Qualcomm's New Chip Could Bring 5G to Phones Under $100

Qualcomm's New Snapdragon 4S Gen 2: Affordable 5G and Fast Charging for Budget Phones.

Qualcomm has unveiled its latest chipset, the Snapdragon 4S Gen 2, which is set to bring 5G connectivity and fast 40-watt wired charging to budget smartphones. This new platform targets lower-end phones, with devices expected to hit the market later this year, starting with a release from Xiaomi.

"With this new platform, the result is gigabit 5G smartphones for under $99," said Carina Affinito, Qualcomm's Staff Manager of Product Marketing, in a prebrief statement.

Enhancing Budget Phones

The Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 aims to elevate phones just below the tier of last year's Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor. While there's no guarantee that U.S. phone manufacturers will adopt this chip, its predecessor, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1, powers affordable models like Motorola's $200 Moto G 5G. Qualcomm's less powerful chips don't get annual updates, so the 4S Gen 2 provides an option with new features for cost-effective devices.

Competing with MediaTek

In the budget phone market, Qualcomm faces competition from MediaTek. Brands like Samsung and TCL use MediaTek processors in their 5G-capable phones priced under $200. For example, the $200 Galaxy A15 5G and TCL's 50 series, which includes models as low as $100, often come with MediaTek chips but are frequently locked to a single U.S. carrier.

Despite the competition, many phones priced at $150 or less in 2024 still lack 5G connectivity. The introduction of chipsets like the 4S Gen 2 could help make 5G more accessible, providing high-speed connectivity and large bandwidth even to budget-conscious consumers.

Impact on the Market

The Snapdragon 4S Gen 2 has the potential to revolutionize the market for affordable smartphones by making advanced features like 5G and fast charging more accessible. As more manufacturers adopt this chipset, consumers can expect to see a wider range of budget-friendly phones with impressive performance and connectivity capabilities.

Conclusion

With Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 4S Gen 2, the future of budget smartphones looks promising. The ability to offer 5G connectivity and fast charging at a sub-$100 price point could significantly enhance the user experience for those on a tight budget, potentially making high-speed internet access and modern smartphone features more ubiquitous.