Qualcomm today introduced its next-generation mobile processors for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 tier -- the Snapdragon 810 and 808 processors -- offering 4K video rendering, LTE Advanced and compatibility with 64-bit OS. Designed to power flagship smartphones and tablets, both
the Snapdragon 810 and Snapdragon 808 processors integrate Qualcomm Technologies' 4th Generation Cat 6 LTE Advanced multimode modem together with support for the Qualcomm RF360 Front End Solution, and support 3x20MHz Carrier Aggregation, enabling speeds of up to 300 Mbps. Both processors are designed in 20nm technology node with Cat 6 LTE, advanced multimedia features and 64-bit capability.

The Snapdragon 810 processor, as Qualcomm Technologies' highest performing Snapdragon platform to date, also supports native 4K Ultra HD interface and video, along with an upgraded camera suite using gyro-stabilization and 3D noise reduction for producing high quality 4K video at 30 frames per second and 1080p video at 120 frames per second. The combined 14-bit dual Image Signal Processors (ISPs) are capable of supporting 1.2GP/s throughput and image sensors up to 55MP. In addition, imaging software is responsible for enhanced exposure, white balance and fast low light focus.

The Snapdragon 810 combines 64-bit quad core ARM Cortex-A57 CPUs and Cortex-A53 CPUs, while implementation of the new ARMv8-A ISA enables improved instruction set efficiency.

The new Qualcomm Adreno 430 graphics processing unit (GPU) provides support for OpenGL ES 3.1 plus hardware tessellation, geometry shaders and programmable blending. The GPU is designed to deliver up to 30% faster graphics performance and 100% faster GPGPU compute performance, while reducing power consumption by up to 20%, as compared to its predecessor, the Adreno 420 GPU. The Adreno 430 GPU also enables GPU security for secure composition and management of premium video and other multimedia.

The Snapdragon 810 processor also introduces high speed LPDDR4 memory ans supports frame buffer compression and external 4K display support via HDMI1.4.

It also implements Qualcomm VIVE 2-stream 802.11ac with multi-user MIMO, making Wi-Fi networks more efficient. Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.0, NFC and the latest Qualcomm IZat location core for location services are rounding the chip's features.

The Snapdragon 808 six-core 64-bit processor integrates the same LTE-Advanced, RF360 and Wi-Fi connectivity as the Snapdragon 810 processor and includes 2K display support. Both chipsets are fully software compatible with the 64-bit ARMv8-A instruction set. The primary differences of the Snapdragon 808 processor include:

• Designed for WQXGA (2560x1600) displays, the new Adreno 418 GPU provides support for OpenGL ES 3.1 plus hardware tessellation, geometry shaders, programmable blending. It is designed to support up to 20% faster graphics performance than its predecessor, the Adreno 330 GPU. The Adreno 418 GPU also enables GPU security .
• Configured with two ARM Cortex-A57 cores paired with a quad Cortex-A53 CPU.
• 12-bit dual Image Signal Processors.
• LPDDR3 memory.
• Frame buffer compression and external 4K display support via HDMI1.4.

The Snapdragon 810 and 808 processors are anticipated to begin sampling in the second half of 2014 and expected to be available in commercial devices by the first half of 2015.

Qualcomm dominates the market for advanced 4G wireless technology and its Snapdragon chips are widely used in smartphones made by Samsung, Motorola, HTC and other manufacturers.