A little more than a year after the first release of its CMOS PAs, Qualcomm releases another generation of products. This generation is less integrated than the first but more practical to implement. The original ambitions / accomplishments were actually very significant: first multimode CMOS PA; first 3G / 4G CMOS PA / switch combination; and first COB PA. The new generation shares all the same attributes but separates the RF switch from the PA. This disintegration requires more chips but it allows easier phone level design of the RF section. Comparing the power efficiency (one of the major parameters for the RF section of the phone), the new devices fare well compared to a typical GaAs MMMB PA in 3G / 4G modes and at par for all but one test in 2G (see included chart).

Related Device: Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet