The entry-level processor for budget smartphones with a full set of basic functions is the Snapdragon 410. Although this chip was introduced in 2013, its technical characteristics continue to be relevant for the most affordable mobile devices. Devices based on it are still on sale.
In which smartphones can I find this processor?
As noted earlier, in the most affordable mobile phones you can find the Snapdragon 410. The outstanding performance of this processor device certainly can not boast. But at the same time, its speed is quite enough to implement the basic functions of the smartphone: making calls, receiving and sending various messages, web surfing and other undemanding applications. Even the simplest toys in this case will function quite successfully. As real models of smartphones based on the processor product in question, you can bring Lenovo K3 or Maxwest Gravity.
Chip architecture
The structure of the semiconductor crystal includes 4 computing units based on the architecture codenamed "Cortex-A53." Its strengths include energy efficiency. But to expect phenomenal performance in this case certainly is not necessary. The clock frequency in this case dynamically changes depending on the level of complexity of the program code being executed and the degree of heating of the silicon crystal. The maximum frequency for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 is 1200 MHz. Also, depending on the level of optimization of the program code, in order to save battery power, it is possible to disable unused CPU computing resources.
RAM subsystem
Immediately with two types of RAM can interact Snapdragon 410 - LP DDR2 or LP DDR3. Recommended memory chip frequency is 533 MHz. The maximum amount of RAM in this case is limited to 2 GB, but in most cases smartphones based on this processor are equipped with only 1 GB.
Interface Support
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 boasts support for all major wireless interfaces. The manufacturer included the following in this list:
All cellular networks: GSM, 3G, CDMA and even LTE / 4G. If there is adequate coverage, smartphones based on this processor device are capable of delivering speeds of 150 Mbps, and this will be enough to download large multimedia files from the World Wide Web.
Also included in the list of supported wireless interfaces is Wi-Fi. In this case, the connection speed will already be limited to 100 Mbps.
The development engineers did not forget about such a connection method as bluetooth. It allows you to output an audio signal to a wireless headset. Another possible way to use it is to exchange information with a similar local device.
Although this CPU has one navigation transmitter, it is universal and can quite successfully interact with GPS, GLONASS and even Beidou systems.
Also, two wired switching methods are implemented in the processor device. One of them is micro-USB revision 2.0. Its main purpose is to charge the battery. But also this wired port can be used to synchronize with a personal computer. The second way of switching using wires is a 3.5mm audio port. It allows you to output sound from a smartphone to various external speakers. It can be either a stereo headset or speakers.
Graphics Accelerator
Integrated graphics accelerator entry-level equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 410. Its model is "Adreno 306". An outstanding level of performance, this video card certainly can not boast. But its main task is to free the CPU computing resources from processing graphic information, and it is with this that the accelerator copes perfectly well. Among its other features, one can single out support for screens with a resolution of 1920 X 1200. In practice, devices with such a chip are equipped with matrices with a resolution of 1920 X 1080. That is, in this case, the picture quality corresponds to 1080p.
Test results
The Snapdragon 410 processor shows rather good test results for the ultra-budget solution. Its main competitor in this niche is MT6735 from MediaTech. The architecture of the semiconductor crystals in these two chips is almost identical: 4 computing clusters based on the energy-efficient architecture “Cortex-A53”. Only now, the MediaTek solution has a clock frequency of 100 MHz higher and is already 1.3 GHz versus 1.2 GHz for the Qualcomm chip. And precisely for this reason, the results in tests of a competing solution will be slightly better. In the Geekbench synthetic package in a single-threaded test, for example, MT6735 gives 633 points, and the hero of this material - 482. Similar results are obtained in the multi-threaded test of this software package. The processor of the MediaTek company in this case gains 1816 points, and 410 - 1439. In the Android OpenGL test, the T-Rex MT6735 shows fps at 20.3, and the Qualcomm chip at 16.3. In terms of semiconductor chip architecture, these are almost identical chips. But MT6735’s higher maximum clock speed allows it to show slightly better test results.
Reviews
The Snapdragon 410 boasts an ideal balance of performance and energy efficiency. Reviews of this CPU indicate its advantages:
The only drawback of this processor device is its poor test results against competing solutions. But this difference is not so big, and in the budget segment of the smartphone market, as a rule, it fades into the background. And the priority is the cost of the device, and here the hero of this article is in full order.
Summary
One of the best entry-level processor solutions for smartphones is the Snapdragon 410. It has a sufficient level of performance and excellent energy efficiency. In addition to this, mobile devices based on it can be purchased now for $ 100-110. This is more than justified cost for such a mobile solution from a renowned manufacturer.