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Qualcomm
Qualcomm today announced a pair of new mobile processors designed for entry-level and mid-range smartphones. Expected in handsets later this year, the Snapdragon 200 and 400 balance the high-end 600 and 800 processors introduced in January.
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As the model number suggests, the Snapdragon 200 is the lower-tier processor that provides a balance of value and performance as well as improved battery life. Details include a quad-core ARM Cortex A5 with up to 1.4GHz per core, an Adreno 203 GPU, and support for HD video playback, dual SIM cards, and up to 8 megapixels in the camera.
The mid-range Snapdragon 400 will find a home in high-volume smartphones and tablets and offers more performance, connectivity options, and better battery life. Available in two options, the Qualcomm chip comes in dual-core (up to 1.7GHz per core) and quad-core (up to 1.4GHz per core) iterations.
Standard features for the 400 series include an Adreno 305 GPU, support for modern cellular radios, and 1080p HD video playback and capture. Like the Snapdragon 200 series, the processor supports dual SIM cards as well as Miracast functionality and up to 13.5-megapixel cameras. Qualcomm anticipates seeing the new chipsets in smartphones and tablets later this year.
Perhaps not coincidentally, these new processors were unveiled in the same week that Nvidia introduced the Tegra 4i. The two have been battling it out in the mobile space for the last few years. However momentum seems to be swinging in Qualcomm’s direction of late. Both the LG Optimus G Pro and HTC One were announced with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600 processor.
