Apple made headlines when they announced the iPhone 5s not because of the looks of the device or its features, but rather the fact that they achieved an industry first by introducing a 64-bit chipset into a smartphone. Naturally several companies later announced their plans to hop aboard the 64-bit bandwagon as well, but it looks like coming in at second place is none other than Qualcomm, whose SVP at that time dismissed the notion of such technology. However interestingly enough, instead of creating a high-end chipset that would power future flagship devices, Qualcomm has instead chosen to use this chipset for low-end devices for emerging markets.
Dubbed the Snapdragon 410, this is a 64-bit low-cost processor that Qualcomm expects will make its way into devices of the $150 category. Despite its intended destination, it is no slouch as it will have enough power to support hardware such as 13MP camera modules, 4G LTE connections, and even 1080p Full HD video playback! It will also sport an Adreno 306 GPU, meaning that even those on budget devices will be able to enjoy some decent games. Qualcomm expects to begin pushing their chipsets to OEMs next year, with the first devices to hit the shelves in the second half of 2014.
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