What’s a Snapdragon processor and how does it work?

You may have heard of it or you may not of, either way, we’re here to explain exactly what a Snapdragon processor does and how it works in Samsung devices.

Mobile data is fast, and thanks to 5G, getting faster. That’s why your phone should have the guts to process everything you’re pushing it to do – which is where Snapdragon comes in.   

Sounding like something from the Never-Ending Story, the Snapdragon processor is the top of the top of mobile technology and has been for some time, taking starring roles in phones as famous as the Samsung Galaxy range, the Google Pixel range and many, many more high-profile devices that run an Android operating system.   

So, before we mention anymore loveable 80s movies, let’s have a closer look at how this impressive piece of mini tech works and why it’s so popular.

What is a Snapdragon processor?

The Snapdragon processor, which hails from the company Qualcomm, is a type of SOC (system on chip). It's essentially the same as a processor you’d find in a computer, but smaller and fit for mobile. Think of it as the heart of a computer powering everything and making sure it runs efficiently so, in other words, it’s super important.

Are there other types of SOC on the market?

Absolutely. Aside from Qualcomm, you’ve got manufacturers like Mediatek, Huawei and of course Apple’s M1 processors. They all work in pretty much the same way, though some are just a wee bit faster than others. Without getting into all the tricky-tech stuff, we’ll just say that Snapdragon particularly the new Snapdragon 888 and its Australian alter ego Exynos 2100 is up there with some of the best SOCs.

What’s the advantage of Snapdragon over other SOCs?

It’s much of a muchness and really depends on the generation of SOC. For example, S21 Ultra’s Snapdragon 888 (US) and its sister SOC Exynos 2100 (AU) is meant to leap over its silicon predecessors. It’s so badass that Samsung reckons the new SOC has 25% better performance and power efficiency in comparison to earlier generations.

Where can you get your mitts on one of these fancy Snapdragon SOCs?

Well, we have some good news for you. Snapdragon can be found in heaps of products from Android phones to tablets and smartbooks. The Snapdragon 888, however, is a little trickier, as mentioned above the newest Samsung iteration the S21 line has dropped in Australia and America. While the American version houses the Snapdragon 888 SOC, the Australian S21 works off the SOC Exynos 2100, a processor made by Samsung exclusively for the S21 especially for Australia’s market. According to Michael (….) from the Samsung team:

“We’ve actually done a lot of background work to make sure our chip is on par with the Snapdragon chip, so there is zero difference in terms of quality or performance.”

So, there you have it. If the Snapdragon or Exynos 2100 sounds like something you want in your life, have a crack at Samsung’s nifty S21 range.