Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 835 processor built on Samsung's 10 nm process
Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 835 is built on Samsung's 10 nm process and brings some solid improvements. (Source: Qualcomm)
The new SoC is the first to be built on Samsung's new, smaller 10 nm FinFET process. This chip should bring faster performance and better energy efficiency.
This morning, Qualcomm announced the successor to its Snapdragon 820 and 821 mobile processors, the Snapdragon 835. Collaborating with Samsung the chip will be built using Samsung’s 10 nanometer FinFET process.
Speaking for Qualcomm, senior vice president of product management Keith Kressin said:
“Using the new 10nm process node is expected to allow our premium tier Snapdragon 835 processor to deliver greater power efficiency and increase performance while also allowing us to add a number of new capabilities that can improve the user experience of tomorrow’s mobile devices.”
The 10 nm FinFET process from Samsung is the first to enter mass production for mobile devices, and the Snapdragon 835 will be the first piece of silicon built upon it. It’s a definitely an improvement from the previous 14 nm process, as the new chips will offer “up to a 30% increase in area efficiency with 27% higher performance or up to 40% lower power consumption.”
The smaller process also creates more physical space inside the chassis of a device, which creates options for larger components or smaller designs. For example, the smaller footprint could allow for bigger batteries. Coupled with the chip’s improved power efficiency, we could see a sizable gain in the battery life of mobile devices equipped with the Snapdragon 835. This is further helped by the Snapdragon 835’s support of Qualcomm Quick Charge 4, which Qualcomm claims can charge a device 20% faster than Quick Charge 3.
Jong Shik Yoon, executive vice president and head of foundry business at Samsung, said that the collaborative effort “is an important milestone for our foundry business as it signifies confidence in Samsung’s leading chip process technology.”
The Snapdragon 835 is currently in production and is expected to be in devices in the first half of 2017.
Qualcomm and Samsung's collaborated to produce the Snapdragon 835, which should be out in 2017. (Source: Qualcomm)
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., have extended their decade-long strategic foundry collaboration to manufacture Qualcomm Technologies’ latest Snapdragon premium processor, Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835, with Samsung’s 10-nanometer (nm) FinFET process technology.
The decision to use Samsung’s cutting edge process in the next generation premium processor highlights Qualcomm Technologies’ continued dedication in being the technology leader in mobile platforms.
“We are excited to continue working together with Samsung in developing products that lead the mobile industry,” said Keith Kressin, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies. Inc. “Using the new 10nm process node is expected to allow our premium tier Snapdragon 835 processor to deliver greater power efficiency and increase performance while also allowing us to add a number of new capabilities that can improve the user experience of tomorrow’s mobile devices.”
In October, Samsung announced they are the first in the industry to enter mass production of 10nm FinFET technology. Compared to its 14nm FinFET predecessors, Samsung’s 10nm technology allows up to a 30% increase in area efficiency with 27% higher performance or up to 40% lower power consumption. Using 10nm FinFET, the Snapdragon 835 processor will offer a smaller chip footprint, giving OEMs more usable space inside upcoming products to support larger batteries or slimmer designs. Process improvements, combined with a more advanced chip design, are expected to bring significant improvements in battery life.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to work closely with Qualcomm Technologies in producing the Snapdragon 835 using our 10nm FinFET technology,” said Jong Shik Yoon, executive vice president and head of foundry business, Samsung. “This collaboration is an important milestone for our foundry business as it signifies confidence in Samsung’s leading chip process technology.”
Snapdragon 835 is in production now and expected to ship in commercial devices in the first half of 2017. Snapdragon 835 follows the Snapdragon 820/21 processor, which has over 200 designs in development.
About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm’s licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm’s engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 30 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.
Sam Medley - Senior Tech Writer - 1462 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2016
I've been a computer geek my entire life. After graduating college with a degree in Mathematics, I worked in finance and banking a few years before taking a job as a database administrator. I started working with Notebookcheck in October of 2016 and have enjoyed writing news and reviews. I've also written for other outlets including UltrabookReview and GeeksWorldWide, focusing on consumer guidance and video gaming. My areas of interest include the business side of technology, retro gaming, Linux, and innovative gadgets. When I'm not writing on electronics or tinkering with a device, I'm either outside with my family, enjoying a decade-old video game, or playing drums or piano.