5G is one of the hot new features in mobile — something that Qualcomm knows since it introduced two 5G-capable chipsets at the end of 2019 — but 4G isn't going anywhere anytime soon, which is why Qualcomm today introduced three new 4G-focused Snapdragon processors.
The Snapdragon 720G has a gaming focus, utilizing Qualcomm's Snapdragon Elite Gaming features to offer smooth HDR gameplay and high-quality sound with aptX Adaptive. Support for 4K video capture and up to 192MP photos is included, too, along with Bluetooth 5.1.
Qualcomm's new SD720G also includes Wi-Fi 6 features like multi-user MIMO as well as a Snapdragon X15 LTE modem with support for 3-carrier aggregation, 4x4 MIMO on two carriers, and 256 QAM, which combines to offer speeds up to 800Mbps.
Finally, the Snapdragon 720G uses 8nm process tech and an upgraded CPU architecture to offer power savings and improved performance.
Then there's the Snapdragon 662. This chipset includes the Qualcomm Spectra 340T which enables triple camera setups, a first for a Snapdragon 6-series SoC. Plus, an improved ISP includes support for the HEIF format for photos, which helps get you quality photos at half the file size.
The included Snapdragon X11 LTE modem offers peak download speeds of 390Mbps using 2x2 MIMO, 2 carrier aggregation, and 256 QAM.
Rounding out the trio of new chipsets is the Snapdragon 460. Qualcomm touts that it's got performance CPU cores and an updated GPU architecture for the first time in the Snapdragon 4-series of processors, giving this SoC up to a 70% increase in CPU performance and up to 60% better GPU performance. Overall system performance is up 2x compared to the previous generation, too.
Another notable feature of the Snapdragon 460 include a Spectra 340 ISP, which is another first in the Snapdragon 4-series and includes support for triple camera setups. And then there's the Snapdragon X11 LTE modem that, like in the Snapdragon 662, enables download speeds up to 390Mbps.
Devices with the Snapdragon 720G are expected to begin appearing in Q1 2020. We should start seeing devices with the Snapdragon 662 and 460 by the end of 2020.
