The year 2011 was all about “dual core”, becoming the standard for high-end smartphones. And we just witnessed what superphones like the Samsung Galaxy S II, DROID RAZR MAXX, and others are capable of. These phones are five times more powerful than anything released last year, and for this upcoming generation of devices, even more.
So, what next? This year, chip-makers have come forth with quad core processors supporting mobile multitasking comparable to the performance of a desktop computer of a few years ago, powered by Tegra 3 SoC’s and TI’s OMAP equivalent. More cores equal more power and a faster smartphone; certainly they are likely to offer increased power savings and a performance increase in the range of 300-500%. And, they actually have power saving features embedded in them too.
NVIDIA Tegra Product Roadmap
And the players include HTC, Motorola, Sony, Samsung, LG, and Meizu. We will look at the devices they are bringing to market one by one.
HTC
HTC might be launching the first quad-core smartphone in the market among the smartphone manufacturers. Dubbed HTC Edge, it will run on NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 having four cores (and a fifth, companion core for less demanding tasks) clocked at 1.5GHz allowing the processor to simultaneously run multiple sets of program instructions. Along with this, the battery life will increase two fold. With 1GB of RAM will be at your disposal, along with 32GB of built-in memory, this mammoth device will offer a 4.7″ screen with 720p HD resolution; big-screen junkies should be happy.
- 8MP camera unit with 28mm, f/2.2 lens
- 4.7″ screen with 720p HD
- NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 quad core clocked @ 1.5 Ghz
- 32GB of built-in memory
- 1GB of RAM
- Android 4.0 ICS
MOTOROLA
Now, for Moto, if we are to believe the rumors, is gearing up with its Tegra 3 based devices lined up for the launch in the Q2 2012 and might be unveiled during MWC 2012. After the Motorola DROID RAZR and the Motorola DROID RAZR MAXX, the phones have been codenamed as Motorola Bullet and Motorola Jet. Supposedly the Bullet will be a straight-up slate, while the Jet will be a QWERTY slider. Aside from the absolutely unstoppable and drool-worthy 3300mAh Quad core powered Motorola Atrix 3, very little in the way of rumors have surfaced over the past few months, Motorola seems like they are quite content with their current line-up, but this is likely to change quickly. You know how it goes, things change rather quickly in these here parts.
The Bullet is a candy bar style 4.3″ qHD (960×540) phone, packing a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and most likely 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM. It will also feature 16GB of on-board storage, an NFC chip, and a redesigned image sensor to capture amazing photos and HD video on its 12MP camera. It’s also alleged to be launching before its keyboard brethren, the Motorola Jet.
Motorola Jet
The Motorola Jet 4 will be adored by the Android QWERTY lovers and sports a smaller 4″ display, brandishing a qHD (960×540) display with an amazing QWERTY keyboard from its cousin Motorola Droid 3. Thankfully, it will be sporting the same Herculean hardware as its keyboard-less cousin, the Bullet, and will feature a 4″ qHD 24-bit screen, Tegra 3, up to 1.5GB of DDR2 RAM, 16GB on-board storage, same newly designed 12MP camera as the Bullet, NFC chip, and a fully redesigned 5 row (perhaps) style sliding keyboard.
Some also reported that Motorola is getting quite serious about putting world class image sensors in their upcoming phones, giving consumers the power to capture fast, awesome HD photos and video in low light. So, with Motorola making this a major focus, it’s looking like the chance of us being able to put our dedicated digital camera away sooner than we thought. Plus, with the promised processing power of the quad core Tegra SoC, it’s theoretically possible that these devices will be able to capture 60fps + at 1080p. Judging by the image above it looks like both devices will be running on Verizon’s 4G LTE – since they aren’t releasing any more 3G only devices – and both phones have the “Verizon” logo, and on the back there is the “4G LTE” logo. Here’s to hoping they find a way to get great battery life on 4G LTE.
SONY
The Arc was one of Sony Ericsson’s (soon to be just Sony) best smartphones last year. While it lacked dual core goodness, it was slim, as it was supposed to be, since most of their competition had phones like that already, and it was stylish. Design is still one of Sony’s strong suit, but it doesn’t go well with thick phones, which is how most of their phones still are. But they will be pushing other slim phones in 2012.
Sony Xperia S
- dual core 1.5 Ghz Snapdragon chip
- 4.3″ 1280×720 HD display
- 1 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of storage
- 1750 mAh battery
- 12 MP rear camera
The Ion is not only proof of that, but it’s also a bit of proof that Sony
Ericsson
finally understands that they need to be on the edge with hardware specs, too. From what we’ve seen, it appears that Sony is taking the smartphone market very seriously, and is positioning themselves in 2012 to become a lot more competitive.
SAMSUNG
The giant Korean company, maker of the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S2, is poised to be a leader in this particular superphone death-match. Samsung’s phones and tablets have used ARM, Snapdragon and Tegra chipsets, but the manufacturer’s semiconductor division is working hard on the next generation of its own Exynos line of systems-on-a-chip. They are testing possible processors like the Exynos 5250, which isn’t quad-core, but rather a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 processor. Samsung seems to be confident that the Exynos 5250 can produce benchmarks and performance competitive with a quad-core processor. Or it may even go with the 32 nm quad core Exynos 4412 (based on Cortex A9) having the same clock speed of 1.5 GHz.
One of the latest renderings of the Galaxy S3
- 1GB/2GB of RAM
- 4.6 inch 1280×720 AMOLED display
- under 9mm thin
- 12MP rear camera, with W750 BSI CMOS sensor
- 1.5Ghz quad core (potentially dual core, but unlikely)
- Multiple variants to be released to support different carriers
Samsung has some tough choices to make. According to our very own Lucian Armasu:
If we take into consideration the specs of the device, the talks which are in the air reveal that the Galaxy S III’s design will be different from the current design of the Galaxy S series, and will thinner in size than its ancestor, the Galaxy S2. Samsung might be including 3D (glassless) functionality into the Galaxy S3 line of Android phones. Predictions indicate that it will feature a 4.6” Super AMOLED Plus HD screen, 2GB of RAM, LTE connectivity, running on Android’s latest ICS firmware with Touchwiz – Samsung’s own overlay. Also like its competitors, it might incorporate a 12 MP primary camera (with W750 BSI CMOS sensor) and NFC support.“The “safest” rumor about the Galaxy S3 has been that it has a quad core 1.5 Ghz processor, most likely based on Cortex A9. While that will certainly be competitive this spring, I don’t think the competitive edge will be that big for the Galaxy S3 to maintain the lead in performance for too long.”
If Samsung does unveil the Galaxy S3 at Mobile World Congress in 2012, we will see Galaxy S III earlier this May or even in April. If not, then look for it closer to the summer.
MEIZU
Meizu MX with Quad Core Launching in May 2012
- Tegra 3 Quad Core @ 1.5 Ghz
- 1/2GB of RAM
- 16 GB ROM
- 8MP Camera
- 1600 mAh
- 4 inch LED backlit display
Meizu have gained reputation in China, and their quality and powerful devices are starting to be acknowledged by the West, too, which means that it might not be long until they start selling them to Europe and US, as well struggling against the iPhone.
LG
LG's Quad Core Demon - the X3
- NVIDIA Tegra 3 Quad-core CPU
- A whopping 4.7 inches HD Screen (1280×720)
- 8MP Rear Camera and 1.3MP Front
- 16GB on a microSD card.
- Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box
- 21Mbps HSPA or LTE depending on region and carrier
- 2000mAh battery
- NFC
Said to come with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich out of the box, it will feature a 1.3 megapixel, and an 8 megapixel rear. Other specs include the usual suspects, including Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, 3G/4G/LTE connectivity, depending on the region, and a fairly substantial 2000mAh battery.
These companies are not alone in the game. Panasonic, ZTE, Huawei and even Fujitsu are also planning to roll out their quad core phones soon, too. So, what are there plans? Let’s check them out!
PANASONIC
When we had the chance to meet with Panasonic at CES, they expressed that they want to internationalize their smartphone business. Panasonic is a borderline legendary company, with some of the greatest experience in the world at making technology. That being said, this is purely a business move. You see, every single Japanese OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) has lost tons of money making TV’s and displays in general (big part of their business before), so it’s only natural that Sharp, Panasonic, Fujitsu and others would want to bring their “A game” and sell their mobile technology on the international stage. Either way, what we are looking at above is the Panasonic Eluga, which is destined for Japan – for now. It’s likely though, and somewhat unfortunately, that Panasonic doesn’t quite ‘get it’, and will likely unveil their premier Android smartphone with only a dual core processor, which is, in a word, insufficient. Either way, they are bringing their expertise to the production of said device, and it will likely be a dust-proof and waterproof device. The last reports we heard indicate that the device has been named the Panasonic Eluga. Still, we simply can’t help but admire at how beautiful its renderings are.
Specs
- 4.3″ qHD display
- NFC
- 8GB of onboard memory
- 8MP camera
- Dual-core 1Ghz processor
- Android 2.3 upgradeable to Android 4.0 ICS
HUAWEI
I’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again. Huawei is the one to watch in 2012. They’ve had quite a bit of success domestically in China, and elsewhere in Europe, and they’re hungry for more. Out of the hundreds of pieces of technology I had the privilege of experiencing, the Huawei Ascend P1 and P1S were the ones that really stood out. Remarkably thin, and built of an extremely strong composite plastic, they both featured an eye popping qHD AMOLED display, and made me want to put my Galaxy S2 back in my pocket. Dubbed the Huawei Ascend D1 Q, it’s alleged to be packing a quad core Tegra 3, and all in a super tight, svelte package. What’s not to love? Perhaps the battery life. Time will tell, as with all good things, but from judging the reception the DROID RAZR MAXX has enjoyed with its industry leading 3300mAh battery, major manufacturers better wake up and notice that consumers want long battery life, and, in most cases, are willing to forgo thinness in the pursuit of more road-warrior attuned qualities.
Specs
- 4.3″ qHD display
- NFC
- 16GB of onboard memory
- 8MP camera
- Quad-core 1.3Ghz processor
- Android 4.0x+ Ice Cream Sandwich
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