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Topic: Hardware

Do you need quad-core and LTE in your pocket? Probably not

Summary: Quad-core and LTE would give you bragging rights, but not much more.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

NVIDIA believes that the future of smartphones is to combine its quad-core Tegra 3 mobile CPU with next-generation LTE technology. But do consumers need quad core, LTE capable smartphones?

NVIDIA is pretty excited about its partnership to combine LTE modems with the Tegra 3 chip:

Number one is that OEM partners can now take their current NVIDIA-powered devices to the next level by creating next-gen LTE products with a fast time to market.

Number two: this will let more users in more markets access the award-winning performance capabilities, next-gen games, and lightning fast apps enabled by Tegra.

Finally, this helps push the envelope on the overall mobile experience. Through fast data access offered by LTE, users get even better multiplayer gaming options, lightning fast web browsing, supercharged app downloads… and the list goes on and on.

NVIDIA has reason to be pleased. It's bringing technology to smartphones that even Apple has yet to make available to iPhone owners. That could give Android handsets a much-needed advantage over Apple's offerings.

But do consumers really need a smartphone with quad-core and LTE? I'm not convinced.

First off, a quad-core processor is going to put enormous pressure on the battery. Technology is a great thing, and faster is better, but when you have to power it from a finite source then it becomes a burden because it reduces the time between recharges.

Same goes for LTE. Again it's easy to jump to the conclusion that faster is better, but when that comes at the price of having to keep a very close eye on the battery meter. I'm certain that the reason Apple hasn't put LTE into the iPhone or iPad is because of battery life, and while there are now more efficient chipsets out there than when the iPhone 4S was in development, they're still far from ideal.

But it's not just battery life that we need to consider. When considering the value of quad-core processors, we need to ask ourselves if the Android OS and apps are ready to take advantage of four cores. In fact, at present there are very few apps that are capable of taking advantage of multi-threaded CPUs.

Same goes for LTE. Sure, it's the latest buzzword among the carriers and handset makers, but it's only available to a small percentage of users, and for many of these it's no faster than current generation technologies. What's the point of paying for technology that you can't take advantage of?

So, bottom line, while a quad-core CPU and LTE in your smartphone would give you bragging rights, it wouldn't give you much more.

Image credit: NVIDIA

Topics: Hardware, Processors

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65 comments
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  • Sometimes, I follow the twitter link to a post

    then I wish I could take my page view back.
    marbo100
    Reply Vote

    • I am with you

      This was a click generator if I ever saw one.
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

      • click generator? Yep

        But one point that may be a bit worthwhile exploring is the aspect of improved features and the power they require to work vs. battery life. If you have a smart phone, and run apps on a continual basis you already know the issue with having to re-charge a lot more often than previously. Frankly I'd rather see a movement toward improved efficiency before offering more power hungry features. OTOH, it DOES seem to be the features that grab attention and spur upgrades, even though perhaps pushing the market towards the brink of a power crisis.
        Willnott
        Reply Vote

  • Are you kidding me?

    I have an HTC Rezound, and to me, no I don't need quad core but, LTE is something I am not giving up... My highest recorded speed is 35 mbps down and 18 mbsp up, I am not trading that for the 5/1 speeds of Verizon 3G and I don't care how many iOS fans tell me there isn't enough coverage!
    slickjim
    Reply Vote

    • Agree!!

      They are just jealous they don't have LTE. Love my Droid4!
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

      • Being very honest...

        There is 0 LTE coverage in my area. Waste of battery and money.
        kstap
        Reply Vote

  • You'll need a few thousand mAh in the other

    Can't wait to see the batteries of these things.
    matthew_maurice
    Reply Vote

    • have you seen the Razr Maxx

      It packs a huge 3300 mAh battery into a thin package. If Moto can do it, then others can too.
      tgschmidt
      Reply Vote

    • Get glasses dude

      Lets see......

      My Samsung GS2 had better battery life than my iPhone4
      My Samsung Skyrocket (LTE) does a good till late afternoon with moderate to heavy use... about an hour less than my iphone 4....

      If you use your LTE that hard - sorry dude, your carrier will cap you (except maybe Sprint)......
      rhonin
      Reply Vote

  • Enter: Ubuntu for Android and windows 8 devices

    Would perfectly benefit for this with an android device. Paired with the dock. We also now have usb devices for your tv that will run ubuntu. I imagine before long the same principle will be applied to Windows 8 which also would greatly benefit from this as well. Even android itself is constantly evolving. Android and Ubuntu are essentially the same thing as OSX and iOS, both built from identical OS platforms. One is much lesser used and free and the other is a "premium". Getting down to it, all are being built with essentially the same hardware core, just different shapes and sizes, shinyness, features, storage space and prices.
    Nate_K
    Reply Vote

  • Technology goes up, until it hits the battery bottleneck

    Given the rate of improved battery technology pales in comparison to general chipset technology, pretty soon we will be forced to carry our mobile devices in a huge carry on "battery bag" during the infancy days of the "mobile phone" of the late 70s and 80s.

    That was back when the most of bag itself was pretty much the entire battery. Imagine trying to lug that around all day.
    ZStoner
    Reply Vote

  • Wait, are you suggesting customers not move up to LTE?

    I agree, LTE is a battery hog, but why not move up to an LTE smartphone? Why would you choose to remain on a lower rung when, if necessary, you can force your LTE phone to work in 3G mode (if it really bothers you)? I don't quite understand your logic there.

    In terms of the quad core stuff from NVidia, I'm waiting to see if their little fifth core helps with battery life.
    rlorenz
    Reply Vote

    • simple

      because to do so, the site might upset some sponsors (Apple) and that isn't allowed.
      slickjim
      Reply Vote

    • Much of the battery usage comes from supporting legacy technologies

      Especially if you have to support CDMA/EVDO legacy networks. It's like having 2 phones packed into one device.

      While there are optimizations that can certainly be made to the LTE processor, its the legacy baggage that is causing the issues.
      otaddy
      Reply Vote

  • Really? This sounds like preaching to the Iphone choir

    Yes I'm android user and can't wait to get a hold of a faster phone. Waiting for information to download just plain sucks. At the verizon store in the Northwest the Motorola Razr Maxx was 10 times faster then the Iphone on speedtest.net and its battery lasts all day. It's still incredibly thin and can be even larger if they wanted to put a quadcore in it. The battery technology is out there so you don't have to rely on wifi for your Iphone. Plus you get a great screen. Now I can watch ESPN3 on my phone without starts and stops anywhere! I won't have to rely on WIFI like an Iphone. To tell me that a quad core with 4G LTE won't matter is just plain wrong in my view. There is battery technology that will allow all day use.
    brentmck
    Reply Vote

    • At the Verizon store ..... that Razr was on WIFI

      While the iPhone was on 3G.
      wackoae
      Reply Vote

      • And this proves what?

        Yeah, the iphone is a 3G device. Did you go in and ask if you can test the Razr on 4G?

        In the midwest (Chicago to Pittsburgh) I have seen lots of 4G during my travels. Im heading to Florida soon and will check out 4G availability there. So far, I have been quite surprised to see how much 4G IS available today.
        otaddy
        Reply Vote

  • I moved up to 4G LTE & Dual Core & would NEVER go back!!

    Went from a Original Droid to a Droid2Global to a Droid4 with 4G LTE. WOW!! What a difference in speed! It is usually faster to use LTE than it is to use the wireless connection available. I have found the coverage to be quite good in Western Washington State. Also in Oregon & California where I travel to. The Dual Core processor is amazingly faster too. Apps install and launch super fast, web pages load quickly, Docs open super fast, video is ultra clear and does not skip or jump. So yes a faster processor can be great even if there are few apps specifically designed for it yet.

    I also have a Motorola Lapdock 500 Pro. Although the Droid4 is impressive in this device, a quad core processor would make it close to or faster than the current crop of Netbooks, which would be fantastic!

    Plus, Motorola proved you can pack big battery power into a svelte and attractive package with the Razr Maxx, so no more excuses on battery life. Other manufacturers will be forced to compete with that which should make the next gen of devices have sufficient battery life.

    Bring on Quad Core, bring on LTE, bring on higher def screens. I may not need it, but I sure want it!
    tgschmidt
    Reply Vote

  • Do you need quad-core and LTE in your pocket? Probably not

    LTE yes, quad-core you only need if you are running android, it pretty much requires the extra cores to run smoothly. Other OS's don't need it.
    Loverock Davidson-
    Reply Vote

    • yeah right

      And you use Android so often that you're an expert right?
      slickjim
      Reply Vote
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