MediaTek announces MT8135 big.LITTLE SoC for high-end tablets

Just after revealing its True Octa-Core System-on-Chip (SoC), MediaTek announced a new chip with some rather interesting new features. The quad-core MT8135 is designed to be used on tablets that require processor-intensive operations such as heavy web browsing, hardcore gaming, and video viewing, without sacrificing power efficiency.

The heart of the MT8135 is composed of two high-performance ARM Cortex A15 and two ultra-efficient ARM Cortex A7 processors, utilizing ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture. If this sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because it is basically the same setup as Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa, but with half the cores. One major difference between the two implementations, however, is in the area of heterogeneous multi-processing.

Heterogeneous multi-processing would allow different kinds of CPUs, in this case, the A15 and A7, to be used together. In Samsung’s implementation, this is unsupported. Only one set of cores can be active at one time, either the A15 or the A7, but not both. As such, MediaTek’s MT8135 is the first implementation of the ARM big.LITTLE architecture to offer simultaneous heterogeneous multi-processing.

The MT8135 is also not skimping on other components. It includes a four-in-one connectivity combo of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and FM, as well as support for Miracast for easy multimedia sharing across devices. Lastly, the SoC also houses a PowerVR Series 6 GPU to address the requirements of high-end gaming and smooth user interfaces.

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‘Evolved’ Samsung Exynos 5 Octa teased, launching next week

Move over original Exynos 5 Octa, after such a short time on the market, you’re already being replaced by something better! Earlier today, Samsung took to Twitter to announced it will be launching a “more powerful, enhanced” version of the Exynos 5 Octa sometime next week.

Any other details?  No, but we can certainly speculate a little.

Regardless of what Samsung is planning, we only have to wait a week to find out.

As you might already know, the current Exynos 5 Octa doesn’t technically run on eight cores. Instead, the Octa has a 1.6GHz quad-core A15 processor for high-intensity tasks and can switch to a lower-powered 1.2GHz quad-core A7 for situations where less power is needed.

For the next Exynos 5 Octa, the change could be as simple as boosting up the clockspeeds provided by the SoC. Then again, it could also have to do with improving integrated features such as adding advanced LTE, or really anything under the sun.

As for the first device to run the processor? If the rumor mill proves correct, it will likely be in at leastone version of the Note 3, though don’t expect Samsung to show off their big-screen phone next week. More than likely the announcement will simply be a release a few new technical details about the upcoming SoC.

Regardless of what Samsung is planning, we only have to wait a week to find out. In the meantime the Korean giant is giving fans a chance to win some brand new Exynos-powered devices through their#ExynosEvolved Giveaway.

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No Exynos 5 Octa in the UK Galaxy S4 either, says Samsung

 

I’m really starting to wonder which markets will actually see the light of the Exynos 5 Octa powered Galaxy S4. Yesterday we heard that other counties in Europe, Sweden and Denmark just to name a couple, would be receiving the Snapdragon 600 powered handset just like the US, and now it’s official that the UK will use Qualcomm’s chip as well.
In a response to a query about the UK version of the Galaxy S, Samsung replied with the following statement.

“Samsung Galaxy S4 is equipped with a 1.9GHz Quad-core AP or a 1.6GHz Octa-core AP. The selection of AP varies by markets … In the UK, the Galaxy S4 will be available as a 4G device with a 1.9GHz Quad Core Processor.”

So why won’t we be seeing the Exynos 5 Octa in the UK and northern Europe? Well I have two theories.
Firstly, as Samsung stated the Galaxy S4 is to be available on 4G networks. The US and northern parts of Europe have substantial LTE coverage already, and the UK now has EE offering LTE, and other carriers are preparing to roll out their own services in the near future. So the Snapdragon 600 makes perfect sense for these markets, as it has a built in LTE modem, making it highly cost effective.
Then you have to consider the availability of the Exynos 5 chip. It’s likely to be very sparse when the Galaxy S4 launches, as mass production of the chip isn’t scheduled to start until thesecond quarter of this year.
Countries like the UK, the US, and many places in Europe are going to be huge markets for Samsung’s new handset and they won’t want to be caught in short supply like the Nexus 4. Qualcomm already has the Snapdragon 600 chips churning off the production line for other handsets. Also as it’s the most powerful processor currently available, it makes sense that Samsung would pick this chip to fill the gap in Exynos production.
I suppose then that we’ll be seeing the Exynos 5 Octa handsets ship out to countries without established LTE networks, or where network coverage is poor. Alternatively we could also see Exynos powered Galaxy S4s hit the market at a later point in the year, once mass production has kicked into gear.

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Meizu MX3 is rumored to feature an Exynos 5 Octa processor

Looking for a sexy and unique smartphone without paying a fortune? You might want to forget all the shiny new handsets coming out of Korea, Japan and the United States, and instead turn your attention to China. There are plenty of great brands to be found in China, including Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei, and Meizu. The later of these is actually preparing for its successor, the Meizu MX3.

We can’t say for sure if the Meizu MX3 will live up to the aesthetically pleasing design seen with the MX2 (pictured above), but its specs certainly will make your mouth water.

The phone is expected to feature a 5.1-inch display with a 1920 x 1200 display and an impressive Exynos 5 Octa processor. Yes, that’s the same processor as you’ll find in theSamsung Galaxy S4. The phone is also believed to have a bezel that is ultra-thin on both sides to make it easier to handle with one hand, similar to what was seen with the recently leaked picture of what is believed to be the Xiaomi MI-3.

Not much else is known about what the next-gen Meizu phone will bring to the table, nor do we have any idea when it will hit or how much it will cost. There is also the possibility that this is nothing more than a rumor. Still, if you are a fan of high-end Chinese handsets, the Meizu MX3 is probably going to be worth keeping an eye out for.

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