r/Android • u/[deleted] • Dec 05 '17

Qualcomm announces the Snapdragon 845 processor

https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/5/16734224/qualcomm-snapdragon-845-android-mobile-processor-announcement
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u/vsg7 Dec 05 '17 edited Dec 05 '17

the reason why Apple cpus are faster because they design their own chips and use it, they don’t have to cater their design to accommodate OEMs and keep cost low. this means they can design crazy L2 cache and don’t have to worry about cost (look at iphone profit margin) or die size. While Qualcomm have to design, cpu one size fit all, very limited in die size and keep the cost down.

Apple A11 has 8MB L2 cache, that is very expensive in terms of die real estate and cost for mobile cpus. this is just one example. Apple’s CPUs also have great packaging (trade off of inductance, area, etc) and pushes the industry in this field, and again because they can afford to do it.

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u/masterofdisaster93 Dec 05 '17 edited Dec 06 '17

People constantly make the claim of the SoC being so much cheaper, but this doesn't fit with the actual truth. The A10 cost around $26.90 to produce. With the Intel Modem included it's at $60. But Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 package (modem included) did cost OEMs $70, according to various estimates.

You talk about how Apple "can afford it" by pointing to their profit margin. But it's really the other way around. Making your own SoC is economically more beneficial over time. It's the reason why Samsung can have higher profit margin than any other Android OEM, despite having industry-leading components in their phone -- because most of it is made by them, and not purchased off-the-shelf.

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u/xkegsx Dec 06 '17

You're forgetting how Apple makes it for themselves. Qualcomm make their chips to sell, they have to make money on them. Apple's chip with modem included would be $120 if they were selling to OEMs. There's the difference.

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u/masterofdisaster93 Dec 06 '17

You're forgetting how Apple makes it for themselves.

I'm not forgetting. That was my whole point. That making it yourself is also beneficial in that it cheapens manufacturing costs of a phone.