The Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 processor is the company's new 11nm chipset, launched as an upgraded version of the existing Snapdragon 675. Aimed squarely at mid-range smartphones, it promises stronger performance, better photo and video quality, and good battery life. Here is what the new chip brings to everyday phone users.
What the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 processor offers
Compared with the Snapdragon 675, the new chip is notably more advanced. It is powered by a Kryo 460 CPU that reaches speeds of up to 2.2 GHz, while graphics duties are handled by the Adreno 612 GPU, carried over from the previous chipset.
Qualcomm developed the processor with the mid-range segment in mind, so it targets phones that need a balance of speed, imaging and efficiency rather than flagship extremes. For shoppers in this tier, it is one of the more capable gadgets components to look for in a new handset.
A camera-focused chipset
Imaging is a clear priority for the Snapdragon 678. It uses Qualcomm's own Spectra 250L ISP technology, which the company says noticeably improves camera quality.
On the hardware side, the chip supports a wide range of camera setups and shooting modes:
- Rear camera support of up to 48 megapixels
- Dual front sensor support of up to 16 megapixels for selfies
- 4K video recording
- Slow-motion capture
- 5x optical zoom
- Portrait mode
Built for gaming
The processor is also tuned for mobile gamers. It delivers fast graphics rendering, sharp visuals at high frame rates and low frame drops, thanks to the combination of the Kryo 460 CPU cores and the Adreno 612 GPU.
Qualcomm says the chip has been optimised for several gaming engines, including Unity and Neo X, among others.
Faster internet on the go
Connectivity comes from an integrated Snapdragon X12 LTE modem. It supports download speeds of up to 600 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 150 Mbps.
The company claims the processor can maintain fast connections even in areas with poor or busy networks.
Snapdragon 678 specifications
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Process node | 11nm |
| CPU | Kryo 460, up to 2.2 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 612 |
| ISP | Spectra 250L |
| Rear camera support | Up to 48 megapixels |
| Front camera support | Up to 16 megapixels (dual sensor) |
| Modem | Snapdragon X12 LTE |
| Download speed | Up to 600 Mbps |
| Upload speed | Up to 150 Mbps |
