Last year Intel decided to cease development of its smartphone SoCs and focus instead on microprocessors for other devices, as well as LTE, 5G modems, as well as various IoT solutions. While we weren't expecting a new x86 SoC in the space, Intel did not specify that would be the case: the agreements with third-party SoC developers such as Spreadtrum and Rockchip were still in place. Despite this, we were surprised to hear that At MWC 2017, Intel’s partner Spreadtrum introduced a brand new application processor for high-end handsets, featuring Intel’s 2015 Airmont cores (as seen in Cherry Trail) and made using Intel’s 14 nm process technology.

The Spreadtrum SC9861G-IA SoC features eight Intel’s Airmont cores with running at up to 2 GHz, with Imagination Technology's PowerVR GT7200 GPU. Also integrated is Spreadtrum's own 5-mode LTE Cat 7 modem (up to 300 Mbps download, up to 100 Mbps upload). The SoC also integrates an ISP that supports up to two 13 MP camera sensors, a dedicated sensor hub, and hardware-based decoders/encoders for HEVC and other popular video codecs that support up to 3840×2160 resolution. The display controller can handle resolutions up to 2560×1600.

Spreadtrum's 8-Core Airmont SoC
  SC9861G-IA
CPU Cores 8 × Intel Airmont at up to 2 GHz
GPU PowerVR GT7200
Imaging Capabilities Up to 26 MP,
up to two 13 MP sensors
Video 4Kp30, HEVC
Display Controller 2560 × 1440
Modem TD-LTE/FDD LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA/EGG
LTE Category 7
(DL: 300Mbps, UL: 100Mbps)
Process Technology 14 nm

To date, the Spreadtrum SC9861G-IA is the most powerful (and presumably energy-efficient) x86-based SoCfor smartphones. It has more cores, better graphics, and a faster modem than Intel’s own code-named Moorefield SoCs introduced in 2014, made using its 22 nm fabrication process, or the SoFIA chips (designed by Rockchip) launched in 2015 made using TSMC’s 28 nm technologies. Using Intel’s 14 nm manufacturing technology for this new SoC helps to reduce minimum power requirements and die size (which still remain unknown).

The SC9861G-IA is the first x86-based SoC by Spreadtrum, and the development was enabled by an agreement signed in late 2014 after Intel acquired a $1.5-billion worth stake in Tsinghua Unigroup, the owner of Spreadtrum. The chip will not carry the Intel Atom brand, and thus Intel will not help makers of devices to integrate it or make any other incentives to popularize the platform. It will also not invest in its advertising. What is interesting is that the SC9861G-IA will not be Spreadtrum’s last x86-based SoC, according to the CEO of Intel.

“We look forward to working with Spreadtrum on additional mobile platforms,” said Brian Krzanich.

Neither company elaborated on the future plans, and we do not know whether Spreadtrum will continue to introduce smartphone SoCs featuring Intel’s low-power cores, or if they will launch something for higher-end tablets as well.

Intel and Spreadtrum did not disclose when they expect the first devices based on the SC9861G-IA to show up, but only noted that the platform can address both mainstream and high-end handsets.

Source: Spreadtrum

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  • niravvadodara - Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - link

    Can you please share Benchmark comparison with other competitors?
  • Ian Cutress - Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - link

    If we ever get one. Ask Spreadtrum to send us one :)
  • newbie06 - Thursday, March 16, 2017 - link

    The chip has entries in Geekbench database and as expected it's doing quite poorly: http://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/1993017
  • lefty2 - Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - link

    Since Intel left the smartphone market app developers are no longer supporting x86. That's going to be a problem.
  • ddriver - Wednesday, March 15, 2017 - link

    If you are smart, you use a portable application development framework. The code I write runs on every major and most of the minor platforms. No modifications required whatsoever.
  • Systab - Thursday, March 16, 2017 - link

    What framework do you use?

    Cross platform development is a notoriously tricky subject for anything more complicated than a simple CRUD. And even CRUDs can be tricky.

    Portable application framework -> ie Write Once Run Everywhere has been the holy grail since 1970s and of course popularized by Java in 1990s.

    We are still looking ...
  • lmcd - Thursday, March 16, 2017 - link

    "Popularized by Java in the 1990s" and Android in the 2010s, FIFY.
  • ddriver - Friday, March 17, 2017 - link

    I use Qt for the front end, pure C++ for the core logic. Qt sucks, but is still without competition, so depending on your experience with it, you might call it either "the best" or "the least sucky". For me it is the latter, I seem to have a gift for finding bugs and limitations in it, that even when reported remain unaddressed for years.
  • bhtooefr - Saturday, March 18, 2017 - link

    Although libhoudini's always an option. Not a great option, but an option nonetheless.
  • iwod - Thursday, March 16, 2017 - link

    I rather like this in a Chromebook or Laptop.

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