An SoC or “System on a Chip” is the central part of each fashionable smartphone, though it’s an amalgam of many applied sciences. The aim of this text is to present you a primary concept of what a contemporary smartphone SoC does and the present state of the marketplace for “mobile processors.”
The last word objective is that can assist you, the patron, use this info (and others) that can assist you select your subsequent smartphone. The objective right here is to not dig deep into how a smartphone SoC works or to fulfill the curiosity of an already educated techie.
As an alternative, our objective is to present you, the typical smartphone purchaser, as a lot info as potential that can assist you select the smartphone that most closely fits your wants. On the threat of sounding repetitive, the thought is that can assist you know simply sufficient to make an knowledgeable buy.
This central article will hyperlink to a number of different particular person articles on smartphone SoCs the place we’ll examine them to one another, introduce them and talk about particular fashions intimately.
Are processors, SoCs, and chipsets the identical factor?
Skilled smartphone buffs normally scoff on the phrase ‘processor’ and can let you know that an SoC (quick for System on a Chip) or ‘chipset’ is a extra correct time period. On the finish of the day, all you want to know is that the ‘processor, ‘SoC’, and ‘chipset’ on a smartphone (normally) check with the identical entity—despite the fact that the terminology may not be totally correct.
The time period processor was typically used to indicate the Central Processing Unit used on desktop computer systems. Trendy SoCs additionally get a CPU/processor—however it’s simply one of many many parts that make up an SoC. So the reply you’re on the lookout for is that this: Whereas an SoC and processor should not the identical issues in concrete phrases, over time, it has grow to be a suitable factor to name an SoC a processor or a chipset. I do know this may be frustratingly complicated.
If it’s not the identical as a processor, What actually is an SoC?
The commonest reply you might need heard typically equates the SoC with the human mind. I disagree. A extra correct method to perceive what an SoC is to consider it not because the mind—however because the human head. Sure, you learn that proper. I do know this instance is humorous, however it’s simply less complicated to visualise your head because the SoC—and your mind (which is situated inside the head)—because the processor.
Identical to your head integrates many different elements, the SoC, too, incorporates varied parts. Many of those parts additionally assist take the load off the processor and assist it carry out extra effectively.
Check out the diagram under to visualise all of the parts that make up a contemporary SoC.
You may as well consider the SoC as essentially the most vital a part of a contemporary smartphone. It successfully capabilities as a single unit and is chargeable for dealing with virtually each single job you ask your cellphone to carry out. Be it one thing comparatively mundane as making and receiving calls to one thing inherently extra advanced, like utilizing the cellphone digital camera to click on footage and movies, then modifying and rendering a ultimate product utilizing an modifying app.
What’s the ARM structure?
One other identify that you simply might need usually heard whereas speaking about smartphone SoCs is ARM. What you want to know is that ARM is a British firm that owns the CPU structure, instruction set, and core design that’s used within the majority of smartphones, smartwatches, and some different electronics.
It doesn’t matter what smartphone model you purchase, and whatever the SoC it makes use of, it’s a on condition that it’s primarily based on ARM structure.
You’ll hear quite a bit about ARM once you learn smartphone launch articles—particularly once you get to the half the place the SoC specs are talked about. For instance, these articles will spotlight what sort of “ARM Cortex” cores a particular SoC makes use of.
Bonus Information: It’s also fascinating to know that main SoC-makers like Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Huawei, and Unisoc don’t really manufacture SoCs in their very own vegetation. As an alternative, they outsource this job to specialised semiconductor manufacturing corporations like TSMC, Samsung Foundry, World Foundries, and SMIC. Samsung is the one smartphone SoC maker on this record that may design its personal ARM-based SoCs and likewise manufacture them in-house.
What parts does an SoC comprise?
A typical fashionable smartphone SoC usually integrates the next parts.
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
The one most vital part of the fashionable smartphone, the CPU, is the precise mind behind your smartphone. A contemporary smartphone CPU usually has a number of cores, and its efficiency is measured in GigaHertz (GHz).
After we tech reviewers discuss smartphone efficiency, we’ll typically use phrases like ‘Cortex-X4’ or ‘Cortex-A520’. These are the names of the particular CPU cores that nestle inside the SoC. We’ll find out about smartphone cores and processors in a separate article.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Whereas the CPU can deal with a number of duties, it isn’t particularly designed to deal with graphics. Since most smartphones of at the moment have to course of extremely demanding video games (and video content material), this job is dealt with by a devoted GPU.
You’ll hear quite a bit about GPUs in smartphone evaluations. Qualcomm SoCs usually use their very own Adreno-branded GPUs, whereas different SoC makers depend on both ARM Mali (Google, MediaTek), AMD Radeon (Samsung), or PowerVR GPUs (an evolution of that is used on the iPhone household).
Picture Processing Unit (ISP)
Trendy smartphones normally have a separate picture processing unit. This basically permits them to ‘convert’ information from a picture sensor to a usable picture you could then edit and share with pals and relations.
Previously, the CPU used to deal with this job as nicely. However producers quickly realized it’s at all times a greater concept to dump these duties to a separate Picture Processing Unit. Names you shall come throughout when discussing ISPs embody “Spectra” from Qualcomm and “Imagiq” from MediaTek.
Trendy ISPs can course of information coming from a number of cameras, apply results, picture high quality enhancements (a part of the explanation why cellphone selfies are higher than Home windows laptop computer webcams), and even acknowledge components within the scene (for instance for the GPU to use a background picture changing your front room).
Built-in Modems
Trendy smartphones are communication gadgets, and a modem is the only most important part that permits this primary characteristic. A modem is used to transform wi-fi alerts into information that your cellphone can perceive. Immediately’s smartphone modems combine 5G, 4G, 3G, and Wi-Fi capabilities in a single unit. And whereas a majority of smartphone SoCs at the moment characteristic an built-in modem, there are a number of exceptions.
Current examples embody the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple A17, each of which use a Qualcomm modem—an inner Snapdragon X77, and an exterior X70, respectively. By “external” we imply that the modem unit is just not a part of the SoC. One other instance are the Google Tensor chips, which use a Samsung modem (an inner core on the unique Tensor, after which an built-in one on the G2 and G3 chips).
Not all SoC manufacturers are eager on naming their modems. Qualcomm is a notable exception and the corporate normally denotes its modems with the letter X, adopted by a quantity. The most recent 5G modem from them, for instance, is the Qualcomm Snapdragon X80.
MediaTek, HiSilicon, and Samsung don’t normally point out the modem ‘model names” on their spec sheets and have typically shied away from naming them. Not too long ago, nevertheless, MediaTek did make a giant deal when it introduced its first 5G-compatible modem and branded it because the MediaTek M70 5G modem. HiSilicon modems go by the ‘Balong’ model identify. Nonetheless, you’ll not often discover this identify used even on the official web sites.
Different parts
Whereas these 4 are important parts, the fashionable SoC additionally integrates different elements. For instance, Digital Sign Processors (DSP) are usually used to deal with duties like analyzing information from onboard sensors and generally even assist with music playback.
With synthetic intelligence and machine studying being touted as the subsequent large factor, it isn’t unusual for smartphone SoCs to combine a devoted Neural Processing Unit (NPU) custom-built for dealing with such duties.
NPUs have been used for a few years in smartphone SoCs, for duties like picture enhancements, voice processing, facial recognition, and extra. The present development of generative AI and huge language fashions (LLMs) put chip designers in a race to supply extra TOPS (tera operations per second) than their rivals.
Manufacturing course of
A phrase that you’ll typically come throughout whereas studying SoC specs is one thing often known as the ‘manufacturing process.’ It’s listed in nanometers (nm). The only clarification I can consider proper now could be to let you know {that a} manufacturing course of is a quantity used to know how small the SoC’s inner nodes are.
Whereas we will have a scholarly dissertation about manufacturing processes and the semiconductor fabrication course of, that’s method past the scope of this text. What you as a shopper want to know is that the smaller the manufacturing course of, the extra advanced/costly/energy environment friendly the SoC is.
Present flagship SoCs are primarily based on 3-nm manufacturing processes, whereas flagship SoCs from 2020 have been primarily based on a 7-nm node. Mid-range and finances SoCs are usually primarily based on 5, 6, and seven nm manufacturing processes.
Who makes smartphone SoCs?
The key gamers within the smartphone SoC phase embody the next corporations.
- Apple
- Qualcomm
- MediaTek
- Samsung
- HiSilicon
- Unisoc
Right here’s a short overview of merchandise from every of those SoC manufacturers
Apple SoCs
Since Apple doesn’t want its SoCs for use on a number of gadgets, it usually publicizes only one smartphone SoC yearly. Till 2010, Apple relied on Samsung-sourced SoCs for the iPhone and iPad fashions. Since then, nevertheless, the corporate moved to its personal ARM-based SoCs. The primary Apple-designed SoC was the Apple A4 which debuted in 2010.
Since then, the so-called Apple Silicon expanded into different markets, together with smartwatches, private computer systems, and earphones, with the Apple S, M, and H collection of SoC, respectively, moreover different sorts of controllers and chips for its different gadgets.
Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs
Snapdragon is without doubt one of the leaders within the Android SoC area, most recognized for its Snapdragon collection of processors that cowl all the vary of the smartphone market. The corporate’s chips not solely outfitted the very first Android cellphone, the HTC Dream/T-Cell G1, however predates that in earlier Home windows Cell and BlackBerry telephones.
The cell Snapdragon processors are divided into the 8, 7, 6, 4, and a pair of collection, from the high-end Android flagship phase as much as the low-end KaiOS characteristic telephones, and much more primary fashions. Qualcomm segmented its branding even additional, including an “s” or “+” suffix to indicate a decrease or greater tier chip inside the similar collection, respectively.
Apart from telephones, the Snapdragon household additionally covers different devices, with the Snapdragon X collection on the PC market. the Snapdragon W/Put on collection for wearables, XR and AR for digital/blended/augmented actuality gadgets, and some others.
MediaTek Dimensity SoCs
Initially recognized for its inexpensive SoCs that have been usually used on cheaper smartphones, MediaTek is a Taiwanese firm that designs smartphone SoCs. Not too long ago, nevertheless, they’ve managed to pose a major menace to Qualcomm’s domination within the phase due to its aggressive merchandise.
MediaTek processors for smartphones are at present branded as Dimensity or Helio. The 4G Helio lineup is slowly being changed by 5G Dimensity alternate options so it isn’t getting newer choices.
Dimensity chips additionally cowl all the vary of the smartphone market, with entry-level choices within the 6000 collection, all the way in which to the flagship 9000 collection. Till 2021, the household was segmented between the 700 and 1000 collection, and in the course of the transition between the 2 naming schemes, a number of chips have been rebranded, making it much more complicated.
Samsung Exynos SoCs
Exynos is the model identify for Samsung’s in-house SoCs. The South Korean conglomerate not solely designs its chips but additionally produces them with its Samsung Foundry subsidiary (which additionally “fabs” for Google and Qualcomm). Previously, the corporate additionally designed its personal Hummingbird/Mongoose/Exynos CPU cores however an absence of competitiveness and effectivity made them being changed by normal Cortex cores.
Samsung SoC efforts additionally predate Android, with its chips powering the primary iPhone generations, and prior smartphones. The present Exynos household will be traced again to the sooner Galaxy S telephones, with flagship choices within the 2000 collection, and the 1000 collection protecting the mid-range market.
The Google Tensor household is expounded to the Exynos lineup—to the purpose of sporting Samsung codenames—however mixes normal ARM Cortex CPUs, ARM Mali GPUs, and Samsung modems with {custom} Google cores, most notably the Tensor NPU.
HiSilicon (Huawei) SoCs
Chinese language large Huawei additionally designs its in-house chips below its subsidiary’s HiSilicon Kirin model. On its fast-paced rise to the highest of the cellphone market, nevertheless, the firm was one of many most important targets of US-imposed commerce sanctions in 2020, which affected its capability to fabricate its Kirin chips with long-time associate TSMC from Taiwan.
Whereas 2020’s Kirin 9000 was very aggressive with different Android flagship SoCs, Huawei/HiSilicon was banned from sourcing its chips from TSMC and was solely in a position to return in 2023 with the Kirin 9000s chip, made by Shanghai’s SMIC.
Because the identify signifies, the 9000s is roughly on par with its older sibling by way of efficiency, utilizing a much less superior Chinese language 7nm course of node. SMIC’s older 14nm processes are additionally used for lower-end Kirin 710 chips.
Unisoc SoCs (Beforehand Spreadtrum)
Unisoc is yet one more smartphone SoC model. Whereas not as well-known because the likes of Qualcomm, MediaTek, Samsung, or Huawei, Unisoc does have a complete set of smartphone-focused SoCs. They’re largely utilized by producers who think about manufacturing gadgets focused on the decrease finish of the worth spectrum.
Regardless of guarantees of highly effective alternate options in its Tiger and Tanggula households of SoCs since at the least 2020, the corporate’s latest choices (as of 2024) high on the Cortex-A76 CPU core from 2018.
Maybe tellingly, whereas Unisoc’s 4G chips will be discovered on latest releases from Samsung, Motorola, Realme, Nokia, and different widespread manufacturers for the low-end cellphone market. The corporate’s 5G chips are virtually unique to Hisense and ZTE/Nubia telephones.
Now that you’ve a primary understanding of what a smartphone SoC is and what the businesses that function on this area are, you should use this info to raised perceive the {hardware} specs of your cellphone. That is simply the primary article in a deliberate collection of smartphone SoC-related subjects right here on nextpit. We’ll replace this text with extra hyperlinks round associated subjects within the close to future
Watch this area for extra!
Article up to date in July 2024 with latest launches.