everything well,” and I will answer you - ASUS ZenFone 3, Huawei nova, Meizu MX6. Reference mobile phones for those who have not decided what is more important for him - a camera, games, autonomy or something else.
Of the trio, Huawei has become the cheapest and still widespread, in part because ASUS is still slow to release “just ZenFone 4” and is not dropping prices for the old model, in part due to the Chinese origin and the recent release of nova 2. But the fact remains - the smartphone has fallen in price from 23 to 18 thousand in all federal networks, and you can order it from China even for 12 thousand (however, already on the basis of a deficit, so do not really hope for a "freebie").
There is nothing to tell about this smartphone, it is like a taciturn classmate - "good-natured" - a normal guy, but not remembered. It takes good pictures (for 12 thousand, one might say, cool), autonomy was measured exactly for a day, the body is small, the display is bright and clear, the performance is the same as that of Redmi 4 Prime, but for 18 thousand this fact no longer excites the mind.
And it shouldn't bother, because Huawei nova is just a slightly more civilized Redmi. If the main thing for Xiaomi buyers is to "pile up on speed, but to be cheap!" I am well aware that "hey, you can buy a Meizu Pro 6 10-core for the same money!" it, unlike the half-forgotten old flagship Meizu and Redmi 4 Prime, is still full in stores.
| What is the price | 18 thousand rubles (official retail) 12-14 thousand rubles ("gray" retail) |
| What is known about the filling | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (MSM8953)- I, like, will pretend that I did not write a description of the same processor for the last week, and you will read a new text about the same Snapdragon and be surprised. But seriously, the 625 is still good as a processor for non-gambling addicts, but for people who want fast messengers and modest battery consumption. By the way, nova is almost the last Huawei, which was equipped with the "enemy" American Snapdragon. The nova 2 already has the import-substituted Chinese Kirin 659, which, oddly enough, actually works slower than the filling in the first nova. |
| Is the smartphone good minus the processor? | If you are already indignant, “how is that? And Xiaomi piles the same number of cores cheaper! Why do I need this ordinary Huawei at a non-budget price? ”, Then remember that there are no radically faster smartphones in the official Russian retail for 18 thousand yet. And if you are a “high-speed maniac” and want the fastest smartphone at the price of a “budget employee”, read on. |
Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 625 processors are used in budget smartphones. Let's see which one is better in terms of performance, battery consumption and performance?
The Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 625 processors are some of the best chipsets for smartphones in the budget segment of the market. Their performance cannot be compared with today's flagships, but it is quite comparable to the top-end processors of 2014-2015. In addition, unlike older chips, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 625 and SD 430 processors support a number of new features implemented in the best chips of 2016.
Snapdragon 430 Processor: Benefits and Features
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor was presented in September 2015. Architecture - 8 cores like ARM Cortex-A53. A similar architecture is used in the more advanced Snapdragon 652 and Snapdragon 810 chips. Moreover, even the top one has 4 Cortex-A53 cores! True, in the new processors, the cores are used as "slow" and are designed to solve simple tasks in an energy-saving mode.
The graphics adapter of the Snapdragon 430 processor is Adreno 505. The graphics of the five hundredth series are in the best Qualcomm processors - Snapdragon, and even. True, those are the Adreno 530 and Adreno 540, but the fact remains.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 supports cameras up to 21MP and 1080p @ 30FPS video recording. Supports Bluetooth 4.1, displays with Full HD resolution and NFC technology (bank cards in the phone). QHD resolution is not supported, however, such displays are not installed in state employees.
Be sure to highlight support for Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging (the smartphone charges up to 50% in about 30 minutes). An LTE Cat.4 modem is not the best option. Download speed is limited to 150 Mbps, upload speed is limited to 50 Mbps. RAM type LPDDR3 800 MHz is a disadvantage against the background of flagships, but the norm for state employees.
Verdict. Thanks to the Adreno 505 graphics, good core architecture and support for modern technologies, the Snapdragon 430 occupies the niche of a good budget employee with advanced capabilities.
Snapdragon 625 processor: the best budget employee of 2016
The main difference between 625 and 430 and other budget chips lies in the production technology. Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 is manufactured using a 14nm process technology, while all other chips in the budget category are manufactured using a 20nm or 28nm process technology. That is, the performance gain and power consumption reduction of the SD 625 is provided by default.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor appeared in the second quarter of 2016. The chipset is assembled on the basis of the same 8 Cortex-A53 cores, but their frequency has been increased to 2.0 GHz, against 1.4 GHz in the 430 model. Progress has been achieved through the use of a modern 14 nm process technology.
When performing simple tasks, the performance of the 625 practically does not differ from the speed of powerful chips, the energy-saving part of which is based on the same Cortex-A53 cores.
In addition, the Snapdragon 625 processor has a more advanced accelerator - Adreno 506. Note also a more modern modem - LTE Cat.7 / Cat.13 (download / upload - 300/150 Mbps). Another 625 supports cameras up to 24 megapixels and 4K video recording at 30 frames per second. As a result, this chip bypasses the 430 model in games, and in web surfing, and in photo and video shooting.
Verdict. Experts compare the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor not with the mid-range of 2015, but with the old hits - Snapdragon 800 and Helio P20. And in this comparison, the SD 625 looks very convincing. At the beginning of 2016, the chipset was installed even on phones from the middle price segment, and today it can be found in the best state employees.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 625 Processor Specifications
| Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 | |
|---|---|---|
| Technical process | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Number of Cores | 8 | 8 |
| Processor architecture | 8x ARM Cortex A53 | 8x ARM Cortex A53 |
| Clock frequency | up to 1.4 GHz | up to 2.0 GHz |
| Graphics | Adreno 505 | Adreno 506 |
| RAM | LPDDR3 800 MHz | LPDDR3 993 MHz |
| Screen resolution | up to 1920 x 1080p | up to 1920 x 1080p |
| Camera | up to 21 Mp | up to 24 Mp |
| Video recording | Full HD @ 30FPS | 4K Ultra HD @ 30FPS |
| LTE modem | Cat.4, 150/50 Mbps | Cat.13 / Cat.7, 300/150 Mbps |
| Fast charging | Quick Charge 3.0 | Quick Charge 3.0 |
Snapdragon 430 smartphones
- - a reborn legend with 4 GB of RAM, 5.5-inch Full HD screen and 43889 points in Antutu.
- Asus ZenFone 3 Laser is a promising device from the “Budget +” segment with a 5.5-inch screen, 4 GB of RAM and 37851 points in Antutu.
- Is one of the best budget employees of 2016, equipped with a 5-inch HD display, 2 GB of RAM and a 4100 mAh battery. In Antutu, this model scored 42989 points.
- - new in 2017,. The device received Android 7.0, 13/5 megapixel cameras and 2/3 GB of RAM.
Smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor
In 2016, manufacturers used the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor in smartphones from the "upper half" of the budget segment of the market:
- Huawei Nova Plus is a solid mid-range with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 3GB of RAM, a 16MP camera, a 3340mAh battery, and 60,000 Antutu points.
- The Asus ZenFone 3 ZE520KL is a very promising version of a smartphone with 4 GB of RAM, a 5.2-inch screen with a high pixel density (424 ppi) and a brightness of 600 cd / m2 (readable even in the sun). In Antutu, this middling player scored 59564 points.
- Moto Z Play is another legend revived in September 2016. In Antutu, it scores 59,600 points, is equipped with a 5.5-inch Full HD screen, 3 GB of RAM and a very good 16-megapixel camera based on the Omnivision OV16860 sensor.
- - the long-awaited continuation of the legendary brand's lineup, announced at the end of February 2017. This smartphone will receive 12/5 megapixel cameras, 3 GB of RAM and Android 7.0 right out of the box.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 and Snapdragon 625 performance
Comparison of the 430 and 625 models in terms of performance is far from favoring the 28nm processor. In Geekbench, the Snapdragon 625, based on 14nm technology and 8 Cortex A53 cores overclocked to 2.0GHz, is confidently ahead of the competition. Note. Diagrams are not displayed correctly in the Samsung Internet browser and some built-in browsers on mobile platforms. We recommend opening the publication in Google Chrome, Opera or Firefox.
Accordingly, if you want to compare smartphones with Snapdragon 625 and Snapdragon 430 processors, first select the first option in the drop-down list and click the "New Search" button. Then choose the second option and click "Add".
As you can see, everything is extremely simple, and the database works instantly. Happy search and fast smartphones to everyone!
