Five Ways Qualcomm's New Snapdragon 660 And 630 Platforms Bring Mobile Devices To The Next Level

Qualcomm Pushes The Boundaries With New Mobile Platforms

Qualcomm on Monday pushed ahead in the mobile market with the launch of two new platforms: the Snapdragon 660 and 630.

Both deliver high-end features to mobile devices, such as enhancements in biometric security, upgrades in performance, support for better multimedia experiences, and support for machine learning.

"In a nutshell, both platforms are engineered to support superior connections, capture true-to-life photos, include the building blocks for artificial intelligence, and to deliver improved battery life, performance, and security compared to previous generations," the company said in a statement.

Here are five features pushing the mobile boundaries on Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon processor platforms.

Upgraded Performance

Both the Snapdragon 660 and 630 include power upgrades, meaning quicker mobile performance with longer battery power.

The Snapdragon 660's CPU and GPU have been upgraded. The platform features a Kyro 260 CPU that packs a 20 percent improvement in performance over the Snapdragon 653. The 660 also contains an Adreno 512 GPU with a 30 percent performance improvement compared to the previous-generation Adreno 510.

Meanwhile, the 630 platform features an eight-core CPU that touts 10 times better performance than the Snapdragon 625 processor; as well as an Adreno 508 GPU with 30 percent better performance over the previous-generation Adreno 506.

In battery life, both platforms feature Qualcomm's new All-Ways Aware technology – a sensor hub that's engineered to collect data without draining power. This technology processes information so that devices can track location, sense motion, and predict behavior. Both the 660 and 630 also feature Qualcomm Quick Charge 4, which the company said is designed to be up to 20 percent faster than its predecessor.

Biometric Security Enhancements

Qualcomm has upgraded the biometric security capabilities of both the Snapdragon 660 and 630 platforms. This means that smartphones packing either of the two processors will have such capabilities as fingerprint scanning, iris scanning, facial recognition and voice prints. Qualcomm said these features are designed to help ensure protection for devices' hardware and software.

In addition to biometric security, both platforms feature such security tools as Qualcomm Smart Camera, App Protect and Qualcomm Processor Security.

Spectra 160 ISP

Qualcomm has added Spectra 160 ISP to both its Snapdragon 660 and 630 so that they support better camera capabilities. This 14-bit technology supports cameras that capture up to 24 megapixel-single ISP images.

"Spectra is also designed to deliver smooth zoom, lightning-fast autofocus, and true-to-life colors for vivid photos," Qualcomm said in a statement. The Snapdragon 630 supports 13 megapixel dual cameras, while the Snapdragon 660 supports 16 megapixel dual cameras.

Machine Learning

Snapdragon is investing further in machine learning with its new mobile platforms through its Snapdragon Neural Processing Engine Software Developer Kit. This tool, which supports convolutional neural networks, helps developers target the core of choice that best matches the performance for the intended user.

Using the Snapdragon 660 and 630 help OEMs and developers power immersive user experience with machine learning.

Multimedia Support And Availability

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 and 630 are designed for better multimedia experiences. Both platforms contain Qualcomm's EcoPix display technology to enable easier viewing, even in the sunlight; as well as Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec, which helps deliver Hi-Fi audio for smartphone users.

The Snapdragon 660 is available to partners, and should be available in devices in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 630 will become available at the end of May and will appear in devices in the third quarter.