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Several phones are tipped to feature two new Qualcomm 800 series chipsets. Two of them should be launching very soon.
Qualcomm is effectively reusing old tech to allow companies to launch high-performance phones at a low price. It may seem like a strange decision, effectively diluting their flagship 800 series brand with old tech, but it is likely Qualcomm are doing this due to the increased competition they will face from MediaTek this year.
MediaTek have the Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 which should be used on phones launching in the UK soon.
So how do these two chipsets compare with each other, and what similarities do they have with their older siblings?
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+/860 Mobile Platform
Looking at the Snapdragon 860 first, Qualcomm has put no effort in and are just re-releasing the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ under a new name. Even the product page states Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+/860 Mobile Platform.
So clearly, this is just a marketing gimmick. Last year, Realme launched the Realme X3 SuperZoom using the SD855+ and I thought it was a great idea to reuse older flagships for new affordable offerings.
Obviously, Qualcomm feels like advertising a new phone with a 2-year-old chipset is not as marketable as rebranding it as something new.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 865+
This chipset is a little different from the Snapdragon 865+ it is based off.
Basically, there are two changes; they have tweaked the frequencies of the cores offering a 3.2% bump in performance on the main performance core going from 3.1 to 3.2 GHz and then a 0.8% decrease on the middle three cores. It is such a small difference. I am not sure how noticeable it could be.
Then they have swapped out the FastConnect 6900 System, which offers WiFi 6E and 160Mhz channel utilisation, with the FastConnect 6800 system, which offers standard WiFi 6 and is limited to 80Mhz. It is unlikely many people will ever notice the difference.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 vs Snapdragon 860/855+ vs Snapdragon 888 vs Snapdragon SD865+ Specification
| Snapdragon 855+/860 | Snapdragon 865+ | Snapdragon 870 | Snapdragon 888 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Cores | 1 x2.96GHz Cortex A76 | 1 x 3.1GHz Cortex A77 | 1 x 3.2GHz Cortex A77 | 1 x 2.84GHz Cortex X1 |
| 3 x 2.42GHz Cortex A76 | 3 x 2.42GHz Cortex A77 | 3 x 2.40GHz Cortex A77 | 3 x 2.42GHz Cortex A78 | |
| 4 x 1.80GHz Cortex A55 | 4 x 1.80GHz Cortex A55 | 4 x 1.80GHz Cortex A55 | 4 x 1.80GHz Cortex A55 | |
| GPU | Adreno 640 @ 672MHz | Adreno 650 | Adreno 650 | Adreno 660 |
| 25% faster than Adreno 650 | ||||
| AI Engine | Hexagon 690 | Hexagon 698 | Hexagon 698 | Hexagon 780 |
| 15 TOPS | 15 TOPS | 26 TOPS | ||
| 5G Modem | Snapdragon X50 (External) | Snapdragon X55 (External) | Snapdragon X55 (External) | Snapdragon X60 (Integrated) |
| 5G NR Sub-6 + mmWave | 5G NR Sub-6 + mmWave | 5G NR Sub-6 + mmWave | 5G NR Sub-6 + mmWave | |
| Up to 7.5Gbps down | Up to 7.5Gbps down | Up to 7.5Gbps down | Up to 7.5Gbps down | |
| Up to 3Gbps uplink | Up to 3Gbps uplink | Up to 3Gbps uplink | Up to 3Gbps uplink | |
| Dynamic Spectrum Sharing | Dynamic Spectrum Sharing | Dynamic Spectrum Sharing | Dynamic Spectrum Sharing | |
| Connectivity | FastConnect 6800 (probbaly) | FastConnect 6900 | FastConnect 6800 | FastConnect 6900 |
| Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6E | |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | |
| Display | QHD+ at 144Hz | QHD+ at 144Hz | QHD+ at 144Hz | QHD+ at 144Hz |
| 4K at 60Hz | 4K at 60Hz | 4K at 60Hz | 4K at 60Hz | |
| HDR10+, 10-bit color | HDR10+, 10-bit color | HDR10+, 10-bit color | HDR10+, 10-bit color | |
| Memory | LPDDR4X up to 2133 MHz | LPDDR5 up to 2750MHz | LPDDR5 up to 2750MHz | LPDDR5 up to 3200MHz |
| LPDDR4X up to 2133MHz | LPDDR4X up to 2133MHz | Up to 16GB RAM | ||
| Up to 16GB RAM | Up to 16GB RAM | Up to 16GB RAM | ||
| ISP | Dual 14-bit Spectra 380 | Dual 14-bit Spectra 480 | Dual 14-bit Spectra 480 | 14-bit Spectra 580 |
| 4K video @ 60fps | 4K video at 120fps | 4K video at 120fps | 4K video at 120fps | |
| 8K at 30fps | 8K at 30fps | 8K at 30fps | ||
| Node | 7nm | 7nm | 7nm | 5nm |
Overall
How good these chipsets are, really depends on pricing. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 has the potential to offer superb performance for your money, the SD865+ is a fantastic chipset and easier on the battery than the new flagship Snapdragon 888.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
