Qualcomm reveals two new affordable phone chips with Smooth Motion UI tech
Source: Engadget
Qualcomm is expanding its mid‑range portfolio with two new mobile SoCs aimed at affordable smartphones. The chips bring the company’s Smooth Motion UI technology and a suite of AI‑enhanced features to lower‑cost devices.
Snapdragon 6 Gen 5
The Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 sits below the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 families. It combines a Qualcomm Kryo octa‑core CPU (four performance + four efficiency cores) with an upgraded Adreno GPU that Qualcomm claims is 21 % more powerful than the previous generation.
Key features
- Smooth Motion UI – up to 20 % faster app launches and 18 % less screen stutter.
- AI camera tools – Intelligent Night Vision, AI‑powered digital zoom up to 100×, and enhanced HDR10 video processing.
- Connectivity – sub‑6 GHz 5G (no mmWave), Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 with Channel Sounding for locating accessories.
Snapdragon 4 Gen 5
Targeted at the most budget‑friendly segment, the Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 offers a balance of performance, power efficiency, and connectivity. It also includes Smooth Motion UI, but with even larger gains:
- Smooth Motion UI – reduces screen stutter by 25 % and speeds up app launches by 43 %.
- GPU performance – 77 % faster than its predecessor, enabling 90 fps gaming for the first time on this tier.
- Dual SIM Dual Active – allows simultaneous data use from two SIMs (useful outside the US).
- Connectivity – sub‑6 GHz 5G, Wi‑Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1.
Availability
While Qualcomm has detailed the capabilities of both chips, actual implementation depends on OEMs. No specific devices have been announced yet, but Qualcomm expects phones powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 and Snapdragon 4 Gen 5 to launch later this year or early 2027 from brands such as Honor, Redmi, Oppo, and Realme.