Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors are the most well recognised SoCs in the Android smartphone space. Anyone besides Apple and Huawei who makes proper Flagship grade phones definitely uses Snapdragon processors.

Snapdragon processors are not limited to only just flagship grade offerings. They offer something for everyone at every tier and their offerings are sure to be amongst the best of the competition.

Qualcomm was created on July 1, 1985 by seven former Linkabit employees led by Irwin Jacobs. The company was named Qualcomm for "QUALity COMMunications." It started as a contract research and development center largely for government and defense projects but they later delved into electronic and communication.

Qualcomm invented CDMA (2G) in 1986 and by 1996, it was widely in use. Qualcomm also helped develop the technologies used in 3G, LTE and 5G.

Qualcomm have an architecture license from ARM holdings which allows them to modify ARM's design to build more superior chips (please see my previous post on ARM cortex). Qualcomm's custom cores are the now abandoned Krait and currently Kryo cores.
Kryo = Qualcomm custom
Kryo 2xx = Cortex-A73
Kryo 3xx = Cortex-A75
Kryo 4xx = Cortex-A76
Kryo 5xx = Cortex-A77

The success of Snapdragon chipsets have been attributed to it's superior engineering, design and GPUs. Another telling factor is that unlike the competition, Qualcomm manufactures it's own GPU and both are soldered onto a single substrate and operate together.

In response to today's market demands, there are 4 tiers of Snapdragon chipsets:
800 series
700 series
600 series
400 series

800 series
These are among the best chipsets in a phone that money can buy. Every year, Qualcomm releases a new flagship SoC for phone makers. These always start with the number 800. In 2018, SD845 ruled the market, in 2019, it was SD855 and SD855+. In 2020, after the failure of Exynos 990 to meet expectations and Huawei's Kirin yet to be appraised, SD865 currently strides the landscape like a Colossus (blame Peter Drury and PES 2020 ).
Notable SD865 phones are Samsung Galaxy S20 (US, Korea), Xiaomi Mi 10 series, LG V60 and Sony Xperia 1 II
We expect next year's flagship SoC to be SD875

700 series
The 700 series was designed to bridge the gap between Midrange phones and Flagship phones. Most of the chips found in the segment are either upper midrangers (710, 712 and 720) or Flagship killers (730 and above).
These phones bring you close to the performance of a flagship phone at an affordable or competitive price. Notable SoCs here are the SD710, SD712, SD720G, SD730/G and SD765/G. The G in front denotes Gaming. These phones are pricey and cost anything from 90k and above generally ending at 200k but with the weak Naira, expect prices to rise.
Notable phones in this segment are Xiaomi Mi Note 10, MI9T, Poco X2, Realme X2 and Motorola Razr.

600 series
The 600 series focuses on a broad spectrum of phones from the budget segment to the Midrange segment. These devices are usually priced below 300 dollars or 90k Naira (but don't forget the weak Naira tho).
Notable chipsets here are SD625 (Mi A2 lite, Redmi 6 pro); SD 632 (Redmi 7), SD636 (RN5AI, Nokia X6, Infinix Zero 6), SD660 (RN7, Nokia 7.2), SD662 is new, SD665 (Redmi Note 8 ), SD670 and SD675 (Samsung Galaxy A70 and Redmi Note 7 Pro).

400 series
These are designed to cater for the entry level and budget market. Don't expect a lot from them as they come very cheap. My personal favourite is the Redmi Go (SD425), there's also SD429, SD430 (Gionee S11 lite, Infinix hot S3X), SD439 (Redmi 7a, Redmi 8/a), SD450 and SD460. These should all be priced below 45k or 50k at most.

Why do a lot of people consider Snapdragon processors to be the best on the market?

1. Great CPU performance: They outperform a lot of the competition.

2. Games: Devs and studios find it easier to build games for SD chipsets and the Adreno GPU does a wonderful job of rendering graphics more than other chips on the Android Ecosystem.

3. Mods: SD chipsets are also easier to mod or port apps for as Qualcomm releases certain information for Modders and developers to work with.

4. Support and Longevity: SD chipsets are well supported and will remain relevant for a long period of time before being phased out. There's a whole army of staff, modders and developers both from the company, the OEMs as well as independent developers who are willing to iron out bugs and provide updates wherever they pop up.

Thanks for this info op

bravesoul247:
Thanks for this info op

You're welcome and thank you too.

Out of the 70+ phones listed up there, only one Transsion device was listed.... Even in the below 40k segment.... Not a single Transsion device was there. And they claim to be cheap and affordable.
Even the infinix phone (infinix zero 6) that has this snapdragon SoC is well above 120k. Mean while the Redmi note 5 and 5 pro that use the same grade of snapdragon processor is below 50k.

YxCEc2kUDRp2RWy:
Out of the 70+ phones listed up there, only one Transsion device was listed.... Even in the below 40k segment.... Not a single Transsion device was there. And they claim to be cheap and affordable.
Even the infinix phone (infinix zero 6) that has this snapdragon SoC is well above 120k. Mean while the Redmi note 5 and 5 pro that use the same grade of snapdragon processor is below 50k.

Of the Transsion brothers family, only Infinix has attempted to use SD processors. SD processors don't come cheap tho.

atheistandproud:


Of the Transsion brothers family, only Infinix has attempted to use SD processors. SD processors don't come cheap tho.

Check the Xiaomi market in India.... They're are trying

YxCEc2kUDRp2RWy:
Out of the 70+ phones listed up there, only one Transsion device was listed.... Even in the below 40k segment.... Not a single Transsion device was there. And they claim to be cheap and affordable.
Even the infinix phone (infinix zero 6) that has this snapdragon SoC is well above 120k. Mean while the Redmi note 5 and 5 pro that use the same grade of snapdragon processor is below 50k.

and one mofo from nowhere will single me out and start asking me what do i have against tecno?

nice one op.

YxCEc2kUDRp2RWy:

Check the Xiaomi market in India.... They're are trying

I mean compared to their Mediatek Helio counterparts at the same price points, SD tends to be costlier. Only the G90T has bucked this trend but it holds true in all other cases.

That being said Xiaomi has a very special symbiotic relationship with Snapdragon. They helped push Snapdragon as a market force and in return they enjoy some concessions allowing them to sell phones at unbelievable affordable prices.

atheistandproud:


I mean compared to their Mediatek Helio counterparts at the same price points, SD tends to be costlier. Only the G90T has bucked this trend but it holds true in all other cases.

That being said Xiaomi has a very special symbiotic relationship with Snapdragon. They helped push Snapdragon as a market force and in return they enjoy some concessions allowing them to sell phones at unbelievable affordable prices.

Good things don't come cheap
In the budget, entry level and midrange level, Snapdragon beats Mediatek by far. Mediatek just began to wake up and reverse that. But snapdragon still rules.sha.

YxCEc2kUDRp2RWy:

Good things don't come cheap
In the budget, entry level and midrange level, Snapdragon beats Mediatek by far. Mediatek just began to wake up and reverse that. But snapdragon still rules.sha.

Qualcomm are kings of the android ecosystem currently.

Very smooth narrative. Peter Drury got me there

A lovely thread as always.
Didn't realize the G was for gaming until now.

2kurupt:
Very smooth narrative. Peter Drury got me there

Na too much game cause am

Thelucifer666:
A lovely thread as always.
Didn't realize the G was for gaming until now.

Your opinion is always highly regarded. Thanks.

Nice info

As usual the article is neat and straight to the point. Even a layman will understand this piece.

But one thing got me bothered, which is the statement about 730/G above taking the title as flagship killers.
Though there's a $400 and $550 865-powered phone, I don't think the era of flagship chips used in flagships killers is over.

Hope dimensity 1000+ won't be a flop in real-world use

KrazyDave16:
As usual the article is neat and straight to the point. Even a layman will understand this piece.

But one thing got me bothered, which is the statement about 730/G above taking the title as flagship killers.
Though there's a $400 and $550 865-powered phone, I don't think the era of flagship chips used in flagships killers is over.

Hope dimensity 1000+ won't be a flop in real-world use

MI 9T (also known as Redmi K20) is a flagship killer and it packs a SD730, the Pro version tho (MI 9T Pro/K20 Pro) comes with last year's flagship SD855.

Mi Note 10 comes with Flagship grade 108mp penta set up but at it's heart is a SD730 as well and it's referred to as Flagship killer.

The new SD765 is a 5G chipset and it's already being touted as a very capable Flagship killer chipset.

That being said, Flagship grade chipsets can also be used in Flagship killers. The aim of this class is providing Flagship experience at a more affordable price.

The 700 series is aiming to bridge the gap between Midrange and flagship hence at the lower end you have midrangers and at the upper end, flagship killers.

KrazyDave16:
As usual the article is neat and straight to the point. Even a layman will understand this piece.

But one thing got me bothered, which is the statement about 730/G above taking the title as flagship killers.
Though there's a $400 and $550 865-powered phone, I don't think the era of flagship chips used in flagships killers is over.

Hope dimensity 1000+ won't be a flop in real-world use

As for Dimensity, I'm hearing that Xiaomi may risk it in the Redmi Note 10 series. It's why I'm considering pitching my tent with the Note 9S for the foreseeable future.

Mohbola:
Nice info

Thank you.

Well researched piece. Weldone OP

Randerl:
Well researched piece. Weldone OP

This coming from a geek like you sir tells a lot. Thanks.

To tell u the truth transission needs to do better, Imagine the SD439 on my redmi 7a(32k)has a better gpu than the Mtk Helio p35 on tecno camon 15(95k), only thing separating is ram and camera,If u use tecno am sorry for you

Knew all these but thank you op. 5hose techno fans will learn something new

horlahwaley:
Knew all these but thank you op. 5hose techno fans will learn something new

You're welcome.

Let's educate Nigerians. That's the goal.

atheistandproud:


As for Dimensity, I'm hearing that Xiaomi may risk it in the Redmi Note 10 series. It's why I'm considering pitching my tent with the Note 9S for the foreseeable future.

They might if price of SD chips don't depreciate. Seeing the amount of support from the devs on note 8 pro, despite several issues encountered, the note 10 series might also be a success

atheistandproud:


MI 9T (also known as Redmi K20) is a flagship killer and it packs a SD730, the Pro version tho (MI 9T Pro/K20 Pro) comes with last year's flagship SD855.

Mi Note 10 comes with Flagship grade 108mp penta set up but at it's heart is a SD730 as well and it's referred to as Flagship killer.

The new SD765 is a 5G chipset and it's already being touted as a very capable Flagship killer chipset.

That being said, Flagship grade chipsets can also be used in Flagship killers. The aim of this class is providing Flagship experience at a more affordable price.

The 700 series is aiming to bridge the gap between Midrange and flagship hence at the lower end you have midrangers and at the upper end, flagship killers.

At this rate, flagship killers with 865 might be ded. Can't wait for the competition to up their game so Qualcomm will stop their ridiculous practices. Imagine 865 got no inbuilt 4G modem but is separate and must be bought full price, even though 5G isn't needed.... Who does that?

Thanks for the information, very enlightening.

Great work, OP.

Huawei's Kirin yet to be appraised, SD865 currently strides the landscape like a Colossus

Hehehe

Transsion marketers will avoid this thread.

KrazyDave16:


At this rate, flagship killers with 865 might be ded. Can't wait for the competition to up their game so Qualcomm will stop their ridiculous practices. Imagine 865 got no inbuilt 4G modem but is separate and must be bought full price, even though 5G isn't needed.... Who does that?

KrazyDave16:


At this rate, flagship killers with 865 might be ded. Can't wait for the competition to up their game so Qualcomm will stop their ridiculous practices. Imagine 865 got no inbuilt 4G modem but is separate and must be bought full price, even though 5G isn't needed.... Who does that?

You have made very solid points. As they say, the future is pregnant. Let's watch and see what it will deliver.

LordBaggins:
Thanks for the information, very enlightening.

You're welcome sir, and thank you too.

The last Baggins left the Shire and Middle Earth with Lord Elrond, Gandalf, and the Lady of the Wood. Which Baggins you be?

DriggityDre:
Great work, OP.

Hehehe