Qualcomm Unveils Processor for 5G Shift in Developing Markets

Qualcomm has unveiled the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 processor, designed to bring 5G connectivity to low-end smartphones priced below US$99. This chip, manufactured by Samsung using 4 nm technology, aims to facilitate the transition from 4G to 5G networks in developing markets such as Latin America and India.

Although around 95% of the world's population lives in areas with mobile network coverage (3G/4G/5G), approximately 38%, or 3 billion people, still do not use these services. According to Qualcomm, barriers to adoption include lack of relevant content, digital skills, and affordability of devices. 

“While operators have accelerated 5G deployments, the reality is that so far it involves an additional cost that not everyone can afford. The company estimates that the new platform could bring 5G closer to about 2.8 billion people,” said Deepu John, vice president of product management, Qualcomm.

The Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 includes a 5G modem developed from scratch that complies with 3GPP Release 17 standards, enabling speeds of up to 1 Gbps in 5G SA networks and a 40% latency reduction. The integration of WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 also brings improvements in connection speed and audio quality. Additionally, the chip supports FHD+ displays at 90 fps, offering support for Aqstic Audio and aptX Adaptive codecs, and Qualcomm's voice and audio suite with echo and ambient noise reduction.

John stressed the importance of designing the system to not only meet basic connectivity needs, but also respond to users' entertainment demands. According to Statista, over 60% of smartphone users use their devices for video streaming, and over 70% use them for gaming. 

In response, the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 includes improvements in video capture, such as noise reduction, integrated zoom, and support for cameras up to 84 MP. Power efficiency improvements have also been introduced, enabling up to 90 additional minutes of music, 26 more minutes of video, and up to 33 additional minutes of voice calls. Additionally, the chip supports fast charging, recovering up to 50% of the battery in 15 minutes.

Unlike other chips in Qualcomm's portfolio, the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 does not incorporate a neural processing unit (NPU) for artificial intelligence tasks. However, John explained that the chip allows the GPU and CPU to be combined to handle certain AI demands, optimizing overall performance.

Qualcomm also noted that it will work with multiple smartphone manufacturers to ensure rapid integration of the chip into new devices, which are expected to hit the market in the coming months.