To make 5G more affordable for consumers globally, Qualcomm has just added a new Snapdragon 690 SoC to its 600series chip. The SoC is the first from the series to support 5G connectivity and will do so with Qualcomm X51 modem.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 supports SA, NSA, and global 5G bands on sub-6GHz. Unfortunately, the processor doesn’t seem to include support for mmWave, which means it won’t be compatible with existing Verizon and AT&T 5G networks. The company decides to remain that right only to the Snapdragon 765G and Snapdragon 865 for the time being.
Meanwhile, expect an improved CPU and GPU performance. According to data released, Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 phones will have 20% faster CPU speed and an impressive 60% faster graphics compared to the Snapdragon 675 SoC.
The new SD 690 SoC also boasts of a high-refresh-rate. It supports 120Hz refresh rate displays at up to Full HD+ resolution. The Qualcomm Spectra 355L Image Signal engine has support for up to 192MP for still photos, slow-motion videos at 720p@240fp, HDR 10, and 4K HDR video capture with portrait mode.
Qualcomm also added a new enchantment to video encoding. It means that Snapdragon 690 phones will improve the experience of high-quality video in lower-bandwidth conditions by improving the moving parts of the video.
Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 690 uses Qualcomm Kryo 560 CPU, which is behind the 20% improved performance over the predecessor. The Adreno 619L is said to be 60% efficient while the Qualcomm fifth-generation AI presence will improve the AI workloads, especially in video shooting.
The Snapdragon 690 SoC is built on the 8nm process, making it a better processor. Although it’s the first 600 series SoC to be built on the 8nm process, it still not on par with SD 765G and 865 built on the 7nm process.
Interestingly, most Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 phones will support Wi-Fi 6 on Qualcomm FastConnect 6200 system, if not all. They will also support Quick charge 4+ flash charge.
List of Snapdragon 690 phones – SD 690 phones (SD 690G phones)
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
PRICE: $351 | ORDER HERE
The OnePlus Nord N10 5G is the latest and first phone in our list of Snapdragon 690G phones. It’s been offered at $351 and comes with compelling specs.
First off, it features a 6.49-inch 90Hz AMOLED display of 1080 x 2400px resolution. It has a punch hole for the 16MP front snapper while at the back is a Quad-camera arrangement, which consists of a primary 64MP snapper, 8MP ultrawide-angle lens, 5MP Depth, and 2MP macro shooter.
Power is delivered through a 4300mAh battery with 33W fast charging, while the scanner is rear-mounted. And outside-of-the-box, you get Android 10 based on OxygenOS 10.5
LG K92
PRICE: $396 | ORDER HERE (coming soon)
The LG K92 is a mid-range offering with 5G connectivity. It’s the second phone in our list of Snapdragon 690G phones with the features matching the Nord 10, but the design is far from convincing.
Of course, the Snapdragon 690G SoC is under the hood. It’s paired with 6GB standard RAM and 128GB ROM with an option for expansion. Power is delivered by a 4000mAh battery, with Quick Charge 4.0 support via USB-C port.
Meanwhile, the display measures 6.7-inch. It’s an LCD panel with a punch hole for the 16MP camera, while at the back is a Quad arrangement. It consists of a primary 64MP camera paired with 5MP ultrawide angle-lens, 2MP depth, and 2MP macro shooters.
The fingerprint is side-mounted, and the device will be offered in Titan Gray only, starting at $396. And for that price, the Nord 10 is a better phone as you’d get extra of what the LG K92 has to offer.
HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G
Next on our list of Snapdragon 690 phones is the recently unveiled HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G. The phone starts at $425 and is available in Blue and Purple color options. It sports a 6.7-inch IPS LCD panel that refreshes at 90Hz and supports HDR10.
Under the hood – Snapdragon 690 5G SoC – is equipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Coupled with the Adreno 619 GPU, it’ll deliver the best gaming and multitasking performance. Outside-of-the-box, the device runs Android 10.
The camera features a Quad arrangement with a primary 48MP at the center of it. It’s flanked by an 8MP ultrawide angle-lens, 2MP depth, and 2MP Macro shooter, while the front snapper is a 16MP lens. The primary camera is capable of shooting 4K at 30fps.
Powering the device is a beefy 5000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Other features of the device include Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, fingerprint scanner, and USB-C port.
TCL 20 5G
PRICE: $365 | ORDER HERE (coming soon)
The TCL 20 5G has released their first phone with Snapdragon 690 SoC. It’s also the first device from the company to feature on our list of Snapdragon 690 phones. The specs list shows the device has many things in common with HTC Desire 21 Pro 5G.
Both feature a 6.67-inch LCD panel with HDR 10 support, but the TCL 20 sans 90Hz refresh rate. The camera consists of a primary 48MP shooter, 8MP ultrawide angle-lens, 2MP macro, and not depth sensor. Nevertheless, you can shoot 4K at 30fps using the camera, while on the front panel is an 8MP shooter.
Power is drawn from a 4500mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. The fingerprint scanner is rear-mounted while features like Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, FM Radio, Android 10 on top of TCL UI. It’s offered in Most Gray and Placid Blue starting at $365.
