Lenovo to launch first 5G smartphone with Snapdragon 855 processor
The groundwork is being done for the next big thing(s) in the smartphone space - 5G connectivity and next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset - both of which should be available by 2019. And in this race among OEMs, Lenovo claims it's going to be the first company to launch a 5G smartphone that will be powered by the said processor. Here are the details.
What does Lenovo have to say?
Lenovo will be the first company to launch a 5G smartphone that will be powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 855 processor, the company's Vice President Chang Cheng has claimed. Notably, while Mr. Cheng did not give a timeline for the launch, we don't expect the phone to arrive anytime before 2019. We tell you why.
Why Lenovo's 5G phone won't be a reality anytime soon?
Technically speaking, Lenovo has ambitious plans. The fact is, given the challenges, 5G phones won't become mainstream anytime soon (definitely not in 2018). Firstly, while China and US are working toward it for quite some time, the groundwork for the technology shift (4G to 5G) is far from being operational. Secondly, flagship mobile processors such as the Snapdragon 855 are still under production.
Meanwhile, who else is in the game?
While Lenovo has made a tall claim, there are other OEMs as well that are working on 5G smartphones. Huawei has confirmed to launch its 5G smartphone by Q3 2019. Similarly, OPPO has partnered with Qualcomm to develop 5G phones while OnePlus has also said its 2019 flagship will be 5G compatible. Further, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S10 is rumored to support 5G.
Several manufacturers have partnered with Qualcomm for 5G modem
For a mobile to support 5G, it needs a compatible modem. Enter Qualcomm's first 5G mobile modem - the Snapdragon X50 5G Modem. Notably, companies like Xiaomi, Vivo, HMD Global, Sony, LG, and ZTE have already partnered with Qualcomm for the same. Further, Huawei has already announced its own 5G modem while Samsung is reportedly working to develop its own.
