Qualcomm Snapdragon 208 And 210 Target Entry Level Smartphones

Qualcomm has announced two new processors aimed at the entry-level smartphone market, bringing advanced LTE features to cheaper smartphones.

The San Diego-based firm says the Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 will allow for LTE-Advanced Cat 4 carrier aggregation, LTE Broadcast and LTE Dual SIM and Dual Standby.

The quad-core chip will also allow devices to support 1080p HD video playback, eight megapixel cameras with additional functionalities such as HDR, autofocus and auto-exposure, as well as Quick Charge 2.0 support, which enables up to 75 percent faster battery charging.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 210

Qualcomm has also revealed the Snapdragon 208, which is almost identical to the 210, but is 3G-only, aimed at markets where LTE does not have the same penetration. The company expects devices using both chips to hit the market in the first half of 2015.

“We are committed to delivering high-performance connected mobile experiences across all tiers of our product portfolio,” says Jeff Lorbeck, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Qualcomm Technologies, China. “These announcements further cement our commitment in broadly driving LTE and LTE Advanced to enable our customers the flexibility to deliver high-speed connectivity and an advanced mobile experience at affordable prices.”

Earlier this year, the company announced its most powerful smartphone processors to date, the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 and 808, both of which offer 3x20MHz carrier aggregation, providing the fastest LTE connectivity and best support for 4K Ultra HD video.

Qualcomm hopes that by offering processors for the high-end, mid-range and entry-level markets, it can cement is position as the market leader for ARM-based chips. New CEO Steve Mollenkopf has previously stated his belief that the smartphone market still has significant room to grow as developing markets continue to upgrade from feature phones.

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