Just end last year in Dec 2012, Mediatek announced its latest quad core solution mobile – the MT6589 platform. It was the world’s first commercialized quad-core System-On-Chip (SoC), targetting the mid to high end smartphone and tablets market (and the dual-core MT6577 targeting the lower end of the market). This relatively new chipset integrates a power-efficient Cortex™-A7 CPU subsystem from ARM, PowerVR™ Series5XT GPU from Imagination Technologies, and MediaTek’s advanced multi-mode UMTS Rel. 8/HSPA+/TD-SCDMA modem. Adopting an advanced 28nm process technology, it aims to deliver powerful performance at a very competitive price, just like the MT6577 platform that we have been quite familiar with.
Let’s take a look at the Quad-Core Cortex-A7 1GHz+CPU Smartphone Platform (MT6589):
- Dual-SIM and Dual-Active functionality frees users to seamlessly make and receive calls on two SIM cards at the same time.
- High-end Multimedia Capabilities using PowerVR™ Series5XT GPU, which are multi-core variants of the SGX series with some updates.
- 13MP camera with integrated ISP, 1080p playback and recording at 30fps, and enhanced image processing for DTV-grade image quality
- Full HD (1920×1080) LCD support for razor sharp visuals.
- Integrated leading 4-in-1 connectivity combo, providing 802.11n Wi-Fi, BT4.0, GPS and FM radio.
This will be the solution that most newer budget phone will be sporting, and I am excited to see what it can offer to those who would like to have a faster smartphone without the hefty price. Some of the examples of such products on the market after the launch in Dec 2012 that you might see include:
- Micromax Canvas HD A116
- Galaxy S3 Clone (i9300)
- Tronsmart TS4
- ThL W8
- Cubot A6589
- Xolo Q800
- Zopo Libero HD
- UMI X2
- Jiayu G4
Just for a comparison’s sake, the newer MT6589 chipset does sport a pretty decent performance versus the bigger boys, and a marked improvement over its predecessor, the MT6577.
