Qualcomm claims most smartphone users don’t need quadcore processors

Chip maker deems dualcore more than capable of satisfying consumer needs

Processing giant deems dualcore more than capable of satisfying consumer needs

Quad-core processors have creeped their way into several well-known devices, including the Nexus 7 and Microsoft Surface tablet, but chip designer Qualcomm claims the use of such CPUs is unnecessary, as dual-core chips can sufficiently power most mobile devices.

The firm, whose quadcore Snapdragon S4 processor powers the LG Optimus G, was a little late in joining the quadcore clan. Its competitors, Nvidia and Samsung pumped out their four core-toting chips a while back, during which Qualcomm was rolling out the dualcore Snapdragon S4.

But according to Sy Choudry, director of product management at Qualcomm, their late arrival into the market was a deliberate 'business decision'.

He told The Inquirer: "[We] could have launched a quad-core version of the Snapdragon S4 before the dual-core version, clearly we made a business decision to launch the dual-core version (MSM8960) before the quad-core version.

"That's really based on the workloads of 95 percent of users, even [for] a lot of the power users, the dual-core is good enough, not even good enough but more than good enough."

"If we profile most folks use-cases today on smartphones or even a tablet you are utilising up to two cores.”

He also deemed that under the current capabilities of mobile phones, the difference between dual and quad-core processors is indecipherable:

"For the pro-sumers that [time] will come over the next few years, today that's not really the case for a large portion of users."

Considering the iPhone 5 runs a custom-built dual-core processor, Apple has proven that with correct programming, two processors are more than enough to deal with even the most demanding user.

Via The Inquirer

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