MediaTek has introduced a new SoC for wearable devices based on Google's Android Wear software. MediaTek says its new SoC – MT2601 – features 41.5 percent fewer components and lower current consumption, while design helps achieve lower bill of materials (BoM) costs, smaller printed circuit board (PCB) size and longer battery life.
The MediaTek MT2601 features 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A7, ARM Mali-400 MP GPU, and supports qHD display resolution. The MT2601 supports external sensors and the wireless connectivity SoC MT6630 for Bluetooth – in a PCBA footprint of less than 480 mm2.
“The MT2601 has an incredibly small die size and is highly optimized for cost and power performance. The platform solution, comprised of MT2601 integrated with Android Wear software, will fuel the maker revolution and empower the application developer community worldwide to create a broad range of innovative applications and services,” says J.C. Hsu, General Manager of New Business Development at MediaTek.
MediaTek reveals the MT2601 is in mass production now and ready for inclusion in Android Wear devices.
Wearables are considered to be the next big thing in the tech. We have already seen a range of smartphone brands launching smartwatches and smartbands. SoC players including the likes of Intel are already extensively focussing on the segment.
Intel has just unveiled a new module – Curie – that enables developers to build more compact wearables such as smartrings and eyeglasses. Read about Intel's Curie Module here.