Samsung is using Qualcomm Inc.’s Snapdragon 820 processor to power its newest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, Qualcomm said on Feb. 22.
Samsung, which announced the phone at a wireless conference in Barcelona, said several companies were providing application processors for the new Galaxy phone, depending on the carrier and the geographical market.
The announcement ends months of speculation over whether Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM) would have a berth in Samsung’s flagship product. Much was made about Qualcomm not having a processor in the Samsung Galaxy S6 in early 2015.
Also on Feb. 22, South Korea-based LG announced that its LG G5 smartphone contains a Snapdragon 820 processor.
The 820 processor is available now and will be shipping in devices in the first half of 2016, Qualcomm said.
Qualcomm shares closed up 3.76 percent at $51.28 on Feb. 22. Shares had not closed above the $50 mark since Jan. 4.
The news came a few days after Qualcomm announced that it had signed a new 3G/4G patent licensing agreement with China-based Lenovo. The deal also applies to products marketed under the Motorola name. Qualcomm has been signing new pacts with its Chinese clients after it negotiated new licensing terms with Chinese regulators one year ago.
It was a significant move since Lenovo was the last of the five major Chinese manufacturers to sign a new licensing agreement.
