Earlier this year, Apple introduced the first 64-bit CPU for a mobile device with the A7 chip found in the iPhone 5S and iPad Air. At the time, many wondered when Android devices would start to see 64-bit CPUs. Well, wonder no more as the world’s biggest manufacturer of Android SoCs has announced its first 64-bit CPU.

Qualcomm announced a new SoC today called the Snapdragon 410 and claims its the first 64-bit CPU built for Android devices. As the number implies, the Snapdragon 410 is an improvement on last year’s low-cost Snapdragon 400 CPU. This means that the 410 will be heading to emerging markets where the 410 will provide better performance and LTE to low-cost devices.

“We are excited to bring 4G LTE to highly affordable smartphones at a sub $150 ( ̴ 1,000 RMB) price point with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor,” said Jeff Lorbeck, senior VP and COO of Qualcomm Technologies in China. “The Snapdragon 410 chipset will also be the first of many 64-bit capable processors as Qualcomm Technologies helps lead the transition of the mobile ecosystem to 64-bit processing.”

As Lorbeck said, the Snapdragon 410 is only the first of many 64-bit processors to be hitting Android devices next year. While we don’t have any word on when we’ll start seeing more powerful 64-bit processors, I’m willing to bet we’ll hear more at CES in early January. After all, phone manufacturers will want to show off their new flagship devices complete with 64-bit CPUs to drum up excitement ahead of their launches in the middle of next year.

Going back to the Snapdragon 410, when can we expect to see it in devices? Qualcomm says it will begin shipping to OEMs in the first half of 2014 and will begin appearing in devices after summer. We’ll hopefully see more powerful CPUs from Qualcomm appearing in devices at that time as well.

[Image: Qualcomm]
[h/t: Droid-Life]