Snapdragon 802 Will Power Smart TVs

Qualcomm Monday unveiled a new Snapdragon processor billed as the first integrated SoC designed specifically with smart TVs in mind. The Snapdragon 802 will help power Ultra HD content and deliver console-quality gaming experiences, according to the company.

Qualcomm is well known for its Snapdragon processors, which power many high-end Android smartphones and tablets. The company says that the new 802 chip can support up to four HD videos at the same time.

“In addition to offering our expertise in the smartphone space, we also are introducing capabilities specific to the smart TV space, which enable our customers to redefine the smart TV category by combining the best of both TV and smartphone experiences,” said Murthy Renduchintala, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and co-president of QCT in a press statement. “Combining the efficient integration of our Snapdragon processing and connectivity components with Qualcomm Technologies’ demonstrated expertise in Android will enable the ultimate home entertainment experience with compelling new ways to watch, play and interact.”

While Android as a home entertainment platform remains to be proven, Qualcomm is pushing ahead full steam with an architecture based on KitKat. We won’t have to wait very long to see what the finished product looks like; the company says that the 802 processor will start sampling soon and should begin appearing in devices by the end of 2014.

Judging by the specs, the Snapdragon 802 will pack a serious punch. It boasts a quad-core Krait 1.8 GHz CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. The company says that its Hollywood Quality Video (HQV) engine can upscale 1080p content at levels approaching Ultra HD.  

“The Snapdragon 802 processor includes features developed by Qualcomm Technologies specifically for TVs, such as broadcast, analog and digital I/O interfaces, as well as a custom Android Software Framework based on Kit Kat that is designed to enable our OEM customers to develop performance and media optimized Android solutions for smart consumer electronic devices,” the company said.

Qualcomm’s new processor also packs 802.11ac, so your Ultra HD content won’t get stuck in a bandwidth bottleneck. All in all, the Snapdragon 802 is encouraging news for smart TV proponents.