(Pocket-lint) – Qualcomm could be getting ready to announce an updated version of the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 smartphone chip, if reports are accurate.
The chip, based on previous naming conventions, is likely to be called the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 1.
The news comes after industry watcher Roland Quandt tweeted information about a new Qualcomm SM7475 CPU, one that will use a new tri-cluster design. Quandt writes that the chip uses a 2.4GHz prime core, whereas the efficiency cores will run at 1.8GHz. Those clock speeds are almost identical to the current Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 so we shouldn’t expect a huge performance boost. However, WCCFTech does note that we could see some improvements courtesy of a switch to TSMC’s new 4nm manufacturing process.
While the switch to a new, smaller process doesn’t necessarily mean faster chips, it does have other benefits – chips can run cooler and use less power. Both of those things are hugely beneficial in a mobile setting, improving device battery life and allowing them to run cooler, too.
Qualcomm SM7475. First Snapdragon 7 series with tri-cluster design. 1x prime core, 3x gold, 4x silver. 2,4xx GHz on the prime and gold cores, 1,8 GHz on silver (in testing)
— Roland Quandt (@rquandt) October 5, 2022
As for the name, WCCFTech believes that the SM7475 will be called the Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 1 based on precedent. The current Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 was called SM8475, leaving little imagination needed to make the jump to this new chip being a “Plus” variant of the existing Snapdragon 7 Gen 1.
With Qualcomm set to hold the Snapdragon Summit on 15 November, expectations are that we will see the company announce this mystery chip, and more, soon enough.
Writing by Oliver Haslam. Editing by Rik Henderson.
