2020 is the year 5G takes off, and Realme won’t be left behind. The Shenzhen-based Chinese Android OEM plans to unveil its first-ever 5G phone worldwide at MWC 2020 next month.
Realme reveals its 5G session for MWC 2020
Realme has an event description at the MWC Barcelona website. There you can find the company making a statement about its “first global launch event in 2020” and the mention of the term “5G” repeatedly in the description. This tells us that 5G is the emphasis of this session at Mobile World Congress.
What could the 2020 Realme 5G phone be?
There’s no specific hint as to what the phone in question would be, but sources say that it could be the Realme X50 5G phone launched in India this month.
That phone features a 6.67-inch display with a 2400 x 1080p screen resolution, Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC. 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage signals smooth RAM management and plenty of storage for photos and screenshots.
Dual front-facing cameras (16MP + 8MP), quad rear cameras (64MP + 8MP + 12MP + 2MP), and a 4,200mAh battery capacity round out the specs. The Realme X50 5G runs Google’s Android 10.
There could always be a more entry-level device on the way, but chances are Realme isn’t unveiling a second 5G phone in the same month.
After all, the X50 5G isn’t global yet. A global launch would make it available for customers outside of China.
Why launch the X50 globally in 2020?
Launching the X50 5G globally in 2020 is important because of mass adoption of 5G. While a number of Android OEMs emerged with 5G phones last year, 5G was still remote, scarce, and available to a select few. 2020 is the year when 5G networks in the US are expected to be in full swing.
Huawei 5G President Yang Chaobin has said that he expects sub-$150 smartphones to see mass production by year’s end. It’s likely the case that the X50 5G may not sell for that price with its processor.
And yet, that doesn’t mean that Realme won’t try to corner the sub-$150 phone segment. Perhaps the release of the X50 5G is to see the appeal of 5G before releasing phones with a more suitable price tag.
The key to 5G becoming a global phenomenon isn’t just a global launch but also a phone that is globally appealing. Whether in the US, China, or abroad in Europe, budget-conscious customers live everywhere.
Android’s success comes from selling at budget-friendly price points. The same success can come for 5G if Android OEMs, including Realme, price its phones right.