Qualcomm announced new Snapdragon S4 processors for the latest smartphones and an expansion of its Snapdragon S1 range for entry-level smartphones. The chipmaker said the new S4 devices are aimed at lowering design, engineering and inventory costs while bringing 3G and 4G speeds to the latest phones. This should allow manufacturers to introduce S4-based devices throughout their portfolios, from basic smartphones to high-end smartphones and tablets. The Krait CPU is at the heart of the new S4 range and was built for improved mobile performance and longer battery life. The new S4 chipsets include the MSM8660A, MSM8260A, MSM8630, MSM8230, MSM8627, MSM8227, APQ8060A and APQ8030. These are additional chipsets to the previously announced MSM8960, MSM8930 and APQ8064. The chipsets come with wireless modems supporting EV-DO, HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, LTE FDD, LTE TDD and Wi-Fi standards. Devices based on Snapdragon S4 processors are expected to appear in early 2012. Qualcomm also announced an upgrade to four of its existing Snapdragon S1 mobile processors. The MSM7225A, MSM7625A, MSM7227A and MSM7627A have been upgraded to deliver better performance and will enable new mobile experiences for entry-level smartphone users, particularly those transitioning from 2G to 3G.
