JANUARY 2020 PCWorld 125buy that 5G handset. So, ultimately this is a
decision hinged on spending money, and
you’ll want to be aware that 5G currently
demands a premium.
Android phones
The first crop of 5G phones are extremely
expensive for two reasons: It’s new
technology, and the phones need to be
very big to handle the battery and thermal
requirements of the existing X50 modem.
But with the X55 modem expected to
arrive in early 2020, prices should come
down considerably, maybe even to the
point where the only option in Android
flagships is 5G, just like 4G.
As with the
launch of the
fledgling 4G
network, we
wouldn’t
recommend
paying extra
just for 5G
chipset support.
But hopefully
2020 will bring
much more
reasonably priced
handsets,
including some
midrange options
thanks to the X55
modem.
iPhones
With around 200 million handsets sold
every year, 5G won’t be a thing until
Apple says it is. But all signs point to 2020
being the year. With the X55 modem and
a strong sub-6 GHz infrastructure likely in
place by then, all signs point to the era of
5G likely commencing with the launch of
the iPhone 12. Rumor has it that it might
be a “Pro” option rather than something
available on all three models. So, just like
with Android phones, we’d recommend
against paying extra just for 5G. But there
will surely be plenty of reasons to opt
for the iPhone 12 Pro other than just its
5G support.Apple is expected to launch its first 5G handset in 2020.