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 provide you a fundamental concept of what a contemporary smartphone SoC does and the present state of the marketplace for “mobile processors.”
The last word aim is that will help you, the buyer, use this info (and others) that will help you select your subsequent smartphone. The aim right here is to not dig deep into how a smartphone SoC works or to fulfill the curiosity of an already educated techie.
As a substitute, our aim is to provide you, the typical smartphone purchaser, as a lot info as potential that will help you select the smartphone that most closely fits your wants. On the threat of sounding repetitive, the concept is that will help 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 focus on 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 might want to know is that the ‘processor, ‘SoC’, and ‘chipset’ on a smartphone (generally) discuss with the identical entity—despite the fact that the terminology won’t be completely correct.
The time period processor was usually used to indicate the Central Processing Unit used on desktop computer systems. Fashionable SoCs additionally get a CPU/processor—however it’s simply one of many many elements that make up an SoC. So the reply you might be on the lookout for is that this: Whereas an SoC and processor should not the identical issues in concrete phrases, over time, it has turn into 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 may need heard typically equates the SoC with the human mind. I disagree. A extra correct technique to perceive what an SoC is to think about 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 easier to visualise your head because the SoC—and your mind (which is positioned throughout the head)—because the processor.
Identical to your head integrates many different components, the SoC, too, incorporates numerous elements. Many of those elements additionally assist take the load off the processor and assist it carry out extra effectively.
Check out the diagram beneath to visualise all of the elements that make up a contemporary SoC.
You can too consider the SoC as essentially the most vital a part of a contemporary smartphone. It successfully features as a single unit and is liable for dealing with virtually each single process you ask your cellphone to carry out. Be it one thing comparatively mundane as making and receiving calls to one thing inherently extra complicated, like utilizing the cellphone digicam to click on footage and movies, then enhancing and rendering a closing product utilizing an enhancing app.
What’s the ARM structure?
One other identify that you just may need usually heard whereas speaking about smartphone SoCs is ARM. What you might 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 provided that it’s primarily based on ARM structure.
You’ll hear lots about ARM if you learn smartphone launch articles—particularly if 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 selected SoC makes use of.
Bonus Information: It’s also attention-grabbing to know that main SoC-makers like Apple, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Huawei, and Unisoc don’t really manufacture SoCs in their very own crops. As a substitute, 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 checklist that may design its personal ARM-based SoCs and likewise manufacture them in-house.
What elements does an SoC include?
A typical fashionable smartphone SoC usually integrates the next elements.
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).
Once 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 throughout 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 immediately must course of extremely demanding video games (and video content material), this process is dealt with by a devoted GPU.
You’ll hear lots 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)
Fashionable smartphones normally have a separate picture processing unit. This basically permits them to ‘convert’ knowledge from a picture sensor to a usable photograph that you may then edit and share with pals and kinfolk.
Previously, the CPU used to deal with this process as properly. However producers quickly realized it’s all the time a greater concept to dump these duties to a separate Picture Processing Unit. Names you shall come throughout when discussing ISPs embrace “Spectra” from Qualcomm and “Imagiq” from MediaTek.
Fashionable ISPs can course of knowledge coming from a number of cameras, apply results, picture high quality enhancements (a part of the rationale why cellphone selfies are higher than Home windows laptop computer webcams), and even acknowledge parts within the scene (for instance for the GPU to use a background picture changing your front room).
Built-in Modems
Fashionable smartphones are communication gadgets, and a modem is the one most important part that allows this fundamental function. A modem is used to transform wi-fi alerts into knowledge that your cellphone can perceive. As we speak’s smartphone modems combine 5G, 4G, 3G, and Wi-Fi capabilities in a single unit. And whereas a majority of smartphone SoCs immediately function an built-in modem, there are just a few exceptions.
Latest examples embrace 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 shouldn’t be 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 usually 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. Nevertheless, you’ll not often discover this identify used even on the official web sites.
Different elements
Whereas these 4 are important elements, the fashionable SoC additionally integrates different components. For instance, Digital Sign Processors (DSP) are usually used to deal with duties like analyzing knowledge 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 (tensor 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 called the ‘manufacturing process.’ It’s listed in nanometers (nm). The only rationalization I can consider proper now’s to let you know {that a} manufacturing course of is a quantity used to grasp 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 means past the scope of this text. What you as a shopper want to grasp is that the smaller the manufacturing course of, the extra complicated/costly/energy environment friendly the SoC is.
Present flagship SoCs are primarily based on 3-nm manufacturing processes, whereas flagship SoCs from 2020 had 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 embrace 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 broadcasts 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 sequence of SoC, respectively, apart from 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 house, most recognized for its Snapdragon sequence of processors that cowl your entire 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 sequence, from the high-end Android flagship phase as much as the low-end KaiOS function telephones, and much more fundamental fashions. Qualcomm segmented its branding even additional, including an “s” or “+” suffix to indicate a decrease or greater tier chip throughout the similar sequence, respectively.
Moreover telephones, the Snapdragon household additionally covers different devices, with the Snapdragon X sequence on the PC market. the Snapdragon W/Put on sequence for wearables, XR and AR for digital/combined/augmented actuality gadgets, and some others.
MediaTek Dimensity SoCs
Initially recognized for its inexpensive SoCs that had 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 risk to Qualcomm’s domination within the phase due to its aggressive merchandise.
MediaTek processors for smartphones are at the moment branded as Dimensity or Helio. The 4G Helio lineup is slowly being changed by 5G Dimensity options so it isn’t getting newer choices.
Dimensity chips additionally cowl your entire vary of the smartphone market, with entry-level choices within the 6000 sequence, all the way in which to the flagship 9000 sequence. Till 2021, the household was segmented between the 700 and 1000 sequence, and through the transition between the 2 naming schemes, just a few chips had 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 sequence, and the 1000 sequence 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 big 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 essential 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 capable of 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 when it comes to 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 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 principally utilized by producers who consider manufacturing gadgets focused on the decrease finish of the value spectrum.
Regardless of guarantees of highly effective options in its Tiger and Tanggula households of SoCs since no less than 2020, the corporate’s latest choices (as of 2024) prime on the Cortex-A76 CPU core from 2018.
Maybe tellingly, whereas Unisoc’s 4G chips will be discovered on current releases from Samsung, Motorola, Realme, Nokia, and different fashionable 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 fundamental understanding of what a smartphone SoC is and what the businesses that function on this house are, you should utilize this info to raised perceive the {hardware} specs of your cellphone. That is simply the primary article in a deliberate sequence 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
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Article up to date in July 2024 with current launches.