Samsung, Qualcomm promises to bring 5G mobile phone to the masses

Date:

Trending

Qualcomm Inc promised to bring 5G mobile phones to the masses with a high-end modem and said its chips would also power mid-price devices hitting the market next year.

- Advertisement -

Fifth-generation chipsets from Qualcomm, the world’s biggest supplier of mobile phone chips, now run on five devices from Samsung Electronics, including the $1,299 Galaxy S10 5G model and the new $2,000 Galaxy Fold.

Samsung, the world’s top smartphone seller, has also put Qualcomm chips in its lower-priced A90 5G model, which had used Samsung chips in an earlier version.

- Advertisement -

Qualcomm president Cristiano Amon predicted such devices would achieve volume and scale.

“The transition to 5G is going to be faster than earlier transitions,” Amon told Reuters on the sidelines of the IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin. “Now we have to bring it to everyone.”

More than 20 network operators and a similar number of smartphone makers – from the United States to Europe to China – are launching 5G services and handsets. Amon estimated there were 2.2 billion mobile users that could upgrade.

Such bullishness contrasts with the challenges faced by China’s Huawei Technologies, the No.2 smartphone seller behind Samsung that also unveiled its 5G chipset at IFA.

Huawei‘s consumer business chief Richard Yu touted the Kirin 990 chipset at IFA as the “most powerful” and superior to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 series.

Due to U.S. trade sanctions, Huawei’s 5G-ready Mate 30 smartphone range to be launched on Sept. 19 could be hobbled because it won’t be able to run the official version of Google’s Android operating system and app services.

Mass appeal

Until now, Qualcomm typically supplied 5G chips from its most expensive line, Snapdragon 8, which on Friday was showcased with a more powerful X55 5G modem delivering speeds of up to 7 gigabits per second.

It now plans to add 5G capabilities to lower-cost Snapdragon 6 and 7 series devices, which could make 5G phones available more cheaply than the current mostly premium models.

Qualcomm’s 6 and 7 series Snapdragon chips are found in devices from Lenovo Group Ltd’s Motorola, Xiaomi Corp , Oppo and Vivo that retail in the $300 range.

Analysts say faster 5G networks will spur many consumers to upgrade their phones after years of market stagnation, although 5G devices are coming to some markets before networks are completed.

“Qualcomm have done a phenomenal job to drive the 5G ecosystem,” said industry analyst Paolo Pescatore. “It’s going faster than anyone could have ever imagined.”

That puts a premium for Qualcomm on partnering with carriers to market new devices. It’s typical for operators to market subsidised handsets in the United States, but less so in Europe.

In Germany, Deutsche Telekom switched on its 5G network in five cities this week, marketing the Snapdragon-powered Samsung Galaxy S10 5G to early adopters.

Full spectrum

Qualcomm was early to market 5G modem chips to connect phones to networks but faces intense competition. Taiwan-based MediaTek Inc also announced a 5G smartphone chip this year.

Qualcomm is positioning itself to be compatible with the full range of frequencies deployed by regulators to run 5G.

These include so-called ‘sub-6’, or spectrum below 6 Gigahertz that has been predominantly auctioned by European governments making an early start on the shift to 5G.

The United States has auctioned more millimeter wave frequencies with a shorter range but higher data-carrying capacity needed to realise the full range of uses of 5G, such as autonomous driving.

Unlike rivals, Qualcomm is designing its chipsets to handle frequencies “from A to Z”, said Amon, adding that flexibility to switch between 4G networks and new 5G networks was critical.

Chips from Mediatek can only handle sub-6 bands, reducing the cost and complexity of the chips and phone designs.

But it means the phones cannot take full advantage of networks from U.S. carriers such as Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc that use millimeter wave technology.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

What to Consider When Choosing a Car Battery Repair Shop

When faced with car battery issues, finding the right repair shop becomes necessary. Given the central role a battery plays in the functionality of...

Fintevex Overview: What Traders Need to Know in 2025

In 2025, the trading world is more competitive than ever. With hundreds of platforms fighting for attention, each promising tighter spreads, smarter tools, and faster execution it’s become harder for traders to know which platforms genuinely deliver and which are just noise. This landscape has...

Lexus CarPlay and Android Auto Integration

In the ever-evolving landscape of automotive connectivity, Lexus CarPlay and Android Auto integration have...

Sifx trading platform: What Traders Looking to Profit Should Really Know

sifx.com is an online trading broker that provides access to multiple global markets through...
00:01:49

Trump Claims U.S. Trade Threat Helped Defuse India-Pakistan Ceasefire

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration played a key role in...

Operation Sindoor: India, Pakistan Agree to Ceasefire After High-Level Military Talks

India and Pakistan agreed on Saturday to halt all military activities across land, air,...

The Future of B2B Commerce: E-commerce Platforms and Beyond

The way companies buy items and sell services has changed a lot from the...

No OTPs, No Hassles: The Rise of Passwordless Digital Payments

India is pacing toward a passwordless future in the digital payments ecosystem. Technologically, it’s...

Kriscore Capital Launches ₹100 Cr Fund to Back Early-Stage Indian Tech Startups

Kriscore Capital, a newly launched venture firm focused on early-stage Indian technology startups, has announced the first close of its debut ₹100 crore fund. An...

Why Crypto Traders Are Flocking to Cap-tex Now

A recent surge in cryptocurrency prices, driven by global economic shifts and high-profile endorsements,...

How AI-Powered Online Platforms Are Revolutionizing Life Insurance Recommendations

Anyone with a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent as a...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Increases Stocks Holdings Amid Dividend Adjustment

According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

How Technology Helps Combat Various Viruses and Diseases

Technology has transformed the ways we approach vaccines, particularly for the flu. One noteworthy development is the precision in matching flu vaccines to the...

12 Eye-Popping Hacks to Make Your Next Business Presentation Sparkle

Business presentations are often necessary to gain new clients and showcase what it is you can offer, but more often than not, they end up being a bit dull, right? Well, if you read on, soon that will not be the case for your...

The Long-Term Power of Investing: Selecting Undervalued Industries

Investing can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners, as the numerous options and strategies available...

The Impact of EdTech on Student Outcomes in Higher Education

The introduction of interactive whiteboards in the early 1990s marked a major shift in...

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Fonts in Your Design Projects

Fonts play a crucial role in every design project, from branding and web design...

Predictive Analytics: The Key to Supply Chain Resilience

In today’s interconnected global economy, supply chains are the lifeblood of businesses, weaving intricate...

Empowering Growth: Boosting the Robotics Sector with Targeted Support

India's robotics sector is emerging as a key area of technological progress, driving innovation...

Software and Technology Changing the Industry

The advent of software and technological advancements has been a game-changer across various industries....

Alphabet COA Amie Thuener O’Toole Increases Stock Holdings

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ...

Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Govt Over Content Regulation Clash

X Corp, an Elon Musk-owned social media firm, sued the Indian government in the...

Interview: Vserve CEO Siva Balakrishnan on SEO Secrets for Amazon Seller Success

In an interview with TechGraph, Siva Balakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Vserve, shared how...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Increases Stocks Holdings Amid Dividend Adjustment

According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

Shell Executive Robin Mooldijk Sells €1.69 Mn in Shares

Shell plc’s Projects & Technology Director, Robin Mooldijk, has offloaded 50,000 shares in the...

BGC Group raises $700 Mn in bond sale to refinance debt

BGC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGC) has finalized a $700 million private offering of senior...

Alphabet Legal Chief John Kent Walker to Sell $2Mn in Shares via Morgan Stanley

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Chief Legal Officer, John Kent Walker Jr., has filed to...

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people...

Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Govt Over Content Regulation Clash

X Corp, an Elon Musk-owned social media firm, sued the Indian government in the...

Why Smart Cities Are the Future of Water Conservation

Water conservation has become an important factor due to climate change and worsened water...

Interview: Vserve CEO Siva Balakrishnan on SEO Secrets for Amazon Seller Success

In an interview with TechGraph, Siva Balakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Vserve, shared how...