Qualcomm, the world's No.1 supplier of application processors for ultra-mobile devices, this week introduced its first Snapdragon S4 Play mobile processors - the MSM8225Q and MSM8625Q - that feature four ARM Cortex A5 cores. The new application processors are aimed at entry-level devices that require relatively high performance when running multiple apps as well as support for high-def screens.

The Snapdragon S4 MSM8225Q and MSM8625Q processors incorporate four ARM Cortex-A5 general-purpose processing cores (lowest-performance ARMv7-a-compatible cores with in-order execution and without L2 cache) clocked at 1.0GHz - 1.2GHz as well as previous-generation Adreno 203 graphics adapter. The mobile processors support displays with up to 1280*720 resolution, 8MP camera, Hexagon QDSP5 350MHz, gpsOne gen7, USB 2.0 and so on. The quad-core solutions support LPDDR2 memory, increasing the bus bandwidth for improved features such as 720p display and 720p video encode and decode. The chips are produced using 45nm process technology.

Snapdragon S4 Play MSM8625Q features Qualcomm’s integrated multimode CDMA/UMTS (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA, 1*Rev.A, 1*EV-DO Rev.A/B) modem, and the MSM8225Q has an integrated UMTS (GSM, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA) modem. Both processors enable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and FM connectivity using the Qualcomm Atheros AR6005 and WCN2243 chips.

Both are members of the Snapdragon S4 Play processor tier are optimized specifically for a broad range of smartphone users seeking faster applications and better user experiences. Snapdragon S4 Play processors will now offer OEMs both dual-core and quad-core CPUs and performance for entry-level smartphones, with the more advanced version featuring higher bus bandwidth, larger screen resolution support, HD video and enhanced user experiences.

Both processors will be ready for customer sampling by end of 2012 and are expected to be shipping in commercial devices in the first quarter of 2013.

Tags: Qualcomm, Snapdragon, 45nm, Cortex, ARM, Adreno