OnePlus is among the early birds to launch a 5G smartphone with the launch of the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G alongside the OnePlus 7 earlier this year. Although the premium phone maker announced the OnePlus 7T and 7T Pro recently, both models did not come with 5G support.
In a surprise twist, OnePlus Founder/CEO Liu Zuohu has hinted that the company will launch a dual-mode 5G phone before the end of this year. The CEO stated this in an interview where he also gave reasons why the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G wasn’t launched in China, stating that it is exclusively for the overseas market. Thus, the upcoming dual-mode 5G phone will be launched in China and may be exclusively for the Chinese market.
Liu Zuohu didn’t reveal an exact date when the device will be launched or the moniker it adopts. But he stated that it will be unveiled in Q4 2019. One thing is sure, though, the device will be a premium phone model as the CEO also added that the 5G era will not rely on low-end 5G mobile phones to grab market sales.
EDITOR’S PICK: Alleged Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 leaks with a Waterfall display
The most outstanding part of the disclosure is that the device will support the non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) modes for 5G. Non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) are two 5G tracks that communication service providers can opt for when transitioning from 4G to the next-generation mobile technology. The first 5G networks to roll out are NSA deployments that focus on enhanced mobile broadband to provide higher data-bandwidth and reliable connectivity. NSA mode entails 5G networks will be aided by existing 4G infrastructure. So service providers who want to be first to offer 5G speeds will start with NSA and, once 5G coverage is established, implement standalone 5G.
Further, the OnePlus is said to have hinted that the 5G phone will likely use the Qualcomm SM7250 processor which isn’t a flagship SoC. The processor is a mid-range chipset but comes with a 5G modem.
We may need to see more details to get an idea of what the 5G phone has onboard in terms of hardware. But we expect the device to come with cheaper pricing than the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G. We’ll keep you updated when more details emerge.
UP NEXT: Realme X2 Pro hands-on pictures: A sleek and powerful flagship for a steal!
(source)
