Nvidia Corp. on Monday introduced what it calls the world’s highest-performing application processors for tablets and smartphones. The new chip is among the first quad-core system-on-chip devices for mobile applications that packs ARM Cortex-A15 cores. The latest Tegra 4 also features a number of photography-related advantages.

Nvidia Tegra 4, previously code-named “Wayne”, features four ARM Cortex-A15 general-purpose cores as well as custom second-generation low-power general-purpose cores.  The chip also incorporates 72 custom Nvidia GeForce stream processors that provide six times graphics processing performance of previous-gen Tegra 3. The new application processor also fully supports output to ultra high-definition screens with up to 4K resolution (3840*2160). Tegra 4 offers exceptional graphics processing, with lightning-fast web browsing, stunning visuals and new camera capabilities through computational photography, according to Nvidia. The new SoC is made using 28nm process technology.

"Tegra 4 provides enormous processing power and efficiency to power smartphones and tablets, gaming devices, auto systems and PCs. Its new capabilities, particularly in the area of computational photography, will help improve a whole range of existing products and lead to the creation of exciting new ones," said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Tegra business at Nvidia.

Tegra 4 also enables worldwide 4G/LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the fifth-generation Nvidia Icera i500 processor. More efficient and 40% the size of conventional modems, i500 delivers four times the processing capability of its predecessor.

Among the Tegra 4 processor's advantages is its computational photography architecture, which automatically delivers high dynamic range (HDR) photos and video by fusing together the processing power of the GPU, CPU and the camera's image-signal processor. Its HDR capability captures images, including those taken with a flash, the way they are seen by the human eye – with detail in both bright and dark areas.

Designed for maximum energy efficiency, Tegra 4 includes a second-generation battery saver core for low power during standard use, and Prism 2 display technology to reduce backlight power while delivering superior visuals.

Tegra 4 consumes up to 45% less power than its predecessor, Tegra 3, in common use cases. And it enables up to 14 hours of HD video playback on phones.

Unfortunately, today Nvidia only formally introduced Tegra 4 and it is unclear when the first devices with the novelty inside are expected to become available.

Tags: Nvidia, Tegra, Wayne, 4G/LTE, Geforce, ARM, Cortex