Xiaomi's mid-premium, flagship smartphones to get 5G support in 2020
Though 5G technology is slowly and steadily becoming mainstream in global markets like China, Japan, South Korea, the US, and the UK, it has remained exclusive to select top-end smartphones only. However, Xiaomi is aiming to change things around as it plans to bring 5G capabilities on all flagship as well as mid-premium handsets starting next year. Here are more details.
All Xiaomi handsets priced over Rs. 20,000 to get 5G
At an event in China, Xiaomi's co-founder and CEO, Lei Jun has announced that the company will offer 5G support on all its premium and mid-premium smartphones slated to launch next year. According to Jun, all the Xiaomi handsets that cost 2,000 yuan (approximately Rs. 20,000 in India) or more, will offer 5G connectivity.
Jun's announcement comes days after China's massive 5G rollout plan
Notably, on October 31, China officially launched its 5G services, with three state-owned carriers rolling out their 5G data plans. At present, more than 86,000 5G base stations are already active and by the end of 2019, another 1,30,000 5G base stations will be activated, as per the Chinese government. Hence, Xiaomi aims to release more 5G handsets to meet the expected demand.
Xiaomi is also eyeing global markets
The next-generation cellular technology is also primed to go mainstream in several global markets, with telecom carriers in the US, UK, Europe, Japan, and South Korea planning to expand their 5G services by next year. And given Huawei cannot use Google services due to the existing trade ban, Xiaomi can emerge as one of the biggest suppliers of Android-based 5G smartphones in the world.
But Xiaomi is not alone
Separately, in September this year, OPPO had also confirmed that the company would bring 5G support on all products priced above 3,000 yuan (Rs. 30,000). Moreover, the company is not only aiming to offer 5G capabilities on all its upcoming flagship smartphones and mid-premium handsets but also invest 10 billion yuan for R&D as well as for the development of 5G products and services.
