5G device prices to drop further with Snapdragon 690 processor

5G devices tends to cost a pretty penny, but that's set to change in the second half of this year with Qualcomm's newly announced Snapdragon 690 chipset.

The Snapdragon 690 is a new processor with integrated 5G destined for more affordable handsets. Smartphones powered by Snapdragon 6-series processors - such as the OPPO A52 - are priced as low as $299 outright. For comparison, the cheapest 5G phone we've seen to date is the OPPO Find X2 Lite, priced at $749 and powered by a slightly more premium Snapdragon 765G processor.

Even then, the Find X2 Lite is on the cheapest end of the 5G scale, with many 5G devices costing at least $1,000, if not more. We're not quiet expecting to see $300 5G handsets immediately, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them priced around the $500 to $600 mark.

Devices based on the Snapdragon 690 processor will be available in the second half of the year. HMD Global (Nokia), Motorola, LG, and TCL have all confirmed that they are working on Snapdragon 690-powered handsets.

There is however one trade-off made by the Snapdragon 690 processor: it only supports Sub 6 5G, not mmWave, which means devices powered by it won't be able to reach the maximum speeds 5G is capable of - potentially as high as 4Gbps.

Of course, mmWave 5G is still a distance visage in Australia. Australian telcos will be able to bid for access to mmWave spectrum at the start of 2021. This means it is unlikely we'll see mmWave 5G connectivity in Australia until late 2021 or early 2022. And while mmWave is the fastest form of 5G, it has the shortest and range and the most difficult time penetrating buildings.

Sub 6 5G, also known as mid-band 5G runs on frequencies similar to what 4G networks use now, albeit on the higher end of the spectrum. All Australian 5G networks currently rely on Sub 6 5G.

While 5G support is clearly the standout feature of the Snapdragon 690, it boasts a few interesting features that give us a hit at what the next wave of mid-tier smartphones could look like. This includes support for 120Hz displays with faster refresh rate, 4K HDR video capture, and cameras up to 192MP.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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