L’unico smartphone con processore dual core offerto a listino sotto i 200€ di cui io sia a conoscenza è il Sony Xperia U, ma è un caso più unico che raro. MediaTek ha intenzione di mettere una pezza a questa situazionecon il processore MT6577, un chip pensato per la fascia entry-level che conserva però un’architettura dual core basata su due core ARM Cortex-A9 operanti a 1GHz a cui si affianca una GPU PowerVR serie 5 ed un modem HSPA per la connettività 3G.

I top di gamma dell’anno scorso avevano dotazioni simili, ma ora queste caratteristiche sono più per la fascia media che per quella alta, visto che i Cortex-A9 sono stati portati a quattro core o abbandonati (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4). Un processore del genere è abbastanza veloce da garantire il supporto agli schermi HD 720p e ai video 1080p.

MT6577 è un rimpiazzo del precedente MT6575 e pare essere compatibile anche a livello di pin, quindi i produttori che impiegano questi chip (Gigabyte, ZTE) potranno sfornare presto smartphone dal prezzo competitivo con caratteristiche avanzate. Ovviamente con Ice Cream Sandwich. Non vediamo l’ora di vedere cosa i produttori sapranno tirare fuori e se questi processori saranno realmente all’altezza della competizione a livello di prestazioni.

[spoiler title=”Comunicato stampa”]

MediaTek Launches Dual-Core MT6577 Smartphone Platform, Delivers Premium User Experience to Mid- and Entry-level Smartphones

MT6577 addresses fast growing sub-$200 smartphone segment

TAIWAN, 27 June 2012 – MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for
wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, today announced the availability
of the MT6577, a dual-core platform developed specifically for sub-$200 smartphones,
the fastest growing segment of the global smartphone market. The MediaTek MT6577
features a dual 1GHz Cortex™-A9 application processor from ARM, a PowerVR™ Series5
SGX GPU (graphics processing unit) from Imagination Technologies, MediaTek’s proven 3G/
HSPA modem, and runs the latest Android 4.0 “Ice Cream Sandwich” operating system. By
integrating a dual-core application processor architecture widely deployed in the majority
of today’s premium smartphones, the MT6577 boosts application and browser performance
by up to 40% compared to single-core platforms, bringing unprecedented levels of user
experience to mid- and entry-level smartphones.

“MediaTek’s existing HSPA smartphone platforms – the MT6573 and MT6575 – have been
extremely well-received by customers and consumers worldwide, and are currently shipping
with major international brands such as Lenovo, TCL/Alcatel, and other top tier Chinese
OEMs,” said Ching-Jiang Hsieh, President of MediaTek. “The MT6577 adds the next level of
performance and enhanced user experience to the MediaTek smartphone family, delivering
enhanced user interactivity, mobile connectivity and rich multi-media experience previously
only available on high-end devices. Consumers everywhere will now benefit from the
affordable, high-performance devices enabled by the MT6577. MediaTek is proud to be in
the vanguard of companies enabling the democratization of smartphones.”

“Dual-core processors account for over 20% of current smartphone processor shipments,
with these devices being mostly in the premium segment and addressed by standalone
application processors. MediaTek’s new MT6577, with integrated dual-core processors and
3G/HSPA modem is well suited to bringing similar user experiences to the fast-growing mid
and entry smartphone segment which is forecast to grow from under 200 Mu in 2012 to
over 500 Mu in 2016” said Stuart Robinson, Director, Handset Component Technologies
service at Strategy Analytics.

The MT6577 is designed to deliver rich multimedia experiences, with an 8MP camera,
support for up-to high-definition 1080p video playback and the ability to support high-
resolution displays up to HD720 (1280×720) resolution. The platform also pre-integrates
MediaTek’s leading 4-in-1 connectivity combo that provides support for dual-band 802.11n
Wi-Fi, BT4.0, GPS and FM. The MT6577 is pin-to-pin compatible with the previously released
MT6575, allowing handset manufacturers to easily produce multiple tiers of devices leveraging a single PCBA hardware development effort.

The MT6577 dual-core platform is currently being incorporated into smartphone devices by
MediaTek’s leading global customers, and the first smartphone models based on this new
chipset are expected to ship commercially in Q3 2012.
[/spoiler]