QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) recently introduced Snapdragon 820 processor scoring major points at the Mobile World Congress. Major phone manufacturers including Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (KRX:005930), LG Display Co Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:LPL) and Sony Corp (ADR) (NYSE:SNE) noted that this processor would power Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, the modular G5 and Xperia X respectively. The introduction of the new processor made Qualcomm scorea major lead against Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) though the processor has to undergo benchmarks, many tests and reporting match-ups in the next few weeks. After these results have settled, Apple will then introduce A10 in the next generation iPhone 7. It will take back the lead forcing competition to continue using their resources with the primary purpose of catching up with the iPhone.
Apple’s advantage over Qualcomm and other manufacturers started with the introduction of Apple’s first 64-bit chip- A7 in IPhone 5S. By this introduction, Android manufacturer and suppliers were forced to accelerate their plans toward 64-bit mobile computing so that they can maintain a competitive ground against Apple. Android 5.0 was introduced to handle 64-bit computing in 2014 even before the technology was ready. Qualcomm’s first 64-bit chips were characterized with lots of critical responses. They developed a reputation for being temperamental and prone to overheating. These issues were noted during testing, but the devices were shipped making the issues to stick
SnapDragon 810 did not see everyone using it. Samsung Galaxy S6 choose to use their Exynos chip. Some might think that Apple forced the completely Android ecosystem to move to 64-bit processing at a faster rate than they had initially planned. It is also likely that the release of SnapDragon 820 in the original road map was supposed to coincide with the launch of 64-bit computing for Android, which is happening now.
The time that has passed when Qualcomm was developing and introducing the 64-bit SnapDragon 820 chipset to the public, Apple has already shipped devices with its 64-bit chips for about two and a half years. Through this time, it has gained large experience about the hardware as it continues to develop technology with a large amount of real-worlddata, whichwill be introduced in the A10. The release of A10 will again force competitors to keep up, forcing them to use substantial resource in this while Apple focusing elsewhere
