In December 2017, Qualcomm unveiled its newest chipset, the Snapdragon 845, at the Snapdragon Tech Summit. This is the successor to the well-known Snapdragon 835, which is included in the majority of Android flagships in 2017. We wouldn’t be surprised if the new Snapdragon 845 processor is found in all of 2018’s greatest Android handsets.
In this article, we’ll go over the SD845’s new features as well as a list of all devices that will use it.
Features
The new Qualcomm processor is made on the same Samsung Foundry lines as its predecessor and uses the same 10nm production process. Immersive XR experiences, a smart personal assistant, and vault-like security are the processor’s main features. Because this is a capable mobile platform, it will also power some Windows 10 laptops.
The processor is equipped with the Kryo 385 CPU, which runs at up to 2.8 GHz, and the Adreno 630 GPU, which improves graphics rendering by 30%. For a superior camera and AR/VR experience, it includes the Qualcomm Spectra 280 ISP (image signal processor). This enables 10-bit 4K Ultra HD films to be captured at 60 frames per second, 720p videos to be captured at 480 frames per second, and 16MP photos to be captured at 60 frames per second.
The system also includes the 3rd-generation Hexagon 685 DSP for AI processing, the new Secure Processing Unit to protect personal data, the Snapdragon X20 LTE Modem with Gigabit LTE service, all-day battery life, and Quick Charge 4+ technology, as well as the Snapdragon X20 LTE Modem with Gigabit LTE service, all-day battery life, and Quick Charge 4+ technology.
In comparison to the Snapdragon 835, Qualcomm claims a 25% performance boost.
List of Smartphones with Snapdragon 845 SoC
1. Samsung Galaxy S9 & Galaxy S9 Plus
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are the first smartphones to have the Snapdragon 845 processor. Although certain models will include Samsung’s own Exynos 9 Series 9810 SoC, when purchasing the S9 in the United States, you will receive the Snapdragon processor. T-new Mobile’s 600MHz network is supported by the phones. Furthermore, the S9 Plus boasts a 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display, whereas the S9 only has a 5.8-inch display. The dual-camera combination with a 12MP telephoto lens and a 12MP wide-angle lens with two apertures (f/1.5 and f/2.4) is the S9 Plus’ finest update.
Sony Xperia XZ2 & XZ2 Compact
The XZ2 and XZ2 Compact are the latest additions to Sony’s flagship portfolio. The duo ditches the OmniBalance design from prior Xperia devices, giving us a considerably more modern look. The SnapDragon 845 chipset, 19MP back camera with 4K HDR and 960fps FHD slow-mo video capture, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage are shared by both phones. The only distinctions are the battery capacity and screen size (5 inches and 5.7 inches).
3. Xiaomi Mi 8
Xiaomi released two variants of the new Xiaomi Mi 8 powered by the Snapdragon 845 in late May 2018: the Xiaomi Mi 8 and the Mi 8 Explorer Edition.
Both have a 6.21-inch AMOLED Full HD+ display with a notch on the top that houses the front camera and infrared sensors, as well as vertically stacked 12MP dual-rear camera modules.
The Mi 8 Explorer Edition boasts a see-through glass back, 3D face unlock, and a pressure-sensitive in-display fingerprint scanner, among other things.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was released in August 2018 and is unquestionably one of the best smartphones powered by Snapdragon 845.
It doesn’t offer any big differences from its predecessor, although it does come with a Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810 chipset, 6GB or 8GB RAM, 128GB or 512GB internal storage, and a massive 4,000mAh battery. Another major change is the redesigned S-Pen, which includes Bluetooth LE and a built-in battery and can now be used as a phone remote control.
At launch, the 128GB variant cost $999.99 unlocked, while the 512GB model cost $1,249 unlocked. However, the Note 9 is currently available for roughly $600.
5. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
In late March 2018, Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S in Shanghai. With an almost bezel-less design, a ceramic body, and an aluminium frame, it is market as a mix of technology and art.
The Mi Mix 2S is equippe with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, a 5.99-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels, 6GB/8GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB/256GB of internal storage, and a 3400 mAh battery. The twin camera arrangement is pretty impressive, since it receives a DxoMark overall score of 97 and a Photo sub-score of 101.
The Mi Mix 2S is price at $599 in its global form.
6. Razer Phone 2
In October 2018, Razer launched a new series of gaming smartphones. Aside from similar hardware such as the Snapdragon 845, 8GB of RAM, 64GB/128GB of expandable storage, and a dual rear camera arrangement, there are several features that mobile gamers will appreciate. The 120Hz IGZO LCD 1440p display, 4,000mAh battery, Chroma lighting, and vapour chamber cooling system are the most noticeable features.
The Razer Phone 2 has a starting price of $650.
Asus Zenfone 5Z
With twin back cameras and a notch on top of the display, the Asus Zenfone 5Z looks very identical to the Apple iPhone X.
An IPS LCD 6.2-inch display with Full-HD Plus quality. A fingerprint scanner on the rear, 4GB/6GB/8GB RAM, and 64GB/128GB/256GB internal storage are among the features.
The Zenfone is available on Amazon for $450.
8. Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
The Xperia XZ2 Premium, which was release just two months after the XZ2, is a far more powerful smartphone. Every feature of it has been improve, including the display, camera, and battery. It has a larger 3540mAh battery, a 5.8-inch 4K HDR display, and twin rear cameras that can shoot low-light photographs at ISO51200, 960 fps Super slow motion, and 4K HDR video recording. It also has an Android 8.0 Oreo operating system and a Snapdragon 845 processor.
9. Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
In October 2018, Google introduced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL flagship smartphones. Internally, the two phones have similar processors, 4GB of RAM, 64GB or 128GB of storage, and new OLED displays. The Pixel 3 XL has a bigger display with a notch, which makes it stand out.
The new Pixel phones run Android 9.0 and come with all of the latest photography capabilities. Including Top Shot, Photobooth, Super Res Zoom, and Night Sight, which are all AI-powered.
The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are price at $799 and $899, respectively.
10. Sony Xperia XZ3
In November 2018, Sony released the Xperia XZ3, another Android flagship powered by the Snapdragon 845. This is the XZ2 with a better selfie camera, a little larger battery, and a larger and better display. A 6-inch Quad HD+ OLED screen, a 3,330mAh battery, and a 13MP front camera with an aperture of f/1.9 are all included.
The XZ3 is presently available on Amazon for $799 in black, green, or silver colour options.
11. Xiaomi Mi Mix 3
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is one of the few phones with a full-screen display that doesn’t have a notch, thanks to a clever magnetic slider.
In terms of specs, the Mi Mix 3 is still a beast, with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED full HD+ display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras with 2x optical zoom, and a wireless charging pad included in the box.
The Mi Mix 3 was release in November 2018 and began shipping in early 2019 to markets all over the world. It is reasonably price in the United States, costing less than $599.
12. Nokia 9 PureView
Some phones have triple or even quadruple back cameras. But none of them can compete with the Nokia 9 PureView’s arrangement. The phone was release in February 2019 as a limited edition gadget for photography enthusiasts. The phone’s most intriguing feature is its five Zeiss lenses on the rear. Notably, they’re all 12MP cameras, with only two shooting in colour; the remaining three are monochrome sensors to boost contrast and details. A flash and a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor complete the setup for depth mapping.
A 5.99-inch 2K QHD pOLED display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, an on-screen fingerprint sensor, and a 3,320mAh battery are all included in the Nokia 9.
13. LG G7 ThinQ
In early May 2018, the LG G7 ThinQ made its debut in New York. The phone has a notch on top and a 6.1-inch QHD+ FullVision Super Bright display. A dedicated button on the left side for launching Google Assistant and Google Lens is another noteworthy feature. Apart from that, the Snapdragon 845, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage. Android 8.1 Oreo, and a 3,000mAh battery are all impressive features. On the back, it has a dual camera configuration with a primary 16MP f/1.6 sensor and a secondary 16MP f/1.9 sensor with a super wide-angle lens.
LG launched the LG G7+ ThinQ in India a few months later. This is the G7’s 6GB RAM/128GB storage model.
14. OnePlus 6
The OnePlus 6 is no exception to OnePlus’s policy of cramming the most cutting-edge technology into its handsets at a low price. It has a metal frame and a Gorilla Glass back with curved edges. As well as a big 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a notch cutout on top. It comes in a few different configurations, including 6GB and 8GB of RAM and 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB of storage. A dual-camera arrangement on the rear includes a 16MP sensor with f/1.7 aperture and a supported 20MP sensor.
The OnePlus 6 was release in May 2018 with a starting price of $529.
15. OnePlus 6T
In November 2018, the OnePlus 6T began shipping. The OnePlus 6T has a few differences from the OnePlus 6, including a slightly larger 6.41-inch display, a revised front notch, a larger 3,700mAh battery, and an in-display fingerprint sensor.
The variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage starts at $549.