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quad-core

Optimus 4X HD review: Our favorite LG phone yet

Recently, I haven't been so impressed with a string of LG phones. Though a lot of them are good, solid handsets, none of them have wowed me.

That is, until now.

I mentioned the LG Optimus 4X HD back in February, when it was going by the name LG X3. It was rumored to have a quad-core CPU and I'm glad the rumors were true.

Its 1.5GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor from Nvidia makes it impressively snappy. Not only does it launch and quit graphics-heavy gaming apps like nobody's business, but the 8-megapixel camera is stupid … Read more

Inside the Samsung Galaxy S III: Quad-core drives galaxial screen

The Samsung's Galaxy S III's vast 4.8-inch screen sits atop a quad-core processor and Sony camera, among other goodies exposed in detail via a chipworks teardown.

Before we dive into the specs, let's be clear. For a phone, it's big. Big enough to be brushing up against 5-inch mini tablets.

"I'd say it does verge on being unnecessarily large, but thankfully it isn't as ludicrously big as the Samsung Galaxy Note with its 5.3-inch screen," said CNET"s Jessica Dolcourt in her review of the phone.

And note this … Read more

Nvidia anticipates 30 quad-core phones in 2012

Though we've see a decent selection of quad-core smartphones so far in 2012, Nvidia says there are a lot more to come.

Speaking at the company's annual investor meeting, Nvidia General Manager Mike Rayfield indicated that his company hopes to deliver 30 Tegra 3 handsets this year. Beyond just being faster and performing better, the new crop of smartphones also will be less expensive than earlier models.

Indeed, any new superphones can't come soon enough for Android early adopters in the United States. Even with high benchmarks and accolades, there's still a small contingent of users … Read more

Improved LG Optimus 4X HD arrives in Europe in June

LG today confirmed that its quad-core Optimus 4X HD will go on sale in "key markets" in Europe starting in June. Initially unveiled at Mobile World Congress back in February, the smartphone also will touch down in select countries in Asia and South and Central America in the coming months.

As a reminder, the handset runs Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) and has 16GB of internal memory, 1GB of RAM, an 8-megapixel main camera, a second 1.3-megapixel shooter around front, DLNA support, a 2,150mAh battery, and the Nvidia Tegra 3 1.5GHz quad-core processor. On … Read more

Qualcomm: We're ready for quad-core 'ARM' race

Qualcomm is ready to take on all comers in the smartphone and tablet performance race, a company executive told CNET.

The company's newest Snapdragon S4 chip has appeared most prominently in the U.S. version of the HTC One X smartphone. And performance reviews have been positive.

But Qualcomm has yet to bring out a quad-core version like its silicon rivals Nvidia and Samsung. This recently got some attention when HTC announced a quad-core variant of its One X in Europe and a dual-core version in the U.S. -- the latter based on the Snapdragon S4.

Qualcomm claims … Read more

Leaked specs confirm dual-core CPU for Verizon's Galaxy S III

A leaked user agent profile has seemingly confirmed rumors that at least one U.S. version of the expected Galaxy S III will feature a dual-core processor.

According to details picked up by Pocketnow, Verizon's model (SCH-i535) will include the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 chipset. Much like HTC has done with the One X on AT&T, the smartphone will forgo the quad-core CPU in order to integrate 4G LTE support.

Though some users may cry foul at the switch, I suggest waiting before complaining. Considering how positive the initial reviews are for the HTC One X, I suspect … Read more

So the HTC One X doesn't have quad-core. So what?

Today, CNET and other U.S. mobile reviewers got a chance to gush over AT&T's HTC One X superphone powerhouse. It boasts a stunning 4.7-inch display, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and 4G LTE muscle. But the spec that's tripping up many is the processor: a dual-core Qualcomm chip in the U.S. instead of a quad-core Nvidia chip abroad.

On the surface of things, the change within seems like a step down for poor U.S. customers. After all, four cores (and Nvidia's fifth, "power-saving core") are better than two, right? Not necessarily.

The U.S. version for AT&T and for Sprint's forthcoming HTC Evo 4G LTE (the One X by another name) both use Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 processor, a dual-core chip that's a strong contender in its own right.… Read more

Can Groupon grow up?

Every weekday afternoon, CNET Update delivers the top tech stories of the day. The show keeps a close eye on emerging trends, hot devices and new apps. And it's all in less than three minutes.

In today's show, we speculate on Spotify, shop online with cash, and crack open a beer to look mature:

It seems the controversial cyber security bill CISPA (short for Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act) is on shaky ground. The White House threatened to veto the bill, saying it endangers the privacy of Americans and gives Homeland Security too much power.

Groupon's … Read more

Samsung announces quad-core chip for Galaxy S phone

Electronics heavyweight Samsung will put quad-core silicon in its next Galaxy smartphone, upping the ante for mobile performance.

The Exynos 4 Quad integrates four processor cores and is built on the company's cutting-edge 32-nanometer manufacturing process. The chip will run at speeds above 1.4GHz, the company said in a statement today.

As a yardstick, the third-generation iPad uses older 45-nanometer Samsung manufacturing tech and its central processing unit is dual-core (though the graphics processing unit is quad-core). And most multi-core smartphones and tablets on the market today are dual-core.

Samsung's new chip -- targeted at both tablets … Read more

Quad-core phones will be big, but not everywhere

Earlier this week, I looked at some of the technical considerations of creating a quad-core smartphone. Although I was able to delve into seven myths about quad-core phones, there's still the business side to consider.

Make no mistake, processors are big business. Every phone needs one, and there are now even more players competing to supply them. In 2010, chipmakers earned $2.385 billion in global sales of mobile phone application and multimedia processors, according to Gartner analyst Mark Hung. Of that figure, smartphones drove $1.416 billion in revenue.… Read more