Samsung and LG Could Stumble in 2015 as Qualcomm's Next-Gen Snapdragon 810 Processor is in Big Trouble
According to a new Korean report published today, Samsung, LG and other Android smartphone OEMs that design and sell premium smartphones that compete with Apple's iPhone 6 are getting really nervous that they'll be forced to delay their next generation smartphone models that were due out in the first half of 2015. Why? Because Qualcomm is having major problems with their next generation Snapdragon 810 processor that will take more time to solve.
At risk are Samsung's Galaxy S6 and the LG G4 at minimum. It is unclear whether or not the supply of the Snapdragon 810 will exist in the first half of next year due to technical problems such as overheating and a decline in speed.
If need be, Samsung may have to step up their plans for a replacement CPU, their own Exynos chips to get the Galaxy S6 off the ground. But other OEM's like LG won't have a backup plan ready for this year. Their new AP, NUCLUN, is unable to meet the demands of a premium smartphone. So they're just out of luck.
If Qualcomm is unable to supply the Snapdragon 810, it won't be easy for LG to find an alternative for the G4. Industry insiders are saying that "Qualcomm is faced with hard-to-solve problems. The Snapdragon 810 overheats when it reaches a specific voltage. It also slows down owing to problems with the RAM controller connected to the AP. In addition, there is an error in the driver of the Adreno 430 GPU."
The source added that for these reasons, it is unclear if the Snapdragon 810 will be used in premium smartphones like the Galaxy S6, the G4, and the Xperia Z4 scheduled to be released in the first half of next year.
The Snapdragon 810 is an octa-core AP composed of four quad-core A57s and four quad-core A53s, which supports 64-bit and an Ultra HD display. Handset makers like Samsung and LG, which focus on premium smartphones, are likely to use technology that supports a UHD display and 64 bits in its next models. Hence, these companies badly need the Snapdragon 810.
If Qualcomm truly stumbles, it could translate into more sales for Apple's iPhone 6. Qualcomm could be delivered even more bad news this weekend if the IEEE vote forces them to reduce their wireless technology licensing fees that the likes of Apple, Intel, HP and Microsoft are pushing for.
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December 13, 2014, EETimes report: Inside Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810
To see what the new Snapdragon 810 will offer, the EETimes report fills you in, but also acknowleges that the processor may not surface until Q3.
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