5.5G networks are here, and so are the first Android phones to support it

Whilst we anticipate widespread, dependable 5G connectivity, China is leaping ahead with the following era of wi-fi expertise. At present, China Cellular introduced the industrial launch of its 5.5G (additionally referred to as 5G-Superior or 5GA) community. And it appears we’d have already got the primary Android telephones able to reap the benefits of it.

First reported by GSMArena, OPPO’s Chief Product Officer, Pete Lau, shared a teaser with the Discover X7 Extremely cellphone displaying “5GA” in its community standing. A Weibo submit backs this up, additional claiming that the usual Discover X7 will even achieve 5.5G functionality. This could make the Discover X7 collection the world’s first telephones to assist 5.5G networks.

China Cellular plans to cowl over 300 cities with its 5.5G community by the top of the 12 months. They’ve already established demonstration areas across the nation, permitting Discover X7 homeowners to expertise the velocity increase firsthand.

5.5G is a reputation given to 5G-Superior (5GA) networks, which fall throughout the 5G normal however ship important velocity enhancements. 5G-Superior presents a large velocity increase, with a possible of as much as 10Gbps downlink and 1Gbps uplink speeds.

Tech-savvy readers may keep in mind the same step ahead with 4G. 4G networks had been first launched round 2010, and some years later, a extra superior model of 4G networks referred to as 4G-Superior or 4G LTE was launched, with improved community speeds and latency.

Whereas 5G has discovered its place in our smartphones, it hasn’t but absolutely happy industries demanding super-fast uploads, near-zero lag, extra-tight safety, dependable efficiency, and low energy utilization. 5.5G goals to alter that, serving as a vital bridge in direction of the way forward for 6G by refining what 5G already does properly.

Is 5.5G coming to the US?

Just like the Discover X7 Extremely itself, US shoppers aren’t more likely to get their fingers on 5.5G networks anytime quickly. Nonetheless, a number of months in the past, AT&T President Chris Sambar expressed pleasure for the appearance of 5.5G networks forward of 6G. Although it might be round 2025 earlier than industrial 5GA arrives stateside, the chatter is already beginning to construct.

The excellent news is that the Discover X7 Extremely makes use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, which can be discovered on different 2024 Android flagships, such because the Galaxy S24 Extremely and OnePlus 12. So, theoretically, these telephones needs to be suitable with 5GA networks after they lastly come to the US.