HTC's already using the 'cooler' version of Qualcomm's latest chip — and so, apparently, is just about everyone else.
As the ongoing drama over Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processor continues, new information from one manufacturer sheds light on exactly which handsets are using the latest (and supposedly coolest) version 2.1 of the chip. Jeff Gordon, HTC's senior global online communications manager, says that according to Qualcomm "virtually all" manufacturers with Snapdragon 810 devices are using the newer revision, as opposed to the earlier version 2.0.
The truth, according to what Qualcomm tells me, is virtually all OEMs who've announced devices with Snapdragon 810 are currently using v2.1.
— Jeff Gordon (@urbanstrata) July 15, 2015In a later tweet, Gordon specifically confirms that HTC uses Snapdragon 810 v2.1 in its flagship One M9.
OnePlus has made much of its use of Snapdragon 810 v2.1 in the upcoming OnePlus Two, dedicating a full paragraph in its CPU announcement post to the newer revision's thermals.
Although there have been reports that the 810 runs warmer than its predecessors, we assure you that we have taken all the necessary precautions and beyond to prevent this from occurring in the 2. We worked very closely with Qualcomm's engineers to integrate an improved version of the chipset (v2.1) in the OnePlus 2, and fine-tuned both hardware and software. The 2 will be "cooler than ever".
Elsewhere in the same post, the company specifically refers to its chip as "Snapdragon 810 v2.1," apparently wishing to distance itself from the thermal issues reported with some other 810-based phones.
There've also been unconfirmed reports that Sony's Xperia Z4 and Z3+ use the v2.1 SoC.
For our part, we've had mixed impressions of the chip in the various 810-powered Android phones we've tested. The HTC One M9 didn't give us any real performance or heat-related problems. The LG G Flex 2 was a little janky at launch, but improved with successive firmware updates, while the Sony Xperia Z3+ is a bag of hurt.
That's a demonstration, perhaps, that a smartphone is more than just a processor, and what you're doing with the chip matters just as much as the silicon you're using.
In any case, if you were worried about not having the latest 810 revision in your M9, you can rest a little easier tonight.
Source: @urbanstrata
Reader comments
HTC: One M9 already using Snapdragon 810 v2.1
Well if they have taken all the necessary steps to keep it cool, they are not enough. My phone REGULARLY (daily) will not charge because it is so hot. The last time I checked, nowhere does it say it's a crime to use your phone while it's plugged in. It is virtually impossible with the M9 to do that. It helps if you remove the case I will say. But then if I drop it, it's toast.
Something is different. I used the M9 and it was almost always hot. It wasn't always down to the aluminum. The one plus 2 hasn't had any heating issues thus far. Is it throttling. Well, the M9 was throttled because of the bad heat issues and it was still really warm. I think they did work closely to optimize the chipset with the software.
I think a good test is run this website (non mobile version) on Chrome Beta and fire up navigation. That will heat up any chip I bet!
Well then.
My point still stands.
The 810 is a failed toaster that is a large-scale failure for Qualcomm. It pretty much gone up in smoke.
Posted from my "Jack Of All Trades" LG G4
Yeah not a good release for them. I think what actually will hurt them in the long run is doubling down on it and saying 'no problems here, look at the LG and HTC release' then admitting an issue.
If they would have started with ' there are reports of an issue and we are fixing it' they would not have hurt the 820 and really let Samsung into the chip market like they have
Sent via carrier duck. They were out of pigeons
Agreed.
I know they needed to save face, but really, saying "Our chip doesn't overheat" when there are more and more phones using that same chip overheating over and over is a PR disaster.
Given that, the 820 MUST be a massive improvement over the 810, but it's gonna take a long time for Qualcomm to win back the confidence of those OEMs, especially Samsung.
I don't see Samsung going back to Snapdragon for their flagships. It's probably cheaper for them at this point to use their own.
Posted via the Android Central App
Well...the S6 is selling worse than the S5 which sold less than the S4.
Despite the heavy marketing effort, people with previous experience with Samsung devices are becoming less enamored.
You need to do your research. The exynos chip in the S6 has been reported to run as high as 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Also when using the camera for just five minutes the chip can heat up as much as 25 degrees. The exynos chip also throttles like hell during heavy gaming. The 810 chip does not have these problems.
Posted via the Android Central App
That's odd.
I haven't heard of the 7420 overheating for some time already. It never overheated during my time using it and my friend happens to own an S6 as well and he hasn't complained about heating or throttling yet. Both of us don't game on our phones, though, which might explain that.
Maybe it's not as widely reported because everyone's focused on the 810, but I'll ask my friend to see if he has any thermal issues with his S6.
Also, haven't used the Z3+ yet, but some review units did overheat while using the camera. There might have been a software update released after that in order to address it, so I'll see if I can get a unit to test it.
Oh no.. They just burst the hype bubble of 1+2...
Posted via the Android Central App
Even without overheating, It still has some serious power efficiency issues.
via AC App on
VZW Moto X 2014/ DE 2013/ N7
Not to play the bad guy's advocate, but what does that say about the S6, since the M9 has better battery life?...
Just sayin!
Posted via the Android Central App
That it has a smaller battery capacity just saying and running a 2k display.
Posted via the Android Central App on my Nexus 5 or Nexus 7 2013
Exactly that. Plus TW which is still heavier than Sense by large.
M8 was one of the most efficient Androids last year, thanks to HTC software optimization.
via AC App on
VZW Moto X 2014/ DE 2013/ N7
Apparently comment fields are full of stupid as ever. The article plainly states that the 2.1 version doesn't have the controversial thermal issues. The reader comments? "omg glad I didn't get a phone with t3h 810 thermal issuezz!!!!omg!!bbq!!" And to further add to the stupidity, rather than READ the articles which plainly states: "The truth, according to what Qualcomm tells me, is virtually all OEMs who've announced devices with Snapdragon 810 are currently using v2.1" we have people asking how do they know if their M9 has the 2.1 version.
Sigh. Not a lot of brainpower happening here obviously.
That doesn't explain the one time the M9's back reached 55.4 degrees Celsius during a benchmark test when the next hottest phone was the LG G3, at 42.2 degrees.
That was before the throttling update, so there is clearly something very wrong with the chip.
It also doesn't explain why the Z3+ overheated so many times while AC was reviewing it.
That benchmark test people have burnt into their brain was prerelease hardware and software.
I actually saw the M9 running through AnTuTu on final software.
Initially, it got 50k, but then it just dropped to the realm of the One M7.
It was running 5.0.2 at the time and apparently, the results are much better in 5.1, but I need to wait and see first.
Posted from my "Jack Of All Trades" LG G4
Okay, I've read enough. I have to interject. A smartphones design has a lot to do with heat dispersement, just like the cellular modem that some companies tend to place to close. It too gets really hot. The best placement for the soc is as close to the back surface as possible, away from the camera module and the modem. If Oneplus designed their own motherboard with these goals. It could easily run this chip w/ great result. Sony you can't just pop it into the Z3 motherboard (right below the camera module) and expect a winner. This chip requires a redesign. But, when you're trying rush a flagship out for competition and fail to consult w/ Qualcomm on a redesign (because you don't have time) it might bite back. Do I think it's a hot running chip? YES. Do I think it's a fail? Absolutely not. I think this market is fiercely competitive and products get rushed. I think that some were spoiled w/ Qualcomm's dependability, popped the chip in and made a mistake. I think Sony has really, really made a mistake. A very costly one.
Posted via the Android Central App
You are spot-on about the placement. HTC put their SOC right in back with shielding tape doing double duty as a shield and thermal conductor that distributes the heat across the aluminum body. Has anybody with an M9 gotten overheating messages, or had the phone shut down? We know the Z3+ gets them promptly, and I personally know the Samsung Galaxy Mega throws up overheating messages when you work it. Any others?
Posted via the Android Central App
Despite what the usual trolls continually say, the HTC One M9 does NOT generate thermal warnings or shut down during normal usage.
Moreover, many prefer the higher resolution camera of the M9 over the M8. And the slightly redesigned industry leading aluminum unibody eliminated the slippery issue of the M8.
Ahhh... So it only Browns the toast now instead of totally burning it
Sent via carrier duck. They were out of pigeons
lol!
AC@tabs10.5
LoL
Posted via the Android Central App
Well, at least we can use our phones to have delicious toasted bread now!
how will someone know if the m9 they buy is the one with the version 2.1? for example let say I go to a T-Mobile store and they still have stock from the old version and they give me that
Posted via the Android Central App
HTC is basically saying all One M9 have v2.1. I really don't trust the 810. When a manufacturer has to dedicate PR just to saying they're using a chip that they are trying to assure the public won't get too warm, that's not a good sign.
Posted via the Android Central App
Yeah, how does one know they have version 2.1?
Posted from my M9
Just wanted to say that Alex Dobie is quite possibly the best writer that AC has.
Let's see how oneplus 2 does in tests
Posted via Android Central App on 1+1
I am sure there will be as much suck in the next one as the last, near 100%
Sent via carrier duck. They were out of pigeons
I thought the OPO out benchmarked most phones even when the 805 was released?
Posted via the Android Central App
I seen a comparison on yt, a new firmware on a Sony, it was much slower than the old firmware, it also overheated, just not as fast, I wonder if there just throttling them haha and calling them v2.1
Posted via the Android Central App
Wasn't the clock speed 2.7 ghz on the 810?
Posted via the Android Central App
v2.1 refers to the iteration of the SoC not the clockspeed. There has been improvements done on the SD810 SoC so the later version is supposed to be better than the earlier SD810.
Posted via the AC App on Note 4 N910F
It was on the 805.
Posted via the Android Central App
So far this year's been a clusterfuck except for the s6 and g4
Posted via the Android Central App
G6 hasn't been all roses with the battery and the g4 leather...
Posted via the Android Central App
Don't buy the leather one or by a spare back.. Agreed about the G6 battery though.
Posted via the Android Central App
You're missing the point. The leather quality was something they touted as premium quality. I shouldn't need a back up back.
That said I feel the G4 may be the best so far this year for high end flagships.
Posted via the Android Central App
True but if there's one thing we can agree on HTC dropped the ball hard this year and the 810 isn't the sole reason
Posted via the Android Central App
Definitely true
Posted via the Android Central App
Agreed.
Not because it's an M8.1, but because it just ended up being a slight regression from the M8.
Is the gs6 battery really that bad? I find it OK. I am coming from nexus 5 though, so that might alter my perception..
If you find the gs6 battery ok . Why do you fill you need the approval of any of the samsung naysayers that don't own the phone
Posted via the Android Central App
Where be the FUD???
Posted via the Android Central App
I really hope the Oneplus two isn't affected.
Posted via the Android Central App
Heck the SD 801 in my G3 gets hot on some games and apps. Sim city build it makes the power and volume buttons hot enough to be uncomfortable at times if you need to use them during or just after.
Posted via the Android Central App
FYI, the unlocked Gold version is on sale at axon for $545.00 as part of their Prime Day Sale. I don't claim to know whether that is a particularly good price or not. Amazon themselves are the seller, which is good as they are great about returns, etc.
Posted via the Android Central App
And that's why my big interest for the Axon went out the window along with anything with the 810. I just won't waste my time.
Posted via the Android Central App
I was hyped for the 810 before all the heating issues came about.
Now I stay away from any phone with an 810 minus one exception. The Mi Note Pro, which I still haven't got any complaints from others about overheating yet, on a large scale.
Best thing to do is wait for the 820 or get something with an 808. It just isn't worth it when phones are updated every single year.
Isn't a phone coming out with the 820 this year?
Posted via the Android Central App
rumor has it the Nexus 5 (2015) will run with it.
Posted via the Android Central App
I have an 808 (G4), and I can tell you that even it runs hotter than the 800 in my Note 3...
My G4 runs significantly hotter than the Z3C I had before it. But then again, it's pushing four times the pixels, so...
Shots fired.