Skip to main content

Xiaomi concerned 4G phones won’t sell in 2020, commits to 10 5G phone launches

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has said there is concern in the mobile industry that 4G phones won’t be so popular in 2020, which with the success of its first 5G device in China, has prompted the company to commit to producing at least 10 5G phones in 2020. Speaking at a conference in China, Jun is quoted as saying:

“People in the industry fear that next year 4G models won’t sell,” before urging network operators to build their 5G networks faster. To avoid the chicken-or-the-egg scenario, he has stated Xiaomi will produce at least 10 new 5G connected smartphones over the coming year.

Xiaomi launched its first 5G phone in China, the Mi 9 Pro 5G, at the end of September, which Jun says has been a considerable success, but did not reveal any numbers. It’s easy to see why it would be a success though, as the powerful phone has a Snapdragon 855 Plus processor, a triple-lens camera, a 6.4-inch AMOLED screen, and 5G all for the equivalent of about $520. It follows the Mi Mix 3 5G launched in Europe earlier this year, which also represents good value.

While most other smartphone manufacturers will increase the amount of 5G phones they produce next year, Xiaomi says its many new devices will be spread across the low, mid, and high-end of the market. Currently, the 5G phones available to buy around the world now are high priced devices, making them strictly for keen early adopters. Growing network support will help increase attention from those who don’t want to spend so much on a new device, opening up opportunities for manufacturers building more reasonably priced 5G phones.

How will it achieve some of the cost reductions necessary to produce cheaper 5G phones? Xiaomi uses Qualcomm chipsets for the vast majority of its devices, and the company has recently stated it will expand 5G support to more chips in 2020, helping lower the price of the final device. Xiaomi also uses MediaTek chips and may look at the new 5G SoC chip for its lower cost 5G phones. The MediaTek chip is expected to ship in early 2020, and samples should be with manufacturers already.

Xiaomi has a strong presence in China, India, and in Europe, but does not currently sell its smartphones in the U.S.

Editors' Recommendations

Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
Moto G Power 5G adds a flagship feature to a budget phone
Render of the Motorola Moto G Power 5G in a white color against a light purple background.

Motorola may be making a play for the flagship market with the Motorola Edge 40 Pro, but budget phones are what the American monolith is best known for. While it won't be making as many waves as the latest Samsung phone or Apple iPhone launch, the newest iteration of the Moto G is always something worth paying attention to, as Motorola is a true veteran of the space and knows what makes an excellent cheap device.

Best of all, this new Moto G comes at a time when budget phone enthusiasts have never had it so good. Previously premium features are filtering down into lower-priced devices, without altering that sweet low price or the features everyone loves. That's exactly what's happening with the new Motorola Moto G Power 5G, which includes a 50-megapixel main camera lens, a larger amount of storage, and a big screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. With the big 5,000mAh battery the G Power range is known for, this could be the $300 phone to grab if you love a budget bargain.
Super-smooth motion

Read more
Here’s how fast 5G on your Samsung Galaxy S23 really is
Samsung Galaxy S23 cameras against greenery

If you’ve been on the fence about picking up one of the latest Galaxy S23 phones, some new research from Ookla may help tip the scales in Samsung’s favor.

In a new speed test report, Ookla tcompared the 5G performance specs of the Galaxy S23 models to last year’s Galaxy S22 in several countries — with some surprising results across the board.
A worthwhile 5G upgrade

Read more
What is 5G UW? The real meaning behind the icon on your phone
Woman holding up smartphone with speed test results on Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network.

You've probably noticed that there's been much more hype around 5G than for any of the wireless technologies that came before. Some of that is just marketing, of course; we are living in an increasingly connected era, and there are far more people toting smartphones now than there were in 2012 when 4G/LTE was just beginning to go mainstream. However, it's also not an exaggeration to say that with considerably faster speeds and the ability to handle many more devices, 5G is a much bigger step into the next stage of global connectivity. You've also probably noticed it yourself with a "5G UW" icon at the top of your phone.

As with most new technologies, 5G comes with some new challenges for both carriers and consumers. One of the most significant of these has been working out the best way to deploy 5G services across the much wider range of frequencies that it's capable of operating on. This wasn't nearly as significant a problem in the days of 3G and 4G/LTE services, which all operated in a much narrower range of radio spectrum.

Read more