Qualcomm Launches its Next-Gen 4G Processor Lineup

• Qualcomm launched Snapdragon 460, 662, and 720G, to meet the demand for 4G processors.
• The processors are lower to mid-range, but they still pack enough power and tech for emerging markets.
• Xiaomi and Realme promised to introduce the new 720G on the Indian market within the next months.

5G internet may already be here, and it's definitely the next chapter in communications, but it will be a while before 4G is left behind for good. To meet the demand for 4G smartphones, Qualcomm has launched the next-gen of its 400, 600, and 700 series with the 460, 662, and 720G respectively. These 4G processors will support Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, GNSS, NavlC, and Qualcomm’s AI Engine, Sensing Hub, and FastConnect. This means that apart from the limits of the 4G broadband internet connectivity, these processors will be state of the art.

Snapdragon 460 specs:

manufacturing – 11 nm
CPU – 8 x Kryo 240 (1.8 GHz)
GPU – Adreno 610
Photography – Spectra 340 (48 MP, 1080p 30 fps)
Modem – X11 LTE (390 Mbps DL, 150 Mbps UL)
Charging – Quick Charge 3

Snapdragon 662 specs:

manufacturing – 11 nm
CPU – 8 x Kryo 260 (2.0 GHz)
GPU – Adreno 610
Photography – Spectra 340T (48 MP, 1080p 60 fps)
Modem – X11 LTE (390 Mbps DL, 150 Mbps UL)
Charging – Quick Charge 3

Snapdragon 720G specs:

manufacturing – 8 nm
CPU – 8 x Kryo 465 (2.3 GHz)
GPU – Adreno 618
Photography – Spectra 350L (192 MP, 4k 30 fps)
Modem – X15 LTE (800 Mbps DL, 300 Mbps UL)
Charging – Quick Charge 4

The press release makes special mention of the Indian market, where the 4G-class processors are expected to continue thriving. The event was held in New Delhi after all, and that was not a random pick. Of course, the demand for high-performance 4G chips will continue until all practical and technical problems with 5G are eliminated. Surely, the adoption of 5G will pick up pace as we move forward, and the excitement around it is undeniable, but 4G processors will continue to play a critical role in many markets throughout 2020 and even 2021.

Already, Xiaomi and Realme have expressed their interest in being among the very first to bring Snapdragon 720G in the hands of the consumers. Xiaomi’s Manu Jain stated that the demand for adequately powerful chipsets that are cost-effective at the same time is continuously rising, so they are planning to continue their long-running collaboration with Qualcomm. Most probably, we’re going to see the new 720G on a Redmi-branded device. As for Realme, their chief executive officer in India, Madhav Sheth has told the press that they will launch a device featuring the brand-new 720G in the Indian market soon.