CES 2015 | MediaTek unveils MT2601 SoC designed for Android Wear-powered devices

MediaTek intros MT2601 SoC for Android Wear devices — MediaTek chip

The new chip supports qHD display resolution and integrates a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor and Mali-400 MP graphics.

by Codrut Nistor, 2015/01/07

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MediaTek announced yesterday a new SoC for wearable devices powered by Google's Android Wear software. Unlike most competing chips, the MediaTek MT2601 focuses on improving energy efficiency, thus providing a much smaller and cheaper solution for device makers. According to the official press release, "The MT2601 packs a robust set of features in its small size with 41.5 percent fewer components and lower current consumption when compared with other chipsets in the market."

MediaTek MT2601 consists of a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor with a maximum clock speed of 1.2 GHz that operates next to a Mali-400 MP graphics processing unit which has support for qHD resolution. This small footprint chip can handle "a whole host of external sensors" and also interfaces with the MT6630 Bluetooth connectivity SoC.

J.C. Hsu, General Manager of New Business Development at MediaTek thinks the company's new solution "will fuel the maker revolution and empower the application developer community worldwide to create a broad range of innovative applications and services." MediaTek MT2601 is already in production and ready to become part of Android Wear-powered devices, but no such wearable has been announced yet.

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Press Release

MediaTek Introduces MT2601 in Support of Google’s Android Wear Software

Higher energy efficiency and reduced component count of MT2601 in relation to competition translate into significant cost, size and usage time benefits

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 07, 2015

Las Vegas – Jan. 6, 2015 – MediaTek, a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, today announced its MT2601 System on Chip (SoC) for wearable devices based on Google’s Android Wear software. By enabling Android Wear on MT2601, MediaTek is offering a comprehensive platform solution for device makers to implement their own hardware and software, and introduces a multitude of possibilities in Android Wear devices for the fast-growing consumer class globally.

The MT2601 packs a robust set of features in its small size with 41.5 percent fewer components and lower current consumption when compared with other chipsets in the market. Its design advantages translate into lower bill of materials (BoM) costs, smaller printed circuit board (PCB) size and longer battery life, which in turn yield fashionable wearable devices with long usage times and affordable prices.

The MT2601 includes 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A7, ARM Mali-400 MP GPU, and supports qHD display resolution. The MT2601 interfaces with a whole host of external sensors and the wireless connectivity SoC MT6630 for Bluetooth – all in a PCBA footprint of less than 480 mm2. This small PCB size meets the design requirements of the widest variety of wearable devices in sports and fitness, location tracking, and various other categories. MediaTek is a strong supporter of Android Wear and will continue to evolve MT2601 to align with the Android Wear road map.

“The MT2601 has an incredibly small die size and is highly optimized for cost and power performance. The platform solution, comprised of MT2601 integrated with Android Wear software, will fuel the maker revolution and empower the application developer community worldwide to create a broad range of innovative applications and services,” said J.C. Hsu, General Manager of New Business Development at MediaTek.

The MT2601 is in mass production now and ready for inclusion in Android Wear devices.

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About MediaTek Inc.

MediaTek is a pioneering fabless semiconductor company, and a market leader in cutting-edge Systems on Chip for wireless communications and connectivity, HDTV, DVD and Blu-ray. MediaTek created the world’s first True Octa-core™ smartphone platform with LTE and our CorePilot™ technology releasing the full power of multi-core mobile processors. Through MediaTek Labs™, the company is creating a worldwide ecosystem in support of device creation, application development and services based around MediaTek offerings. With an emphasis on enabling technology for the masses and not the chosen, everyone can be an Everyday Genius. MediaTek [TSE:2454] is headquartered in Taiwan and has offices worldwide. Please visit www.mediatek.com for more information.