Forgetting the 5G hype for a minute, Qualcomm announced the SD865, SD765 and SD765G – three 5G Superchips for 2020.
Qualcomm SD865, SD765 and SD765G. The flagship is the Snapdragon SD865, the mainstream is the SD765, and the gamer-oriented is SD765G. These are going to power a lot of flagships and high-mid-range smartphones next year.
The key to the SD865, SD765 and SD765G is deep integration of a 5G modem into the System-on-a-Chip to reduce battery drain and increase speed. Add to that a new RF (radio frequency) antenna system and these SoC should give a better all-around 3/4/5G experience.
A variation of these chips will form the basis of the Snapdragon Mobile Computing Platform running Android or Windows on Arm like the Microsoft Surface Pro X (review here).
SD865
The 7nm SD865 is an eight-core (four+four), Adreno 650 GPU for performance increases of about 20-25% over the SD855.
It also has a new integrated X55 Modem which it says is the world’s most advanced, global 5G platform. Details are scant, but we understand that it supports the 4G on steroids sub<6Ghz 5G that Australia has as well as the mmWave 24-100Ghz in standalone and non-standalone modes.
What the SD865 means is that that flagship phones based on that will cost more than $1000 and all have global 5G.
SD765 and SD765G
The SD765 has integrated 5G connectivity (type not specified but likely either sub<6Ghz or mmWave – not both) and AI processing. The SD765G has Elite Gaming experiences.
We hope that high-mid market phones based on the SD765 will cost well under $1000, but indications are that prices are likely to settle in the $899-999 space depending on memory/storage/screen.
GadgetGuy’s take – Qualcomm SD865, SD765 and SD765G – first phones off the rank in 2020
OPPO will release its SD865 and SD765 and G variants ‘early next year’. Nokia will also be a strong competitor. Xiaomi et al., will be soon after. It will be a first-quarter bloodbath!
At this time MediaTek looks like filling the $699-899 space with its Dimensity 1000 integrated 5G SoC for sub<6GHz only.
As with all 5G availability depends on the carrier and Australia is not really doing that well. Read our 5G guide here.
