Fifth-generation wireless or 5G is the latest iteration and the successor of 4G in cellular technology. Telecom companies around the world are gearing up to launch 5G services by early 2019. However, we are expecting 5G to be deployed massively around 2020. On the other hand, Qualcomm has already announced Snapdragon X50 modem which will support 5G standards. Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon also raised our hopes by saying that there will be to at least two 5G flagship smartphones next year.
5G and OnePlus
Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon and OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei shared the stage while commenting on 5G. This is where OnePlus came into this story. Carl Pei was not there to talk about the upcoming OnePlus 6T but to talk about the role that OnePlus will play in the 5G deployment. He also confirmed that they will be among the first to launch a 5G smartphone in 2019- it may even be the very first.
He also mentioned that they had already conducted a 5G test at Qualcomm’s headquarters in San Diego back in August. Notably, OnePlus is among the few brands that always use Qualcomm’s latest hardware. Hence, it is quite obvious to see OnePlus is working so closely with Qualcomm. The 6T will be launching very soon but it will not be 5G-enabled. As of now, there is no Qualcomm SoC with integrated 5G modem. However, we are expecting Qualcomm to announce one very soon. The Snapdragon X50 is a standalone 5G device and we have seen Motorola using this in Moto Z3 by offering 5G moto mod. Notably, the mod contains its own battery and 5G modem. However, OnePlus will rely on Snapdragon SoC with an integrated 5G modem. There are high chances that the SoC will feature Snapdragon X50 5G modem and the further downsized QTM052 mmWave antenna module.
Also, have a look at Motorola Launched Moto Z3 with 5G Moto Mod: Price, Specifications