Qualcomm Announces New Snapdragon S4 Play Processors With Quad-Core CPUs For High-Volume Smartphones

According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon S4 Play processors will now offer OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) both dual-core and quad-core CPUs and performance for entry-level smartphones, with the more advanced version featuring higher bus bandwidth, larger screen resolution support, HD video and enhanced user experiences.

Both “MSM8225Q” and “MSM8625Q” will be ready for customer sampling by end of 2012 and are expected to be shipping in commercial devices in the first quarter of 2013. They incorporate quad-core CPUs and are the upgraded software compatible variants of the Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8225 and MSM8625 processors that feature dual-core CPUs and dual SIM support.

The new quad-core variants of the Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8x25Q processors will support LPDDR2 memory, increasing the bus bandwidth for improved features such as 720p display and 720p video encode and decode.

While Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8625Q features Qualcomm’s integrated multimode UMTS/CDMA modem, the MSM8225Q has an integrated UMTS modem. Both processors enable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and FM connectivity using the Qualcomm Atheros AR6005 and WCN2243 chips.

In addition, Qualcomm also announced a single platform, the Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8930, that supports all China operators with UMTS, CDMA and TD-SCDMA. It will also support LTE -TDD and TD-SCDMA, targeting mid-tier smartphones for use in China.

Announced in February 2011, the Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8930 is claimed to be the world’s first single-chip solution with an integrated LTE modem. It will be ready for customer sampling by the end of 2012 and is expected to be used in commercial devices by the first quarter of 2013.

Qualcomm will also be releasing Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD) versions of all three processors. According to the company, the QRD program includes widespread handset development platforms and an ecosystem program providing access to third-party providers of tested and verified hardware and software components so that the customers can rapidly deliver differentiated smartphones to budget conscious consumers.

The new Snapdragon S4 Play and Plus processors are designed specifically for high-volume smartphones, and they provide device manufacturers the ability to migrate their existing Snapdragon S1-based designs to S4 dual- and quad-core CPU-based designs.