The Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL are launching tomorrow, but according to a new report from Nikkei, Google may already be testing production of a 5G smartphone as well. According to anonymous sources that talked to Nikkei, the Mountain View giant may unveil the 5G smartphone alongside the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL tomorrow, or next year when the company announces the mid-range Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL.
The chances of a 5G Pixel being launched tomorrow seem fairly slim at this point, but there’s still a chance that Google unveils it tomorrow and schedules a launch later next year.
Google’s plan to launch a 5G smartphone comes at a time when premium smartphone sales are declining, owing to longer smartphone lifecycles, and people waiting longer before upgrading flagship smartphones since they easily last considerably longer than before. However, a 5G smartphone might help the company, based on an Ericsson study that claims that early-adopters who want 5G as soon as possible are willing to pay up to a 32% premium for a 5G flagship. Moreover, including 5G in a Pixel smartphone would be a great incentive for people with a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL to upgrade even if they weren’t willing to shell out the rumoured $999 starting price for a 2019 Pixel 4 or Pixel 4 XL.
There are still challenges for the Mountain View giant in launching a 5G smartphone. For starters, the network is still in its infancy with only small areas in some cities offering actual 5G coverage, and while the speeds offered by 5G are definitely mind-blowing, early reports of real-world 5G usage in the United States are marred with the frustration of lacking coverage. Google will also need to form partnerships with 5G carriers in the US in order to make the 5G Pixel available to a wider audience in the country.
from Beebom https://beebom.com/google-testing-5g-smartphone/
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