Why the 2019 budget phones can easily have AI, dual cameras and more

Back in 2007 when Google took over Android OS and turned it into something that users would actually want to tinker around with, mobile devices used to cost you an arm and a leg. The first real Google-back Android device released in 2010 was the HTC Nexus One, which came out for $529, and if you adjust it for current inflation rates, roughly totals to around a whopping $800 – $900 easily.

While the top-tier flagship smartphones of today like the Galaxy Note 8 and the Google Pixel devices are certainly near that price tag, they offer infinitely more hardware and software firepower. However, the real breakthrough we’ve made is not in the premium category, but the affordable budget-friendly Android smartphones that seem to get better and better as each year passes by.

Qualcomm changes the future of affordable Android phones

While elements such as the heated competition in the Android market and the significant plummet in manufacturing cost has helped Android OEMs in releasing decent smartphones for a tempting price, the more premium features such as a dual-camera setup and AI technology has been limited to either the very premium smartphones or the mid-range class. However, the news of three new Snapdragon processors from Qualcomm hopes to change this status quo for good.

The Snapdragon 429, the Snapdragon 439, and a more premium Snapdragon 632 Mobile Platform processors are being prepared for the next generation of affordable Android smartphones, and they are sure to impress. The company promises faster performance, an improvement in battery life, better graphical capabilities, and even support for AI technology with the new architecture that will allow processing dual-camera hardware and software as well.

The Snapdragon 429 and Snapdragon 439 SoCs will not only replace the current-generation 425 and 435 processors, but also bring about a 25% improvement in speed and efficiency. The Snapdragon 429 will be able to support a single 16MP or an 8MP+8MP dual-camera hardware at 720P screen resolution, which the Adreno 504 GPU that it will pack will bring 50% increase in graphics processing.

The Snapdragon 439 will bring support for a single 21MP or 8MP+8MP dual camera, along with Full-HD 1080P resolution support and 20% faster graphics with the Adreno 505. Qualcomm has powered up the Snapdragon 632 as a replacement to the 626 SoC, which will be packed with the Adreno 506 GPU and Kryo 250 CPU working together to achieve 40% faster performance. All of this will be supported by a 24MP or 13MP+13MP dual-camera setup with 4K recording, along with an FHD 1080P resolution screen support.