‘Don’t Buy a 5G Smartphone’

This piece by Ron Amadeo at Ars Technica was published in December, but I think accurately captures the state of 5G for 2019:

For 5G mmWave in 2019, we’re going to get thicker, hotter, more complicated phones that use more energy and cost more money. With no commercial devices to look at, the exact extent of all of these downgrades is still up in the air, but it’s undeniable that first-gen 5G hardware is going to be inferior to more mature 4G designs. With 5G networks only in their infancy and a supposed $200-$300 premium for 5G-compatible phones, this really doesn’t seem worth it for consumers.

Amadeo’s illustration showing how many extra chips a 5G phone needs today is a real eye opener. Qualcomm is motivated to move things forward as fast as they can, but this makes me think we might not see good 5G phones until 2021.

★ Wednesday, 17 April 2019