Most of the latest Android smartphones have a powerful Qualcomm mobile processor running the show inside. Today, Qualcomm is shaking things up by updating its flagship mobile processor, for those who crave for more performance in their smartphones. The chip maker has introduced an upgraded Snapdragon 855 Plus that wrings extra performance out of the familiar 855 design.
The eight-core Kryo 485 CPU now runs at up to 2.96GHz instead of the earlier 2.84GHz, and the Adreno 640 graphics should deliver a 15 percent speed boost.
The new chip will be ideal for gaming, where GPU performance is more important than raw number crunching. The tweaks also makes the Snapdragon 855 Plus helpful for AR and VR experiences, AI and anything else that’s particularly taxing. This isn’t your dream chip for 5G, though. The built-in modem can’t handle more than LTE, so devices will still need a separate X50 modem (and potentially make compromises in size and battery life) to reach next-gen cellular speeds.
The first devices built around the new system-on-a-chip will be released in the second half of 2019. Unlike in the past, you won’t have to settle for a months-old Snapdragon just because you want an Android phone released in the back half of the year. There’s only one mention of vendors using the Snapdragon 855 Plus as we write this, with ASUS confirming that its upcoming ROG Phone II will feature the chip. There’s a good chance that other major phone makers will leap on this — it’s a way to keep their phone lineups fresh without waiting for the 855’s full-fledged sequel.
