Budget 5G phones to get 'blazing' fast with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor
Qualcomm is on a run lately, after announcing an audio collaboration with Sony and a new new S3 Gen 2 sound platform. Today, Qualcomm Technologies unveiled what is likely to become the best chipset for budget handset, a new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Mobile Platform.
"Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 provides effortless, all-day use with fast CPU speeds, sharp photography and videography, plus speedy 5G and Wi-Fi for reliable connections," says Qualcomm, so let's see what makes it special.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 has a modern Snapdragon X61 5G modem embedded within the chipset, for fast 5G download speeds and "support for more networks, frequencies, and bandwidths globally," tips Qualcomm. Given that the it's the best in the 5G connectivity business, we are inclined to believe it.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 specs and features
First off, this is the one and only platform of the budget 4-series of Snapdragon chipsets that has a processor built on the modern 4nm method. That is pretty breathtaking, considering that the iPhone 14, for instance, is on 3nm, it's pretty amazing that downmarket budget Androids will have the chance at a 4nm processor to be as modern as it gets these days.
The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 Qualcomm Kryo processor cores go as high up as 2.2 GHz to ditch lag and stuttering with increased performance for everyday tasks. The 4nm production process also means that the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 platform will be very frugal with the battery and provide a rather efficient power draw.
This is not something we are used to see on budget handsets whose processor nodes are typically of a rather old and power-hungry variety, so they need huge batteries to last despite the fact that they usually come with lower display resolutions. To top off the stellar power efficiency, Qualcomm provides its Quick Charge 4+ battery charging tech that can top up the pack to half charge in 15 minutes.
Unfortunately, there is no QHD 1440p display resolution support with the new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 platform which goes up to FHD+ displays with 120Hz refresh rate, but nobody is placing QHD panels in budget phones anyway, plus you still get high refresh support for smoother scrolling.
The camera abilities of Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, however, top out at the whopping 108MP main sensor resolution, bringing crisp details downmarket for the first time. There is still electronic image stabilization, of course, as well as phase detection autofocus for less blur when snapping moving objects.
Camera specs
- Qualcomm Spectra Image Signal Processor
- Dual 12-bit ISPs
- Up to 16 MP + 16 MP dual camera with 30 FPS Zero Shutter Lag
- Up to 32 MP single camera with 30 FPS Zero Shutter Lag
- Up to 108 MP photo capture
- 1080p single video capture @ 60 FPS
- 1080p dual video capture @ 30 FPS
- HEIC photo capture
- H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC) video capture
- Slow-motion video capture 720p @ 120 FPS
As a sweetener, Qualcomm threw in its Multi Camera Temporal Filtering (MCTF) noise reduction technology for the first time in a budget 4-series Snapdragon processor. What the hardware can't do, Qualcomm compensates with artificial intelligence, as the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 includes AI co-processing "for crisp, detailed images in dim environments" or "enhanced background noise removal ensures users are heard clearly on calls and video during work or in a crowded environment," all welcome additions.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 5G connectivity
Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 has a modern Snapdragon X61 5G modem embedded within the chipset, for fast 5G download speeds and "support for more networks, frequencies, and bandwidths globally," tips Qualcomm. Given that the it's the best in the 5G connectivity business, we are inclined to believe it.
5G modem specs
- Snapdragon X61 5G Modem-RF System
- Sub-6 GHz, standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes, FDD, TDD
- Dynamic Spectrum Sharing
- Sub-6 GHz: 100 MHz bandwidth, 4x4 MIMO
- Qualcomm 5G PowerSave
- Qualcomm Smart Transmit technology
- Qualcomm Wideband Envelope Tracking
- Qualcomm AI-Enhanced Signal Boost
- Global 5G multi-SIM
- Downlink: Up to 2.5 Gbps
- Uplink: Up to 900 Mbps
- Multimode support: 5G NR, LTE, EN-DC, CBRS, WCDMA, HSPA, CDMA 1x, EVDO, GSM/EDGE
Still, we'd have to test and play with the first Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 phones before we make a verdict, and Qualcomm says it has already signed up companies like Realme and Vivo for real phones with Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 coming in the second half of the year.
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