We're used to Qualcomm releasing versions of its processors twice a year. First, a version comes out, and after about six months it comes to an update, which comes out as a “Plus” version. Usually it is taken apart by smartphones that come out in the second half of the year. For example, there is a feeling that OnePlus is deliberately timing the release of its models with a “T” postscript to the release of new processors. As a result, they have smartphones with all the flagship Snapdragon models. This year, a situation is emerging in which some manufacturers will have to greatly restructure the schedule for the release of new models. And all because of one tiny chip.
Should we expect the development of this processor in 2020?
Newest Snapdragon processor
Usually a new Snapdragon processor does come out about six months after the main model is released. The main model is presented most often at the end of the year, and the plus version – in the middle of next year. This was the case last year. But it was not the year before and the year before.
Snapdragon 820 came out even earlier, but its advanced version was Snapdragon 821. Later, the company came to the word “Plus”, which personally seems to me much more logical when it comes to a small update.
Qualcomm was supposed to release the Snapdragon 865 Plus this year as an upgrade from its current flagship Snapdragon 865. However, CMO Meizu Wan Zhiqiang (via MyDrivers) recently announced that the Snapdragon 865 will be Plus won't.
Will there be a new Qualcomm processor coming out this year?
The director did not add anything, so his statement can be interpreted in different ways. Pessimists will think that there is no need to wait for the update and generally “disagree”. Optimists, most likely, will decide that not all is lost and we can talk about an update, but it will be released under a different name. For example, Snapdragon 866 or 870 can become it. In general, the opinions of both are not refuted by the statement of the representative Meizu.
If Qualcomm abandons the upgrade this year, it would be a very logical step. Firstly, there is no point in releasing such an update every year, and secondly, there is generally no point in spending money on development in a difficult situation on the smartphone market, into which manufacturers have driven themselves, and the economic crisis helped them in this.
Now all top Snapdragon processors are likely to support 5G.
When will the Snapdragon 865 Plus processor come out?
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 is simply a monster in its characteristics. It supports 8K video shooting, cameras up to 200MP, and provides excellent graphics performance. It would seem, where else to improve, but still some sources assure that there will be an update this year.
A spokesperson for Digital Chat Station announced on Weibo the alleged existence of the Snapdragon 865 Plus. In particular, he says that the processor will be released in the third quarter of this year.
How can Qualcomm improve the already excellent Snapdragon 865? It is believed that the new product will receive the clock speed of the core and the main processor by about 4% and 15% more, respectively. All of this might work well for CPU usage in smartphones with high refresh rates. If the processor is adapted for this, dips will be less common, and the frame rate will be more constant.
One thing is clear for sure. Do not expect the new product to be structurally different from its predecessor. It will not be built using a different process technology, will not receive a new graphics chip and an integrated modem. The latter, apparently, is one of the reasons for Google's refusal to use the top Snapdragons in the Google Pixel 5.
The main consumers of the plus versions were gaming smartphones like ASUS ROG Phone and the new OnePlus “T” series. If there is no update, they will have to postpone the release of the models until early next year.
If the Snapdragon 865 Plus comes out, we will not just get another layer of smartphones that are half a second faster at the finish line. In this case, we will see a significant reduction in the cost of the regular versions with the Snapdragon 865 chipset. As a result, we will see a decrease in the prices for smartphones with these processors. It is very nice. If there is such a decrease, we will definitely tell you about it on our Telegram news channel.
This is especially pleasant against the background of the fact that a huge number of good devices with 5G will flood the market for reasonable money. As a result, this will lead to the fact that the technology will step into the masses, and if there are a lot of such smartphones on hand, manufacturers will begin to actively deploy the corresponding networks. In general, everything, as usual, goes on one after the other.