Xiaomi Successfully Tests 5G Connectivity on Upcoming Smartphones

Xiaomi has successfully tested 5G data connections on its smartphones for the first time, according to an official release on August 31. This marks a milestone in Xiaomi‘s foray into 5G networks, laying the foundation for the release of real 5G smartphones in the coming years.

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Lin Bin, co-founder and president of Xiaomi, posted a photo through his Weibo account on September 3 and confirmed the news. The picture teased an unreleased Xiaomi device with the status bar reading “5G+”, tipped to be the phone maker’s next flagship model, Mi Mix 3.

The device is running on 5G New Radio (5G NR), a new official 5G standard set by 3GPP specification groups, and is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G 50X modem. Xiaomi is testing 5G band NR N78, one of the most tested 5G bands in the world, among others.

Xiaomi is now one of the few phone makers that possess 5G simulation abilities. The company also has an edge in new technologies, including millimeter-wave antenna array which is vital for the development of 5G technology.

Apart from smartphones, Xiaomi is also looking to extend 5G technologies into other applications. The smartphone manufacturer has been exploring the use pf NB-IoT in smart home systems and has contributed to the refinement of current NB-IoT standards.

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If successful, the download speed of 5G networks is expected to be ten times faster than that of 4G. The race to 5G has been heating up as bigs names such as Samsung and Huawei are competing to release the first-to-market product with this new technology.

Xiaomi has reportedly signed a memorandum and a strategic cooperation agreement with China Mobile, while the latter is said to be actively looking to start the purchases of 5G phones as early as next February.