From CNET: Qualcomm on Friday announced a new chip that promises faster mobile computing with much better power efficiency. But it'll only come to the US in Motorola and OnePlus phones expected later this year.
As you can probably guess, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 is a slight upgrade on the Series 8 Gen 1 that debuted earlier this year. For that added "plus," Qualcomm said its new silicon has 10% faster CPU and GPU speeds than the earlier model and has 30% better power efficiency. As a result, phones should get speedier while boasting better battery life. But one drawback is it will stick with the X65 5G modem, which Qualcomm started using earlier this year, and so will not have the wider-range 5G connectivity in the upcoming X70 5G modem unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February.
The Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 reveal isn't a surprise -- in fact, it's right on schedule for when Qualcomm typically announces a midyear upgrade for its mobile device chips that power most of the world's phones and tablets. But it comes at a time when Qualcomm is facing increased competition. Apple's been making its own chips for iPhones and iPads for over a decade. Microsoft and Google, meanwhile, said they too would follow Apple's lead, designing specialized chips for some of their devices. As a result, while that extra "plus" may sound enticing, it'll only arrive in a few American's pockets.
"Outside the US, the situation is radically different, with nearly a dozen Chinese brands jockeying for position alongside Apple and Samsung," said Avi Greengart, of analyst firm Techsponential. "With Huawei's smartphone business devastated by U.S. sanctions, other Chinese brands are trying to fill the gap it left at the high end of the market."
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