5G has already been a reality for several months in France and around the world. However, it must be admitted that if mobile operators are gradually starting to promote their offers compatible with ultra-high-speed – which, we recall, is not yet available throughout the country, not all smartphones are 5G compatible. Logically, it is the entry-level that is the furthest behind, with support for 5G rare, if not non-existent.
A situation which should however change in the months and years to come. After having equipped the highest-end terminals with its SoCs, Qualcomm plans to extend 5G to other more accessible ranges. At the end of 2019, the American company had already formalized the launch of its Snapdragon 765G, before going downmarket by also offering its 750 5G, then its 690 5G this summer.
This time, Qualcomm is attacking the entry-level sector. With its Snapdragon 480 5G, the manufacturer hopes to attract brands wishing to offer 5G compatible terminals at a lower cost. A direct evolution of the Snapdragon 460, the 480 5G features the 5G Snapdragon X51 modem, capable of supporting not only the 5G sub-6 GHz standard but also 5G mmWave. In terms of power, the Snapdragon 480 5G offers an octa-core Kryo 460 CPU architecture, engraved in 8 nm and clocked up to 2 GHz. Regarding the GPU part of the processor, the Adreno 619 should provide doubled performance compared to the Snapdragon 460, promises Qualcomm. Support for FHD + at 120 Hz is also expected.
A little patience, the first smartphones equipped with the entry-level chip should be announced within a few weeks. The Oppo brand in particular has already expressed its interest in the processor, which will “extend consumer access to 5G across the world”.