Snapdragon 820 to come with new X12 LTE modem - CAT 12 downloads, CAT 13 uploads, and 4X4 MIMO

Qualcomm has announced a few details about the coming Snapdragon 820, specifically about the modem and connectivity feature-set.
The 820, expected to hit devices in 2016, will feature the all-new X12 LTE modem, which brings CAT 12 down and CAT 13 up speeds (600 and 150 Mbps, respectively) and up to 4 x 4 MIMO downlinks while on an LTE carrier. In plain English, this means fast.
The upgraded X12 modem features, in full:
LTE Advanced speeds
- Cat 12 (up to 600 Mbps) in the downlink
- Cat 13 (up to 150 Mbps) in the uplink
- Up to 4x4 MIMO on one downlink LTE carrier
Breakthrough connectivity support in unlicensed spectrum:
- 2x2 MU-MIMO (802.11ac)
- Multi-gigabit 802.11ad
- LTE-U and LTE+Wi-Fi Link Aggregation (LWA)
Comprehensive service across connection types
- Next Gen HD Voice and Video calling over LTE and Wi-Fi
- Call Continuity across Wi-Fi, LTE, 3G, and 2G
RF front end innovations
- Advanced Closed Loop Antenna Tuner
- Qualcomm RF360™ front end solution with CA
- Wi-Fi/LTE antenna sharing
These advances should help us all use up our data allotments even faster, but we're always happy to see technology advancing. Even when it's inside a modem. The full press release follows.
Qualcomm Announces Breakthrough Connectivity Features in the Snapdragon 820 Processor
-Upgraded X12 LTE modem includes the most advanced LTE and Wi-Fi feature set of any publicly announced integrated modem and application processor for use in mobile devices-
HONG KONG, Sept. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), has integrated its newly upgraded X12 LTE modem into its upcoming Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 820 processor, providing leading 4G LTE and Wi-Fi technologies for premium tier mobile devices. The new Snapdragon 820 processor addresses unprecedented demand for blazing fast connectivity and seamless services. The Snapdragon 820 processor's upgraded X12 LTE modem offers:
LTE Advanced speeds
- Cat 12 (up to 600 Mbps) in the downlink
- Cat 13 (up to 150 Mbps) in the uplink
- Up to 4x4 MIMO on one downlink LTE carrier
Breakthrough connectivity support in unlicensed spectrum:
- 2x2 MU-MIMO (802.11ac)
- Multi-gigabit 802.11ad
- LTE-U and LTE+Wi-Fi Link Aggregation (LWA)
Comprehensive service across connection types
- Next Gen HD Voice and Video calling over LTE and Wi-Fi
- Call Continuity across Wi-Fi, LTE, 3G, and 2G
RF front end innovations
- Advanced Closed Loop Antenna Tuner
- Qualcomm RF360™ front end solution with CA
- Wi-Fi/LTE antenna sharing
This is the first publicly announced processor for use in mobile devices to support LTE Category 12 in the downlink and Category 13 in the uplink, providing up to 33 percent and 200 percent improvement over its predecessor's download and upload speeds, respectively. Also available as a discrete chipset, the X12 LTE modem has demonstrated peak download speeds of up to 600 Mbps through 3x downlink carrier aggregation and 256-QAM, as well as peak upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps through 2x uplink carrier aggregation and 64-QAM. The Snapdragon 820 processor is also the first publicly announced processor to offer LTE support for 4x4 Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO), designed to double download throughput speeds on a single LTE carrier. In addition, it features Uplink Data Compression (UDC), a feature that is currently unique to select Snapdragon LTE modems, and engineered to enhance the user experience in a wide range of applications, including accelerating web page loading times. The Snapdragon 820 processor is also the first publicly announced processor with Advanced Closed Loop Antenna Tuning when paired with the QFE2550 Antenna Tuner, designed to dynamically optimize RF performance in real network conditions, particularly for challenging metallic industrial designs in premium tier handsets. Advanced Closed Loop Antenna Tuning is designed to reduce dropped calls, improve cell edge throughput and even lower power consumption.
In addition to its leading LTE features, the Snapdragon 820 processor also supports superior Wi-Fi performance and connectivity experiences through Qualcomm® VIVE™ 802.11ac with Qualcomm® MU | EFX MU-MIMO technology, along with tri-band support, through multi-gigabit 802.11ad (11ad) Wi-Fi. With 2x2 802.11ac (11ac) plus MU-MIMO technology, devices will have the ability to achieve a range increase of up to 50 percent over the 1x1 configuration. The peak rate of 2x2 80 MHz 11ac is up to 867 Mbps, while the 11ad peak rate is up to 4.6 Gbps. Additionally, 11ad offers up to a five time increase in user throughput with similar power consumption as 11ac. With dynamic session transfer between 11ad and 11ac, devices will have the ability to achieve high performance connectivity in a power-efficient way. The high bandwidth and speeds offered by 11ac Wi-Fi, 11ad Wi-Fi, and MU-MIMO brings new-levels of performance designed to improve overall quality of service, and enhance user experiences for applications such as streaming 4K video, doing peer-to-peer large file sharing, using media kiosks, docking wirelessly, hard disk backups and more.
The Snapdragon 820 processor features advanced convergence technologies between LTE and Wi-Fi, and between licensed and unlicensed spectrum:
LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U). The Snapdragon 820 processor is the first publicly announced processor for use in mobile devices to offer comprehensive LTE-U support when paired with the WTR3950, increasing mobile network capacity and user throughput by aggregating LTE in licensed and unlicensed bands. LTE and Wi-Fi Link Aggregation (LWA). LWA is another method of aggregating licensed and unlicensed spectrum. It is designed to allow mobile operators to utilize their Wi-Fi infrastructure to augment licensed LTE network capacity with unlicensed spectrum capacity. Next-generation Wi-Fi calling. The X12 LTE modem supports next-generation HD Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Video over LTE (ViLTE) calling services using the IP Multimedia Subsystem, with support for call continuity between LTE and Wi-Fi. Making use of the cognitive capabilities of Qualcomm® Zeroth™, the X12 LTE modem monitors real-time Wi-Fi quality to decide if and when to shift the call from LTE to Wi-Fi or back. Antenna sharing. The new modem supports several antenna sharing schemes between LTE and Wi-Fi, designed to make it easier for manufacturers to design devices with advanced technologies like LTE-U, 4x4 LTE MIMO, and 2-stream Wi-Fi, with attractive form factors and minimal performance impact on either technology. "The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor with X12 LTE modem is a new industry leader, offering highly differentiated features that put OEMs and carriers on the cutting edge, including the latest advances in LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity," said Alex Katouzian, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "With technologies like 4K video, virtual reality and cognitive computing rapidly evolving, it's important to provide consumers with the speed and bandwidth to create a more compelling mobile experience."
The Snapdragon 820 processor continues QTI's long-standing tradition of integrating industry-leading modem features. It also includes support for services such as LTE-Broadcast and dual-SIM LTE carrier aggregation devices. Devices based on the Snapdragon 820 processor are expected to be available in 1H of 2016.
About Qualcomm Incorporated
Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a world leader in 3G, 4G and next-generation wireless technologies. Qualcomm Incorporated includes Qualcomm's licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of its patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of Qualcomm's engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of its products and services businesses, including its semiconductor business, QCT. For more than 30 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.
Qualcommm, Snapdragon, Qualcomm RF360 and VIVE are trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries. Zeroth is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Snapdragon, Qualcomm Zeroth and Qualcomm RF360 are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Qualcomm VIVE and Qualcomm MU | EFX are products of Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.
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I'm an RHCE and Electrical Engineer who loves gadgets of all kinds. You'll find my writings across Mobile Nations and you can hit me on Twitter if you want to say hey.
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I want this on Lumia 950xl or 960xl... Though for 950xl is not possible
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I want this for my POS MS 410...lol
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So 802.11ad makes 802.11ac seem slow now?
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The 60-GHz band has quite a big limitation compared to the 2.4- and 5-GHz ones: Waves can't go through most walls.
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I will be holding up the upgrade till the SD 820 based flagships debut. I get that tech keeps advancing all the time but I think Windows 10 will also mature enough by the time the SD820 becomes mainstream, making for a real good hardware-software combo. We will also get to know more about the capabilities of the Surface phone so it makes for a good comparison as well.
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I will buy the 810 based 950xl this year then buy the intel based surface phone next year.
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@Naren Parker:
Then good luck for your wait.
I'm expecting Satya N. to shut down Microsoft's phone business within the next two years, if Lumia 950 and 950 XL don't become a smash hit success.
Given the disappointing facts we know about these "flagships" already I don't see how they could become this kind of success. And judging by Microsoft's infamous "Coming soon™" approach to development, I would say it's pretty audacious to expect to see a Microsoft phone use an SD 820.
I for one, wouldn't bet a nickel on it. -
I understand your opinion given that Microsoft has been toying with our patience of late but why not atleast given them a chance to see how it goes. We've just seen renders of the devices. We've also come to know that people who have actually used them, have given a thumbsup. Microsoft would be foolish to give up on mobile. Whats the point in developing a one-OS-fits-all then?
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though keep in mind WP10 from what we are hearing will be exclusive. In that regard its doomed. So rather shocked to hear that both 950-950XL will be exclusive meh
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@Naren Parker:
Windows Phone enthusiasts will pick up Lumia 950 and 950 XL in droves. But to get the numbers Windows Mobile needs to survive, Microsoft would have to convince people from outside the current Windows Phone crowd to buy their "flagships". And so far I cannot see a single reason why people should.
The One Os across multiple devices remains intact with PCs, Xboxes, HoloLens and IoT, but without phones. So I don't see how Nadella's interest in phones, which so far has been abysmal (it was rumoured he was an outspoken opponent of the acquisition of Nokia's phone business, although this move was clearly without alternative for Microsoft), would rise. -
So you don't know about the decision to delay flagship devices untill WP10 right? It was a calculated decision m8, one I for one agrees with. If I bought a new flagship device say spring 2015 only to find out that it wouldn't support the best features of WP10. I would be pissed and so would you. Though I expected better phones for the long wait :/
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@sanien:
My actual suggestion to Microsoft would have been to delay the tenthousands of lay-offs to increase their speed of development, so that Windows 10 Mobile and matching flagships could have debuted along Windows 10 on PCs/tablets.
But given the current situation I would've wanted a Windows Phone 8.1 flagship in fall 2014, so by the time Windows 10 Mobile arrives I would've had a chilled year to go to see the OS mature. -
@WindowsPhoenix, that's absurd. Microsoft didn't lay off any of its OS development team. The layoffs were not of people with the skills related to the work on which you say want Microsoft to focus. In fact, by letting people go (always sad) in the areas they did, they can more easily expand their software engineering team. To the Windows 8.1 flagship -- I think that's a fair point. However, we don't know exactly why they canceled McLaren. Perhaps internally, there was an expectation that the 3D touch and exploding tiles was going to be huge, and testing results as they approached the ship date disappointed everyone (either because they were not good ideas based on user reactions or because they didn't ultimately work as expected). In any case, it would appear that their strategy was to release such a phone, but the tactical execution failed. That's bad, but not shocking in a transitional period with both Nadella and the integration of the Nokia Devices division taking place. During those kinds of turbulent business activities, excellence in execution frequently falters.
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Coming Soon is such a waste of time argument for anyone, you only know something is coming soon if they tell you. If they don't tell you and just release it becomes "Coming Now", and yet the time from idea to development to release doesn't change either way. I personally like to know what's coming up, and I will be really pissed off if Microsoft goes silent because of all the coming soon complaints.
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@mbrdev:
I prefer them to go silent AND DELIVER GREAT PRODUCTS over them boasting and OVERPROMISING and NOT DELIVERING ON THEIR PROMISES. -
Every actual photo of a phone has looked quite a bit better than the renders...
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Snapdragon 820 will be "mainstream" the first month it's out, because a hundred different Android phones will be packing them inside. If there's a large performance delta between that chip and the 810, I'll be pretty bummed that Microsoft didn't wait and use it for Cityman/Talkman.
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Given the specifications of the 820 and 810, I think there will be an appreciable performance delta when tested with optimized software.
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Those phones have been in development for months, so no way would they wait for the 820 and delay the phones even longer. It's not just a case of out with the 810 and in with the 820. It would have cost MS a lot more time and money in development to change the chip this late in the game. A shame yes, with the 820 looking to be much better, but not much they could do about it. The 810 was the top chip when development began, and with no idea on specs or timeframe for the 820, what choice was there? It sounds like the 950/XL have been ready for a while now. Also a shame Windows 10 Mobile wasn't ready to go with Windows 10.
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"The choice" would have been releasing the next flagship much sooner, while working hard on the next one.
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That choice wasn't really an option when the decision was made to release the phones with Windows 10 Mobile installed. Now if that was given more love and released in a shorter time frame than we are seeing then the phones would have been out earlier. I do agree they probably could/should have released them sooner with 8.1. A nice new Windows phone and the knowledge it will run 10, and run better with it, would make it easier for those considering jumping ship to hold out in giving Microsoft a chance to pull off something good for the platform and keep/build it's customer base. I'm looking to switch from iPhone so the wait isn't much of a drama for me. Hopefully the Surface Phone rumours are true as it sounds like this is where the effort (hard work) is going. The 950/XL are Nokia designs, the next phones will be the first true Microsoft designed phones.
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I agree with you, have Microsoft wait for the 820. Then they should wait for the 830 and then they should wait for the 840...Hmm see a patern there?
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Maybe we should wait and see what optimizations Windows 10 brings to the hardware. If the hardware and software function in an optimal manner when put together, then you don't necessarily need the fastest or the latest chipset and/or other internal components for great performance. And you don't need to look too far for living examples of the same (ahem iPhone... ahem ahem). Excuse me... Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
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True that.
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@VermaEklavya - that's true for phone. Not so true running on continuum, running excel etc apps full screen with keyboard and mouse. In that situation performance will make a big difference to how it feels when being used.
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LOL yeah and then you should wait for SD 830 and windows 10 will be even more mature. Or maybe wait SD 840?
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Its not about waiting indefinitely for the best chipset. Its about waiting to see what fits the bill. When you have a new processor debuting as early as H1 2016, doesnt it make sense to hold out and see how things fare? Also, it gives enough time to see how the new Lumias are gonna fare this time around. The thing is to know how long does Microsoft take to implement the chipset once it debuts. They need to go head on with other OEMs selling Droids to give any indication of their intention to stay relevant.
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Well no in my opinion is better to buy hardware when it is a bit older, first revisions of the 810 had some problems if I remember correctly. This is the best time to get a 808 and 810, they allow cheaper handsets with tested hardware in them, while the first phones with a 820 might have some issues and will be overpriced in the first months. It's always good to have the best hardware when it is a bit old. Microsoft timing is perfect from this point of view.
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there will be a new processor debuting in H1 2017 and the next windows phones will be released about the same time next year. So, you will be saying the same thing next year. The question is what is the real world effect of the new chip? Maybe less than one second faster speed for a website to load. it only makes sense to wait if a chip has new features, not just faster speeds.
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Keep waiting for the next big thing that isn't guaranteed to be that much better than what's about to become available and MS will never sell any phones. Then you won't even get the next best thing because they won't budget it's development. Vicious cycle.
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Seems... snappier. Sorry.
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Hope jaggernot is a snap820 device.
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I heard its gonna be an intel processor
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And one more thing is that Surface Phone is supposed to be an enteprise based phone.. Its not gonna be a flagship device.. So i dont have much expectations about it.. We dont know yet.. We gotta wait and see
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Rumored specs (I know, not reliable) shows it to be flagship quality.
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When the average person has the capability to burn up their entire monthly data allotment in several seconds, you know the carriers are being stingy with data plans.
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Useless in Italy with today connection speeds of carriers which barely reach 20Mb/s. Maybe it makes sense in the US or JP.
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Your comment and your dp make so much sense.
Cheers mate not insulting you, it's just that it catch my attention.
Posted via Windows Phone Central App -
I think 4.6gbit\s is beyond any phone's storage speed anyway, that's awfully close to a common PC ssd, but yay progress
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If it doesn't overheat, I don't want it. Posted via the Windows Central App for Android
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Make it come with Windows 10 Mobile!
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oh don't worry, it will, about 2-3 months before snap dragon 830 ships. we have to keep the tradition going.
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Well, they certainly won't be putting out anything new using the BETTER Windows Phone 8.1.
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I think that's an unfair judgment. I've been at the front of the line complaining about how I hate things like the pop-out menu-heavy design in W10M, and the awful music, mail, and calendar apps. However, the OS itself IS a better piece of software, thinaks to things like Continuum and the potential for Astoria and Islandwood to appear. Things might be a bit clunky (a la Android), but the OS is functionally superior to its predecessor, and there are SOME design improvements.
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A lot of people havent learned from the mclaren cancellation. You cant just shove a new processor in a phone under development. That requires new hardware, new engineering samples and testing. not to mention OS driver development.
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MS perfect timing once again.
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The new processor sounds awesome. And it's just one more reason why I WON'T be wasting my money on the Lumia 950/950XL. They are also-ran devices, NOT flagship. I'll keep my 1020 for now.
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I think I'll buy one of them (I prefer the size of the 950, but don't want a case for wireless charging, so unsure which at this point) this fall, leaving my wife on her aging 928. Then, in the spring, when the Intel-based phone comes out, if it delivers as I hope, I'll grab that and give the 950(xl?) to her. The 820 chip does sound impressive, but mainly just on the radio front. I wouldn't expect tremendous CPU changes beyond the typical generational speed boost. Certainly not worth waiting for with a couple of aging Lumia 928's. But as a 1020 user, which is such a special phone, I can see why you would want to hold out a bit longer.
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It's nice but I wish msm would stop attaching the 5ghz lead to the lte antenna & attach to the 2.4 instead as like what samsung does cause it isnt doing anything for the already limited range