Qualcomm is currently developing a new System on a Chip (SoC) in the 4-series

Qualcomm is reportedly working on a brand new 4-series System on a Chip (SoC), the SM4450, which is expected to be launched as the 4 Gen 2. The codename for the chip is Clarence/Ravelin, and it has been in development for some time as the next-generation 4-series Qualcomm SoC.

Qualcomm’s SM4450 SoC features

The SM4450 SoC is said to be similar to the 4 Gen 1, with 2 Cortex-A78 CPU cores and 6 Cortex-A55s. However, the cores have been clocked higher than the previous model, with the A78s clocking in at 2.2GHz and the A55s at 1.95GHz, up from 2.0/1.8GHz. This increased clock speed is expected to provide users with improved performance, making the SM4450 a more attractive option for mid-range devices.

One area where the SM4450 falls short, however, is in video encoding and decoding. The chip is still limited to 1080p60 video encoding and decoding, meaning it won’t be able to support higher resolutions. This is disappointing for users who were hoping for improved video support in the new 4-series SoC. It’s a shame to see Qualcomm lock reasonable encoding/decoding support to higher-end chips only, leaving the mid-range market without this feature.

One interesting development is that Qualcomm is reportedly working on bringing virtualization support to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 chip. If successful, this would be the first time virtualization support is included in a 4-series chip. However, it’s not yet clear whether the chip will officially launch with this feature.

Overall, the SM4450 SoC is shaping up to be a promising mid-range option for device manufacturers. The increased clock speed of the CPU cores should provide a noticeable boost in performance, while the potential inclusion of virtualization support would be a significant milestone for the 4-series SoC. However, the lack of support for higher-resolution video encoding and decoding is a notable downside. It remains to be seen when the SM4450 will be officially launched and which devices will feature this new chip.