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5G phones expected in 2019 thanks to Chinese, Qualcomm pact

Qualcomm and some of the hottest Chinese manufacturers will work together to build phones with next-generation wireless technology.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials
  • SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.
Roger Cheng
Big Booths of CES 2018: Central Hall

Qualcomm talked up 5G at CES earlier this month. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

The reality of a 5G phone is closer than you think.

Mobile chip giant Qualcomm on Thursday announced a partnership with several of the largest Chinese phone manufacturers, including Lenovo (Motorola's parent), Xiaomi, ZTE, Oppo (OnePlus' owner) and Vivo, to build 5G phones as early as 2019. 

Under the "5G Pioneer" initiative, Qualcomm will help create a platform for the companies to build phones running on 5G, the next generation of wireless technology that promises more speed and better coverage. 5G, one of the hottest trends in tech, is considered the foundation for a number of growing segments such as self-driving cars and artificial intelligence. 

Qualcomm also said Lenovo, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi signed a deal to use Qualcomm radio technology worth a total of $2 billion over three years. 

It's a win for Qualcomm at a time when the company has been defending itself from an unsolicited bid from rival Broadcom. Qualcomm has rejected Broadcom's $130 billion bid to combine the companies, asserting the Qualcomm that is worth more than the offer.