Qualcomm new 64-bit CPU fires up budget LTE smartphones

Qualcomm, the company behind many of the smartphone world’s wireless technologies and processors, has announced today the Snapdragon 410 chipset with integrated 4G/LTE. The 64-bit processor is designed for phones that costs less than US$150 and will support many high-end features including LTE support.

What this means is that more people in emerging markets could have LTE compatible smartphones with better overall specs. In the official announcement, Qualcomm notes, “The delivery of faster connections is important to the growth and adoption of smartphones in emerging regions, and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets are poised to address the needs of consumers as 4G LTE begins to ramp in China.”

Furthermore, apart from fast roaming data speeds, it means that cheaper smartphones carrying the Snapdragon 410 are capable of supporting “superior graphics performance” with the Adreno 306 GPU, 1080p video playback and up to a 13 Megapixel camera.

“We are excited to bring 4G LTE to highly affordable smartphones at a sub $150 ( ̴ 1,000 RMB) price point with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor,” said senior vice president and chief operating officer, Qualcomm Technologies, China Jeff Lorbeck.

Lorbeck further stated, “The Snapdragon 410 chipset will also be the first of many 64-bit capable processors as Qualcomm Technologies helps lead the transition of the mobile ecosystem to 64-bit processing.”

Apple introduced the first 64‑bit smartphone in the world” when it launched the high-end iPhone 5S in early September this year carrying the A7 CPU.

More recently however, the Moto G made ripples in the media for being an affordable and a very likable smartphone carrying impressive specs. Motorola’s latest flagship comes with Qualcomm’s 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor and surprised most critics with its more-than-capable specs. LTE would have been a welcome addition and to the Moto G though, one that would have been possible if it carried the new 410 CPU.

Products carrying Snapdragon 410 such as Windows Phone, Firefox OS and Android compatible smartphones are expected in the second half of next year.