This is the chip that will power every premium Android phone in 2017

Get familiar with its name because you'll be hearing it a lot next year.
 By 
Raymond Wong
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Get ready to hear this one phone spec over and over again in 2017 because it'll tell you if your next Android phone is the best or not.

Qualcomm, maker of the chips (technically systems-on-chips, or SoCs) that power most of the world's Android phones, has just announced its next flagship chip, the Snapdragon 835.

Samsung will produce the Snapdragon 835 using its 10-nanometer processor, a shrinkage down from the 14-nanometer process used in Qualcomm's current top-of-the-line 820/821 chips; the first premium phones to use the 835 will arrive in the first half of 2017.


You May Also Like

The 10-nanometer technology will bring with it a 27 percent boost in performance and up to 40 percent lower power consumption, according to Qualcomm.

Additionally, the 835's smaller physical footprint will free up some space in a phone's already tightly packed internals for other features such as a larger battery or thinner design.

Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The 835 will also support Qualcomm's newly announced Quick Charge 4.0 technology, which will allow faster charging (up to 20 percent quicker); 15 minutes of charging will provide up to 50 percent battery life and five minutes of charging time will provide up to five hours of usage time.

"Using the new 10-nanometer process node is expected to allow our premium tier Snapdragon 835 processor to deliver greater power efficiency and increase performance while also allowing us to add a number of new capabilities that can improve the user experience of tomorrow’s mobile devices," says Keith Kressin, Qualcomm's senior vice president of product management.

With the 835 chip, Qualcomm hopes to build off the successes of the 820 and 821 chips that dominated this year's flagship phones, from the Galaxy S7 to the LG V20 to the new Google Pixels. The 820's excellent performance and power management stand in stark contrast to the issues that plagued the previous 810 chip, which had notable thermal issues and single-handedly ruined some phones like the HTC One M9.

Assuming the 835 has no thermal issues, next year's Android phones will be screamers with longer-lasting battery life -- a definite win for consumers.

Topics Android

Mashable Image
Raymond Wong

Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Stay prepared with $600 off the DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station
DJI Power 2000 Portable Power Station on green abstract background

Gear up for winter with the DJI Power 2000 portable power station while it's $500 off
the DJI power 2000 portable power station on a pink, coral, and blue colored background

The DJI Power 2000 power station has never been cheaper at Amazon — save $600 right now
dji power 2000 portable power station against an orange and blue patterned background


Last chance to score the DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station for under $430
the DJI power 1000 V2 on a pink and orange background

More in Tech

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.

You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!