Qualcomm has outlined its plans for the next generation of RISC-based Snapdragon processors, which will boast significantly higher speeds and optimized graphics.
As Stuart Miles of Pocket Lint reports, the next-gen chips - single, dual, and quad-core - are slated to offer speeds of 2.5GHz, almost double what is currently available on the market.
"Those who like to quote specs will also like the fact that the new S4 class chipset will [sport] Adreno Graphics, 3D, 1080p HD, as well as sporting 3G and LTE connectivity as standard," wrote Miles.
The new processors are scheduled to be shipped to manufacturers by the end of 2011, which means they will probably hit store shelves sometime during the first quarter of 2012.
According to Phandroid's Kevin Krause, Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon chips are likely to find their way into smartphones and tablets capable of "starting to take on the laptop market" in terms of mobile computing power.
"It's kind of scary, actually, to think how far we have come since the days of the 1GHz single-core Snapdragon," he added.
To be sure, Qualcomm claims that the Snapdragon S4 class of processors will facilitate the design of mobile products that offer graphics comparable to current gaming consoles - while also powering new form factors capable of running the "full blown" desktop version of Windows 8.
