Just a few hours ago we told you more details about the Xperia XZ3, the new Sony mobile that could release the new processor Snapdragon 855Now we have learned new details about this processor, which could mark a turning point in the long history of Qualcomm processors, which now fully enters the era of... advanced artificial intelligence and high-speed connectivity.
At the end of last June, Qualcomm presented new mid-range processors, the Qualcomm 632, 439 and 429This continues the overhaul of its SoC range, which is undoubtedly the most popular among Android mobile devices. This refresh in the mid-range was just the prelude to the significant leap the manufacturer was preparing for the high-end market with the Snapdragon 855 and its new architecture focused on AI, computational photography, and much more demanding gaming experiences.
The Snapdragon 855 will debut an NPU like Huawei's
As you will surely remember, the Kirin 970 hit the market standing out for a unique feature, and which we had not seen in processors of this type until then, such as the inclusion of a Dedicated NPU, which the Huawei P20 has boasted about so much. Or in other words, a neural processing unitwhich allows for accelerating artificial intelligence processes in devices where this technology is integrated, thus relieving the CPU and GPU of work.
Well, according to one of the most popular leakers, Roland Quandt, the new Snapdragon 855 processor It will also integrate a dedicated NPU for the same purpose: to power the artificial intelligence of the devices in which this processor is integrated. In the Qualcomm ecosystem, this component materializes in the Hexagon 690, an AI engine that combines scalar cores, HVX vector extensions, and tensor accelerators to deliver far superior performance in machine learning, scene recognition, or natural language processing tasks.
This means that mobile phones that start arriving with this new processor will be able to offer adapted artificial intelligence to our daily phone usage. The NPU will prioritize tasks, optimize battery usage, improve voice recognition, and adjust camera parameters in real time. Since it's local processing on the device, it gains in privacy, response speed and in lower energy consumption versus solutions that constantly depend on the cloud.
This information also comes with another surprise: the final name of Qualcomm's processor. It won't be what everyone expected, as the company is completely changing the name of its future processor lineup. Thus, the Snapdragon 855 that we knew until now, will be known as the SM8150a different nomenclature from the current one and whose change would make a lot of sense to order the chips according to family, range and type of device in which they are integrated.
In fact, Qualcomm is reportedly making these changes to the processor names to differentiate those intended for mobile phones from those that will soon be integrated into desktop or laptop computers. Indeed, the Snapdragon 1000, which is expected to compete head-to-head with Intel's computer processors, will ultimately be called... SCX8180Therefore, we finally find ourselves with a nomenclature more similar to that used by Samsung with its Exynos or Apple with its A-series chips.
This new SM8150 promises to mark a before and after in the company's historyand by extension, mobile phones, bringing artificial intelligence and its undeniable benefits to everyone. On a technical level, the Snapdragon 855 uses a manufacturing process of 7 nanometersThis is a significant leap forward compared to previous generations, allowing for more transistors, less heat generation, and improved battery life, even in demanding scenarios such as gaming or high-resolution video recording.
Snapdragon 855 architecture and its artificial intelligence engine
Beyond the name change and the jump to 7nm, the Snapdragon 855 introduces a triple cluster CPU architecture Designed to balance raw power and energy efficiency, it features eight Kryo cores divided into three groups: one ultra-high-performance core for the heaviest tasks, three high-performance cores for medium workloads, and four low-power cores for everyday operations where battery life is paramount.
This distribution allows the operating system to activate only the necessary cores at any given time, so that the battery is used more efficiently And the heat generated is kept under control. Tasks like browsing, using social media, or messaging are mainly performed on the efficient cores, while demanding games, video editing, or augmented reality use the high-end cores.
The other major pillar of the platform is its AI engine. Hexagon 690 It combines with the CPU and Adreno GPU to form what Qualcomm calls Multi-layered AI EngineThe goal is for each type of calculation to run on the most appropriate unit: the NPU for neural networks, the GPU for graphics-related parallel workloads, and the CPU for control and general logic tasks.
Thanks to this approach, the Snapdragon 855 can triple performance in artificial intelligence compared to the previous generation. In practice, this translates into cameras that recognize scenes faster, more secure facial unlocking systems, voice assistants that better understand commands, and applications that adapt their interface to our behavior much more precisely.
In addition, support for AI frameworks widely used in Android (such as TensorFlow Lite o Caffe2) makes it easier for third-party developers to take advantage of all this potential without having to program from scratch for each hardware unit, something key for the app ecosystem to continue growing around this chip.
Computational photography, advanced video, and gaming powered by Snapdragon Elite Gaming
One of the areas where the combination of NPU, CPU, and GPU is most noticeable is the computational photographyQualcomm's ISP (Image Signal Processor) works hand in hand with the NPU to analyze each scene, identify subjects, backgrounds, and lighting conditions, and apply specific enhancements in real time: noise reduction, increased detail, color correction, or more natural background blur.
That AI boost allows the Snapdragon 855 to shine in modes like the portrait modeNight photography or video with advanced effects. Features such as real-time background switching, motion detection for electronic stabilization, or precise face tracking are possible because the NPU processes huge amounts of visual information without overloading the CPU.
In addition, the processor has the ability to work with high-resolution sensors and multiple rear cameras, something manufacturers can leverage to offer hybrid zoom, wide-angle and telephoto lens on a single device. AI is also used to merge data from multiple sensors and obtain a final image with more information and fewer artifacts.
In the entertainment sector, Qualcomm incorporates the platform Snapdragon Elite Gaming, a set of optimizations that directly aim to improve the mobile gaming experienceIt includes improvements in graphics rendering, intelligent power management, and support for modern graphics technologies that reduce latency and smooth animation even when the title is very demanding.
The GPU Adreno The processor accompanying the Snapdragon 855 has been specifically optimized for augmented reality tasks and real-time post-processing effects, such as those seen in camera filters or games that combine the real world and virtual elements. This way, the user not only gets more frames per second, but also richer images with better reflections, shadows, and lighting effects.
All of this makes the Snapdragon 855 not just a generational leap in performance, but a complete platform geared towards applied artificial intelligenceFrom the way we take photos and play games to how the mobile understands our voice, learns from our habits and adapts almost imperceptibly to offer an increasingly personalized experience.
With the arrival of this chip and its integrated NPU, Qualcomm consolidates its position in the high-end Android and paves the way for a new generation of devices where AI is not a marketing gimmick, but a core piece of hardware that tangibly improves the daily use of the phone.
