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OnePlus says it will launch a 5G phone next year, hopes to be part of first wave
- Carl Pei has confirmed OnePlus will release a 5G phone next year.
- The executive says OnePlus will be among the first companies to release a 5G device.
- This suggests the phone will be released early in the year.
OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei has confirmed the company will release a 5G phone next year. Speaking at the Qualcomm 4G/5G Summit in Hong Kong, Pei said he expects OnePlus to be either the first or one of the first companies to release a 5G device, reports Engadget.
This comes soon after Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon reportedly said he expects at least two major flagships to arrive with Qualcomm’s 5G radio next year: one in the first half of the year, and one in the holiday season.
At the moment, it is thought OEMs will begin to release 5G devices in early 2019.
In recent years, OnePlus has launched phones in May or June and October or November. Should the company stick to its twice-yearly release schedule and still be one of the first to release a 5G phone, it is likely that the May release would have to be the one that includes a version with 5G support.
Alternatively, the company could be working on a separate 5G model. This would allow it to release a 5G device even earlier in the year while sticking to May and November for its regular releases.
The list of manufacturers thought to be working on 5G devices appears to be growing by the day. LG has confirmed it will release a device with Sprint, while HUAWEI has said it is working on a foldable phone with 5G support.
ZTE and Samsung are also thought to be working on devices that will be released next year, while Xiaomi has said it will launch the Mi Mix 3 with 5G support on October 25.