In the end of the year 2017, Qualcomm launched its Snapdragon 845 for the bigger phones. Having better features and improvements over its predecessor, Snapdragon 835.
To give you an inside out look at what you should be expecting from this chipset, we’ve brought you 6 big Snapdragon 845 features, where we have seen significant improvements from the past.
You can also compare it with new snapdragon 865 or 765 processors.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Features
CPU
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 is a very high performing 64-bit ARM architecture LTE SoC (System on a Chip). It has been fabricated on Samsung’s 10nm (nanometer) 10LPP (Low Power Plus). The second generation to the initial 10LPE (Low Power Early).
This octa-core processor features 4 Kryo 385 Gold Cores operating at 2.8 GHz frequency for higher performance and another 4 Kryo 385 Silver Cores operating at 1.7 GHz frequency for better efficiency.
It is the first SoC that has ARM’s latest cluster tech called DynamiQ. Unlike hosting different CPU cores in dedicated cluster sub-systems, ARM has come with a technique of integrating all the cores into one large cluster – DynamiQ.
The Kryo 385 performance cores are configured with 256KB L2 Caches and Kryo 385 efficiency cores are configured with 128KB L2 Caches. While the L3 Cache of DSU (DynamiQ Shared Unit) is configured at 2MB.
All of these improvements uplift the performance of Snapdragon 845 by roughly 30% compared to its predecessor, Snapdragon 835.
The Snapdragon 845 has an integrated Adreno 630 GPU, which is having 2.5 times more display throughput against its predecessor, Adreno 540 GPU which was seen with Snapdragon 835.
The SoC also supports LPDDR4x Dual Channel Memory at a speed of 1866MHz.
GPU
With an Adreno 630 GPU, this SoC offers powerful gaming experience which is not only capable of producing high-quality graphic details but also delivers at higher frame rates, without any glitches.
Unlike the quad-core Adreno 540 on the Snapdragon 835, the Adreno 630 on the Snapdragon 845 is a dual-core GPU, delivering approximately 50% of higher and much deeper texture throughput.
With a 30% reduction in battery drainage, this SoC offers a 30% better gaming performance and 2.5 times faster display output when compared to its predecessor.
The Snapdragon 845 has also packed in other hardware with Adreno 630, that is capable of offering room-wide 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping system (SLAM), that ensures you don’t hit into a wall or any nearby object while deeply immersed into AR and XR activities.
You also get to watch ultra HD videos of 4K resolution (3840 X 2160) at 60 fps. A slow motion HEVC video encoder helps in watching/encoding slo-mo videos of HD 720p upto 480 fps and FHD 1080p upto 240 fps.
With not much of a problem this processor can easily deliver 4K Ultra HD display involving a color gamut of Rec2020 with a color depth of 10-bits.
Better Artificial Intelligence
Snapdragon 845 has increased its standards and made its artificial intelligence faster and much smarter by using third-generation AI Engine. This one is called the Hexagon 685 DSP (Digital Signal processing).
The Hexagon 685 AI engine is made of specialized cores that process all sorts of AI algorithms and the required neural networks on-device. That gives a richer camera experience, better voice, XR (Extended Reality) and immersive gaming experiences.
They also call it the “All Ways Aware” Technology that will always leave the customers awestruck while using camera and voice recognition. For instance, your camera can capture nearby information about scene, the object and location in and around you, even without a constant internet connection. This technology helps in user privacy.
The chipset supports popular AI frameworks like the TensorFlow from Google and Facebook’s Caffe 2.
Image Signal Processing
This is yet another point to address the enhancement made by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset. If you recall, the Snapdragon 835 had a weak spot in ISP, which forced the OEMs to either sacrifice camera performance or develop their own ISPs.
The Snapdragon 835 had a drawback of poor camera performance. But, the new Snapdragon 845 has solved that issue.
It is an integrated chipset with dual 14-bit ISPs called the Spectra 280 that brings much better improvements in camera from 8-bit to 10-bit in color with a better and sharper image quality.
The camera features Active Depth Sensing, Hardware Accelerated Face Detection, Hybrid Autofocus, and Multi-Frame Noise Reduction (MFNR) system. Giving a better boost to the camera of high-end smartphones like OnePlus 6 DO YOU WANT TO HYPERLINK?
Use the dual camera at 30 fps to click images of 16 MP and single camera with ZSL (Zero Shutter Lag) can capture images from 16 MP @ 60 fps to 192 MP clarity.
The video capture features 2020 color gamut which gives a 10-bit color depth.
Videos with High Definition Resolution of 4K can be easily captured @ 30 fps. Slow Motion captures are also possible for 4K HDR @ 60 fps and 720p @ 480 fps.
Also Read: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G Specifications
Increased Security
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 features a better and an additional layer of hardware security called SPU (Secure Processing Unit) that protects your personal data.
With new features that are capable of storing your personal data in a separate location, from the usual location of the Operating System. Protecting you from hackers to gain access to your phone.
With more advanced features like Biometric Authentication that involves Fingerprint, Iris, Voice, and Face recognition options, it is nearly impossible for anyone to even try to unlock your phone.
Other features that come under security are the requirements needed for contactless mobile payments which is already in-built and engineered to give you a better level of comfort while you shop on the go.
Connectivity
Going towards 5G mobile connectivity, the Snapdragon 845 comes with the new X20 LTE modem that supports Cat 13 uplink and Cat 18 downlink.
Now, what does that mean for you?
It means this SoC can reach upto 1 Gigabit per second download speed and roughly 150 Mbps upload speed. Talking about X20, it offers a 20 times more improvement practically in network speeds over the X16 modem which was seen in its predecessor.
It is also observed that Snapdragon 845 features 2 antennas, instead of one. That means your smartphone will connect to the network much faster, and with very less interruptions.
With LTE technologies like LTE FDD, TDD and LTE Broadcast, Snapdragon 845 supports global cellular technologies like WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, and the usual GSM/EDGE networks.
It offers Wi-Fi connectivity for Standards like 802.11ad, 802.11ac Wave 2, and 802.11n due to the built-in 4X4 MIMO support.
Additionally, Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 features includes Bluetooth 5.0 and is also included with several location based sensors like Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, etc. for satellite and tracking services around the world.
