Qualcomm announces three new 4G-capable chipsets for 2020

Just when we thought the year 2020 will be all about 5G, Qualcomm has introduced three new 4G Snapdragon chipsets for the mid-range smartphone market segment. Snapdragon 720G, Snapdragon 662 and Snapdragon 460 are all set to come with improved 4G and Bluetooth connectivity.

Why 4G when 5G is already available?

A couple of months ago Qualcomm introduced its latest flagship chipset at the Qualcomm Snapdragon Tech Summit 2019. The chipsets launched at the event - Snapdragon 865, 765, and 765G all came with support for 5G. Mediatek has joined the race too with its Dimensity series and the company looks to make 5G affordable than its rival. While there will be plenty of 5G smartphones in the market in 2020, the 5G technology is still in its infancy and it still hasn't touched many places, like ours. Also, these smartphones come with a hefty price tag. The price can become a problem if you consider the fact that India is the world's biggest smartphone market. Mid-rangers are the real rulers in India and other price-conscious markets. Let's admit it- 5G smartphones are novelty items in South Asia. So, the new 4G smartphone chips still make sense.

Also, check out our comparison between Dimensity 1000L and SD 765G

Qualcomm Snapdragon 4G Chipsets for 2020

Snapdragon 720G

Like the snapdragon 765G launch earlier, Snapdragon 720G is also a gaming-focused chipset. It is fabricated using the 8nm fabrication process. It comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite gaming features to make the gaming experience even more smooth. Accelerated on-device AI will ensure optimal power efficiency. It comes with integrated 2x2 mobile connectivity and is WiFi 6 ready with a dual antenna for sending and receiving data. The Snapdragon 720 will compete against the likes of the Mediatek G70 series.

• Process: 7nm
• CPU: Octa-core Kryo 465
• Modem: Snapdragon X15 LTE Modem

Also, read about Mediatek's answer to SD 765

Snapdragon 662

With the Snapdragon 662, Qualcomm wishes to bring a better camera and first in the 6-series-AI capabilities. It can support up-to triple camera setup and the switching between the three cameras is said to be smooth. The Qualcomm AI Engine will enable AI-based experiences such as avatars, night photography, and face and voice authentication. It packs the Snapdragon X11 LTE modem and can support peak download and upload speed at 390Mbps and 150Mbps respectively.

• Process: 11nm
• CPU: Octa-core Kryo 260
• GPU: Adreno 610
• Modem: Snapdragon X11 LTE

Snapdragon 460

Snapdragon 460 comes with significant improvements over the existing connectivity, AI, and camera in the Snapdragon 4-series. The updated architecture has resulted in an up to 70% boost in CPU and 60% GPU performance concerning existing 4-series. It is the first time that Qualcomm has introduced Hexagon Vector eXtensions(HVX) in the 4-series. It packs the same Snapdragon X11 LTE modem and can support peak download and upload speed at 390Mbps and 150Mbps respectively.

• Process: 11nm
• CPU: Octa-core Kryo 240
• GPU: Adreno 610
• Modem: Snapdragon X11 LTE

Who will incorporate the new 4G Snapdragon chipsets?

As of now, Realme and Xiaomi have already announced to launch smartphones powered by Snapdragon 720G, while more OEMs will announce new devices powered by these chipsets in the coming days. Don't forget to check out our hands-on review of Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite!