MediaTek unveils world's first true octa-core mobile platform

Want China Times, CNA 2013-11-21

A press event held by MediaTek to unveil the octa-core mobile platform, Nov. 20.
(Photo/Yang Hsiao-fang)

Taiwan's MediaTek on Wednesday took the veil off the world's first "true octa-core" mobile processor, showing off the system on a chip (SOC) in China to woo the high-end smartphone and tablet markets.

Built using the advanced 28-nanometer process, the MT6592 combines eight core application processors, each capable of clock speeds up to 2GHz, enabling premium gaming performance, advanced multi-tasking and enhanced web browsing, the Hsinchu-based company said in a statement.

The SOC is expected to roll out in new mobile devices running the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system by the end of the year 2013 and is slated to be put in devices running the latest Android 4.4 Kit-Kat software in early 2014.

A "true octa-core" mobile chipset means the chip is capable of having all eight processor cores running at the same time, boosting performance. Competitors' "fake octa-core" platforms, as MediaTek calls them, are actually two quad-core chipsets put together, meaning they cannot make all eight cores work at once.

"We are thrilled to offer the new MT6592 to our customers as part of our ongoing commitment to providing inclusive mobile technology," said Jeffrey Ju, general manager of MediaTek's smartphone business unit.

"Being the first to market with this advanced eight-core SOC is testament to the industry-leading position of MediaTek," he said in the statement.

In an investor conference held Nov. 1, MediaTek said it expects its consolidated sales for the fourth quarter to fall up to 5% from the third quarter to range between NT$37 billion (US$1.25 billion) and NT$39 billion (US$1.31 billion) after taking the slow season effect into account.

Market analysts said the fourth-quarter guidance was better-than- expected, as MediaTek has gained the upper hand in competition in the huge China smartphone chip market.

Shares in MediaTek closed down 2.9% at NT$419 (US$14.2) Wednesday in Taipei before the announcement of the new mobile platform.