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Qualcomm Snapdragon 821: Performance, Connectivity, and Security Features

The Snapdragon 821 Mobile Platform, created by Qualcomm, is equipped with advanced features that make it a top-of-the-line processor. With the ability to download data at a maximum speed of 600 Mbps, thanks to its X12 LTE technology, this platform offers industry-leading connectivity. Additionally, the multi-gigabit 802.11ad and 2x2 802.11ac Wi-Fi options allow for lightning-fast data transfer speeds.

But the Snapdragon 821's capabilities go beyond just connectivity. Its Qualcomm® Kryo™ CPU, the company's first custom 64-bit quad-core CPU, is designed to deliver maximum performance while consuming less power. This is made possible by its advanced 14nm FinFET LPP process. Furthermore, the platform's Qualcomm® Adreno™ 530 GPU provides up to 40% better graphics and compute performance, all while reducing power consumption.

The Snapdragon 821 also features a Qualcomm Spectra™ 14-bit dual image signal processors (ISPs), which use heterogeneous compute to deliver high-resolution images comparable to DSLR quality. This allows for improved processing and additional energy savings. On top of that, the platform also includes a Qualcomm® Hexagon™ 680 DSP, complete with Hexagon Vector eXtensions (HVX) and Sensor Core with Low Power Island for always-on sensor processing.

One of the impressive features of the Snapdragon 821 is its Touch-To-Track capability. This advanced computer vision technology allows for the recognition and tracking of multiple objects on the screen simultaneously.

In terms of specifications, the Snapdragon 821 boasts an impressive lineup. Its CPU, GPU, and DSP all offer top-of-the-line performance, while its NFC technology allows for quick and secure data sharing. The platform also supports a variety of wireless standards, including Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6, and has multi-gigabit Wi-Fi capabilities.

The Snapdragon 821's camera capabilities are equally impressive. With its Qualcomm® Spectra™ ISP, it can support up to 28 MP single camera resolution, with features such as Qualcomm® Clear Sight™ and Dual Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF). It also has the ability to capture 4K Ultra HD video at 30 fps.

The platform's memory, display, and storage options are all equally advanced, with support for eMMC 5.1, SD 3.0, and UFS 2.0. Additionally, its Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 technology and Qualcomm® WiPower™ technology make charging convenient and fast.

In terms of security, the Snapdragon 821 offers advanced features such as Qualcomm® 3D Sonic Sensor and Qualcomm® Mobile Security, providing protection against malware and unauthorized access. Its Qualcomm® Processor Security and Qualcomm® Device Lock Authentication also ensure that data stays secure.

Overall, the Snapdragon 821 Mobile Platform offers top-of-the-line performance and cutting-edge features that make it a top choice for high-end mobile devices. Its advanced capabilities in connectivity, processing, imaging, and security make it a powerful and efficient choice for any device.

Snapdragon 821 Mobile Platform:- Full Technical Specifications

CPU

Name Qualcomm® Kryo™
Architecture 64-bit
Clock Speed Up to 2.4 GHz

DSP

Name Qualcomm® Hexagon™ 680
Features Qualcomm All-Ways Aware™ technology

GPU

Name Qualcomm® Adreno™ 530
APIs OpenGL® ES 3.2, DirectX® 11.2, OpenCL™ 2.0 Full, Vulkan® 1.0

NFC

Near Field Communications Supported

Part

Part Number(s) 8996 Pro

Audio

Qualcomm Aqstic™ technology support Qualcomm Aqstic™ audio technology1

Wi-Fi

Peak Speed Up to 867 Mbps
Generation Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5
Standards 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, 802.11ad
Spectral Bands 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 60 GHz
Channels 40 MHz, 20 MHz, 80 MHz
MIMO Configuration 2x2
Spatial Streams Up to 2
Peak QAM 256 QAM
Features Multi-gigabit Wi-Fi, MU-MIMO

Camera

Image Signal Processor (ISP) Name Qualcomm® Spectra™
Image Signal Processor (ISP) Number Dual ISP
Image Signal Processor (ISP) Bit Depth 14-bit
Single Camera Up to 28 MP
Features Qualcomm® Clear Sight™ camera features, Dual Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
Video Capture Up to 4K Ultra HD @ 30 fps

Memory

Speed 1866 MHz
Type LPDDR4
Number of Channels 2

Display

Maximum On-Device Display Resolution 4K Ultra HD
Maximum External Display Resolution 4K Ultra HD
Pixels 3840 × 2160

Storage

eMMC eMMC 5.1
SD SD 3.0 (UHS-I)
UFS UFS 2.0

Charging

Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ technology support Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 technology
Qualcomm® WiPower™ technology support Qualcomm® WiPower™ technology

Location

Location Support Qualcomm® Location
Satellite Systems GLONASS, Beidou, GPS, Galileo
Location and Global Emergency Services LTE Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Assisted GPS
Features Pedestrian Navigation, Sensor-assisted Navigation, Low Power Geofencing and Tracking

Security

Fingerprint Sensor Qualcomm® 3D Sonic Sensor
Features Qualcomm® Mobile Security, Qualcomm® Processor Security, Qualcomm® Device Lock Authentication, Malware Protection, Qualcomm® Content Protection

Bluetooth

Specification Version Bluetooth® 4.1

Interfaces

Supported Interfaces USB 2.0, USB 3.0

Video Playback

Resolution Up to 4K Ultra HD
Codecs H.264 (Advanced Video Coding (AVC)), H.265 (High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC))

Cellular Modem-RF

Modem Name Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ X12 LTE modem
Peak Download Speed Up to 600 Mbps
Peak Upload Speed Up to 150 Mbps
Cellular Modem-RF Specs 3x20 MHz carrier aggregation (DL), 2x20 MHz carrier aggregation (UL), LTE Category 13 (UL), LTE Category 12 (DL)
Performance Enhancement Technologies Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Upload+, Qualcomm® RF Front-End (RFFE) solution
Cellular Technology TD-SCDMA, LTE-U, LTE TDD, LTE Broadcast, CDMA 1x, EV-DO, WCDMA (DB-DC-HSDPA), GSM/EDGE, LTE FDD, WCDMA (DC-HSUPA), LWA
Calling Services Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) with LTE call continuity, HD Voice over 3G and VoLTE
Multi SIM LTE Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS)

Power Consumption

Low Power Audio Playback Down to 6.6 mW
High Performance Audio Playback Down to 26 mW
Low power voice activation 0.65 mA

Audio Playback Interfaces

Sample Rate Up to 44.1 kHz, Up to 48 kHz
Dynamic Range Up to 130 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N) Less than -109 dB
Amplifier Output Power Up to 4 W
Speaker protection Speaker protection

Audio Recording Interfaces

Resolution 24-bit
Sample Rate Up to 192 kHz
Dynamic Range Up to 109 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N) Less than -103 dB

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Specification Version USB 3.0, USB 2.0

Process Node and Technology

Process Node 14 nm

Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

Resolution 24-bit
Sample Rate Up to 192 kHz
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Kelvin Maina

Kelvin Maina is a dedicated content creator. He has a Bsc. Computer Science, and has worked for companies such as Investingcube.com, and cryptopolitan.com as a financial research analyst. At Shortfi, he mostly focuses on the latest technologies, gadgets, and technologies companies making progress in advancing humanity through innovation.

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