We all know Qualcomm as the chipmaker that dominates the Android smartphone landscape with its modem monopoly and one that obsessively drools over 5G, a technology they claim is already “here” every couple of months dating back to 2019 or so, when it’s still very much not. It seems now that Qualcomm wants to be known as a phonemaker on some level too, at least to the Qualcomm Snapdragon super fans, a category of human I had no idea existed.
Qualcomm has this program called “Snapdragon Insiders” for those of you who really f*cking love Snapdragon, where members have the chance to be a part of “behind-the-scenes access, extra experiences, and community perks.” I’m trying to imagine the type of person who loves the chipset in their phone so much that they’d like, wear a Snapdragon t-shirt, but haha…haha…that’s not a thing, right? Google shirt, I get. Even Facebook shirt. Snapdragon shirt? Anyways, off my hater tree we go.
Qualcomm teamed up with ASUS to make a phone for those Snapdragon Insiders. It’s a ridiculously over-spec’d phone that has everything you could ask for in a modern high-end smartphone, and it’ll be available in limited supply to the Insiders.
The specs for this phone include the Snapdragon 888, 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, 512GB UFS3.1 storage, 6.78″ 144Hz AMOLED FHD display, WiFi 6E, 4000mAh battery with 65W charging, fingerprint sensor, and a triple rear camera. The camera is headlined by Sony’s flagship 64MP IMX686 sensor. Oh, it has Bluetooth too. The phone sounds insane in a good way.
Should you happen upon one, as the Insider you are, Qualcomm is also tossing in a pair of custom Master & Dynamic earbuds. These earbuds tend to retail for around $300, I believe, so yeah, that’s a nice perk.
Of course, everything involved in this phone is related to Qualcomm in some way. The application processor, the modem, the fingerprint sensor, the fast charging, the GPU, the audio technology, etc., are all Qualcomm products. This is the ultimate Qualcomm phone. They clearly spared no expense.
How much does it cost? It’s hard to tell if Qualcomm is going to sell this or just give it away to a small number of Snapdragon Insiders. They don’t discuss pricing anywhere or how you can get one other than by signing up to be an Insider. We do at least know that it’ll be available in the US, China, UK, and Germany. If interested, sign-up here.
- UPDATE: The Verge says this phone will cost $1,500, so let’s just move on and forget we ever talked.
Yea I’ll pay $1500 for a 1080p phone and I hate the 888+ anyways so I’m cool with the 888. Can I stop bending over now?
I might pick it up just for the rear fingerprint reader.
There’s a niche for Qualcomm enthusiasts? ???? I predict with its $1500 price tag this will have a more difficult time going off shelves than the Essential phone.
I’d buy one if there was a fire sale eventually.
How much would you buy this phone for?
$500
I honestly do love the design of this phone. No hole punch or “dotch”, rear fp, a slick color scheme. However not loving the price or some of the skimpy specs. For that much they really should have gone the (former) LG route and threw everything at it including the kitchen sink.
hahahaahaa
Everyone realize this is basically a asus rog phone 5 without under display fp, right???
In some ways it is and in some ways it’s not. It’s definitely a more refined version of the Rog I guess. However the Rog has some better specs.
Not to say the specs aren’t pretty ridonk, but why don’t they include the 888+? Isn’t THAT the newest of the new?
So basically my s21u 512gb with a worse camera, smaller battery and costs more.
Nope.
Oh, and the new update here says it’s $1,500.
Oh, and the new update here says it’s $1,500.
They forgot the important question: Does it work on Verizon? /s
This seems like Qualcomm is starting to feel like their position is threatened and wants to establish brand influencers to inflate the importance of having a cutting-edge Snapdragon in their device.
I mean, why not go with a 4K HDR 10+ display and a 5000 or 6000mAh battery if you have all those other specs. Feels like a missed opportunity to build the most insane phone to date.
They didn’t use their ultrasonic (or whatever) in display fingerprint sensor?
What a downgrade! /S
Honestly, that battery is too small. Should be 5000mAh at least.
Yeah, that was my first thought.
It stands out (not in a good way either) comparatively weak versus the other specs in this phone.