Qualcomm aims to make 5G technology cheaper, launches Snapdagon 690 processor for affordable smartphones

With aim to make 5G technology cheaper, Qualcomm has launched Snapdagon 690 processor, which will power more affordable smartphones. The San Diago-based chipset giant said six phone makers will be ready to ship smartphones with the new Snapdragon 690 5G in the second half of 2020, including HMD Global (Nokia), LG, Motorola, Sharp, and TCL, among others.

“We want connectivity to be upgraded to 5G everywhere, and we want to make it affordable to everyone,” Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm, said in a pre-recorded video message during a media briefing prior to the launch.

The chipset comes with a Kryo 560 CPU that delivers 20 per cent performance improvement compared to its predecessor. It features Qualcomm’s fifth-generation AI-engine that claims ti lift camera as well gaming performance of the device. The Snapdragon 690 processor will bring multi giga speed and “advanced” 5G coverage to the Series 6 platform for the first time.

For the first time, Qualcomm is bringing support for screens with a refresh rate of 120Hz on budget phones. It help make this feature more accessible to users. Most premium smartphones have started using either 90Hz or 120Hz displays. The Snapdragon 690 would allow phones to record videos in 4K HDR, first on a budget phone. T

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Dipu John, Senior Director, Product Management at Qualcomm, said that the Snapdragon 690 will make 5G devices more affordable. 

“We stand in a customer’s shoes and ask some fundamental questions like who is the target market, how much will the device cost and what are the key features and then we waterfall these features from the higher tiers into the lower tiers, so that we can cover all the segments and meet our consumer needs,” he said.