Qualcomm recently announced the launch of its new Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 chipset, which falls within the company’s more “budget” oriented platforms. With that being said though, the 4s Gen 2 isn’t necessarily a pushover, and Qualcomm’s newest 4nm chipset does come with some pleasant surprises up its sleeve, such as the inclusion of 5G connectivity for low-end devices.
Connectivity and Overall Performance
For connectivity, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 packs a 5G Modem-RF System capable of peak speeds up to 1 Gbps, which Qualcomm says is a significant increase compared to Cat4 LTE peak speeds from previous generation models. It also features dual-frequency GPS with NavIC L1+L5 for enhanced location accuracy, and users can seamlessly switch between 5G and Qualcomm Wi-Fi 5 when going online; for Bluetooth, the 4s Gen 2 supports Bluetooth 5.1 capabilities.
For performance, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 comes with improved power management, which should ideally give users access to all-day use for sharing files, photos, and videos, and other tasks that they usually get done on their smartphone. The chipset’s 4nm process node is joined by Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+ Technology, which allows devices to charge up to 50% in just 15 minutes. Qualcomm has also equipped the 4s Gen 2 with its Kryo CPU which can reach peak speeds of up to 2 GHz, as well as upgraded UFS 3.1 memory for faster overall performance.
Camera and Media Capabilities
For photography, the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 features the Qualcomm Spectra 12-bit dual ISP, and supports up to 84 MP single-shot capture, and can record smooth videos with built-in Video Image Stabilization. Given its price segment however, there’s a 1080p resolution limit on videos, although they do max out at 60 frames per second for both single and dual video capture.
Qualcomm also promises an immersive media and audio experience on devices with the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2. Like a lot of new hardware and software products these days, there’s AI-powered Voice Activation for clear communication even in noisy environments, while smooth gaming is handled by Q-Sync technology. For music streaming, there’s support for Qualcomm aptX Adaptive and aptX Voice. The Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 also comes with support for FHD+ displays with 90Hz refresh rates.
Availability
As for when we can see the Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 in action, Qualcomm says that the chipset will arrive later this year, and will be available via several devices from partner OEMs and manufacturers. With that said, Qualcomm adds that Xiaomi will be the first smartphone manufacturer to feature the 4s Gen 2 in an upcoming smartphone.
