When it comes to Wi-Fi, the X12 modem now features support for the 802.11ad wireless spec, which offers a max throughput of 4.6 Gbps. That’s a 33 percent improvement for downloads and a whopping 200 percent improvement for uploads versus the 810, which means that not only will it be easier to stream content from YouTube or Netflix, but broadcasting yourself on Periscope should be smoother as well.
For cellular data, the 820 offers Cat 12 performance, meaning you can look forward to download speeds up to 600 Mbps and uploads up to 150 Mbps. With its X12 LTE modem, the Snapdragon 820 offers significant upgrades on both fronts. Modems might be one of the least exciting parts about tech, but often one of the most important because they control how fast you can communicate with the rest of the world. Spectra also features 14-bit processing, which means each photo contains more data than what you’d get from a Snapdragon 810. At the Snapdragon 820 launch event, Qualcomm also showed off how even on a live 4K video at 30 fps, the Spectra ISP was also able to significantly reduce noise and grain to create a clearer video. In the photo above, which has been provided by Qualcomm, you can see how the people in the foreground are much clearer without the bright background colors being sacrificed. The Spectra ISP is especially important as it’s the first of its kind for Qualcomm and it works together with the DSP to bring out the light and help you get the best quality out of your images.
The Hexagon 680 DSP (digital signal processor) and Spectra ISP (image signal processor) work together to produce images that are brighter and less noisy, especially in low-light scenarios. Notice how the right display with adaptive brightening has a lot more light, and much more detail in the foreground. On the left is an image without adaptive brightening. In a live demo at the 820 launch, Qualcomm showed off the power of the Spectra ISP.