What’s in a name? If that name is “Snapdragon APQ8060,” quite too much to explain -- only diehard silicon junkies are likely to know you’re referring to the dual-core 1.2GHz Scorpion processor and Adreno 220 graphics that power the likes of the HP TouchPad. That’s why Qualcomm’s announcing a new, more consumer-friendly set of designations for its mobile processor family today, with four tiers in all, each of which roughly explains how much performance you’re getting for your trouble. If you see the “Snapdragon S1” label, it’s referring to a last-gen, single-core processor, while “Snapdragon S2” describes the more recent single-core chips that started appearing in phones last year; “Snapdragon S3” is reserved for dual-core chips like the aforementioned APQ8060, and finally the “Snapdragon S4” class is for the company’s next-gen Krait processors with Adreno 225 and Adreno 300-series onboard graphics. Also, it’s important to note that these designations won’t change over time; when Qualcomm unveils more powerful chips, it’ll introduce a new Snapdragon S5, rather than bumping existing silicon down the line.
Qualcomm revamps Snapdragon branding, helps you brag about your smartphone CPU slightly more intelligibly
is a senior editor and founding member of The Verge who covers gadgets, games, and toys. He spent 15 years editing the likes of CNET, Gizmodo, and Engadget.
All in all, the Snapdragon System honestly makes a lot more sense than most silicon naming schemes we’ve heard -- hello, Intel, Nvidia, and AMD -- and we wouldn’t be totally surprised if it helps achieve Qualcomm’s aim. The little processor that helped cement the smartphone era could be one step closer to becoming a household name.
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