International The Chinese have landed: Huawei announces first 5G smartphone chip

[Madmick]

Well, the Samsung Galaxy S9 with its focus on social media was also revealed today at the biggest convention for mobile tech, the MWC (Mobile World Conference), but that wasn't the biggest splash. Check the MWC out if you guys want to see the roadmap for the rest of 2018 with smartphones and tablets; it is to these devices what the CES is to PCs and general tech.

In a direct challenge to Intel, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, and all other mobile chip manufacturers, Huawei has announced the first 5G chipset.
Huawei unveils its first 5G chip in a challenge to Qualcomm and Intel

• Huawei unveiled its first chip to enable mobile devices to access 5G internet speeds at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
• The chipset is called the Huawei Balong 5G01.
• Huawei claims that it's the world's first commercial chipset that meets 5G standards.
• Richard Yu, the head of Huawei's consumer business group, said the company is aiming to launch a 5G phone with the new chipset in the second half of the year.

Huawei on Sunday unveiled its first chip to enable mobile devices to access 5G internet speeds and revealed plans to launch a 5G smartphone in the second half of the year.

The chipset is called the Huawei Balong 5G01. The Chinese technology giant claims that it is the world's first commercial chipset that meets 5G standards.

3GPP, a body that governs cellular standards globally, agreed late last year to a specification for how 5G should work. 5G refers to the next generation of mobile internet that could help power future driverless cars and even internet-connected infrastructure in cities.

Huawei claims that it can hit download speeds of 2.3 gigabits per second, significantly faster than speeds reached on current 4G networks.

At a briefing with reporters after the reveal, Richard Yu, the CEO of Huawei's consumer business said the company is aiming to launch a 5G phone with the new chipset in the second half of the year.

"Later on in Q3 or Q4 of this year we will launch the 5G smartphone with the 5G smartphone chipset. And our infrastructure, the 5G infrastructure is readily available to commercialize," Yu said.

By releasing its own 5G chip, Huawei is taking on the likes of Qualcomm, which already has its own modem called the X50. Qualcomm's modem for mobile devices recently managed to hit speeds of 4.51 gigabits per second.

And earlier this week Intel announced a partnership with Microsoft, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to create 5G-enabled laptops based on Intel's own modems.

Owning the chipset capabilities will allow Huawei to have more control over the design and performance of its devices. It also means it may have to rely less on external suppliers. Huawei has been focusing recently on its own chips. Last year it launched a chipset called the Kirin 970 to allow artificial intelligence experiences on its smartphones. It is currently used in the Mate 10 Pro.

Yu said the company will not license its Balong 5G01 chipset to rival device makers.

The reason this is so significant is because this is Chinese IP. This is their design. They adopt a world-leader position in actual tech design, here; not just as the paid labor in terms of fabrication of the chips at the factory level.

Techradar > MWC 2018: All the latest news from the show

 

[cmw43]

Interesting, I've got the Huawei P10, it's a great phone coming from the Nexus 5.

 

[mushishi]

My next phone might be Chinese. Not spend
ing $1k on a phone.

 

[loyalyolayal]

Xiaomi had the momentum 2-3 yrs back. Huawei just overtook them and didn't looked back.

 

[Madmick]

Oh, I think I should let everyone on the Dog know about this because you guys probably didn't see it:
The FBI, CIA and NSA say American citizens shouldn't use Huawei phones
Apple was doing this in China. Tit for tat.

Still, a worthwhile caveat unless you want the Chinese government spying on everything you do in addition to every one else, but even more remorselessly, and without any fear of reprisal from the laws or watchdogs or public backlash that protect you from companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

In fact, you should be wary of every Chinese-headquartered phone company at this point.

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

Xiaomi had the momentum 2-3 yrs back. Huawei just overtook them and didn't looked back.

My last phone was a xiaomi and it failed after a year. Huawei is much better.

-posted from Huawei mate 9

 

[Sir Galahad]

I'm happy with my LG G5.

 

[loyalyolayal]

My last phone was a xiaomi and it failed after a year. Huawei is much better.

-posted from Huawei mate 9

My cousin who works in china oprah'd huaweis last week to our aunts. I was actually looking into getting a nova 2i before I won a vivo v7 plus phone.

 

[Tycho- Taylor's Version]

Oh, I think I should let everyone on the Dog know about this because you guys probably didn't see it:
The FBI, CIA and NSA say American citizens shouldn't use Huawei phones
Apple was doing this in China. Tit for tat.

Still, unless you want the Chinese government spying on everything you do in addition to every one else, but even more remorselessly, and without any fear of reprisal from the laws or watchdogs or public backlash that protect you from companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

In fact, you should be wary of every Chinese-headquartered phone company at this point.

Any specific concerns with Xaomi? I googled it briefly when I saw this headline last week but didn't catch any red flags.

I've got a big group of friends who use their phones but none that I know of with Huawei.

 

[loyalyolayal]

Oh, I think I should let everyone on the Dog know about this because you guys probably didn't see it:
The FBI, CIA and NSA say American citizens shouldn't use Huawei phones
Apple was doing this in China. Tit for tat.

Still, unless you want the Chinese government spying on everything you do in addition to every one else, but even more remorselessly, and without any fear of reprisal from the laws or watchdogs or public backlash that protect you from companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

In fact, you should be wary of every Chinese-headquartered phone company at this point.

If western based companies are doing it, then a culture with no accountability and insecurities are in on it.

 

[SSgt Dickweed]

Well, the Samsung Galaxy S9 with its focus on social media was also revealed today at the biggest convention for mobile tech, the MWC (Mobile World Conference), but that wasn't the biggest splash. Check the MWC out if you guys want to see the roadmap for the rest of 2018 with smartphones and tablets; it is to these devices what the CES is to PCs and general tech.

In a direct challenge to Intel, Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, and all other mobile chip manufacturers, Huawei has announced the first 5G chipset.
Huawei unveils its first 5G chip in a challenge to Qualcomm and Intel

The reason this is so significant is because this is Chinese IP. This is their design. They adopt a world-leader position in actual tech design, here; not just as the paid labor in terms of fabrication of the chips at the factory level.

Techradar > MWC 2018: All the latest news from the show

 

[Madmick]

Any specific concerns with Xaomi? I googled it briefly when I saw this headline last week but didn't catch any red flags.

I've got a big group of friends who use their phones but none that I know of with Huawei.

The "Apple of China"? Yeah, they're headquartered in China. That's the red flag. They don't have intimate ties with the Chinese politburo that Huawei does, but their leadership at the highest levels answers to that authoritarian central government.

I don't even trust western-run companies headquartered there following this alert (ex. Oneplus). As far as I'm concerned, as a westerner, if your phonemaker isn't headquartered outside China, then steer clear. That includes Lenovo which means that I'm even peeking askew at Motorola, now.

 

[Madmick]

My next phone might be Chinese. Not spend
ing $1k on a phone.

If the mid-level and budget Samsung phones don't suit you, then the American brand that pursues the super-cheap strategy, but is headquartered in the USA, not China (like Oneplus), is called Blu. You might look into them. They use all the same hardware:
https://www.gsmarena.com/blu-phones-67.php

Unlocked phones on pretty naked Android OS. Shoestring markup on the BOM (Bill of Manufacturing). Budget focus-- no presence among the international flagship class. Here is their own latest flagship:

Blu Vivo X
https://www.phonearena.com/phones/BLU-Vivo-X_id10823

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Oh, I think I should let everyone on the Dog know about this because you guys probably didn't see it:
The FBI, CIA and NSA say American citizens shouldn't use Huawei phones
Apple was doing this in China. Tit for tat.

Still, a worthwhile caveat unless you want the Chinese government spying on everything you do in addition to every one else, but even more remorselessly, and without any fear of reprisal from the laws or watchdogs or public backlash that protect you from companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

In fact, you should be wary of every Chinese-headquartered phone company at this point.

Do I really need to fear the Chinese government knowing which way I vote in @GearSolidMetal ’s Prime hot chicks versus polls?

 

[El_Dyablo619]

Well if China wants to spy on me while I watch porn thats on them

 

[God_Emperor_Of_Mankind]

If 5g phones come the internet speeds will still depend on the provider though.

 

[ScarHead]

I worked for major telecom companies in NA over the last 15 years and can accurately state :


Huawei is shit.

Anyone buying there phones are either dirt poor or asian with sentimental attachments.

In terms of actual performance and reliability, they are the Cindy Dandois of cell phones.

 

[rj144]

I have a Huawei Smart Watch 2. It's really nice and fairly cheap.

 

[ithinktheymad]

Oh, I think I should let everyone on the Dog know about this because you guys probably didn't see it:
The FBI, CIA and NSA say American citizens shouldn't use Huawei phones
Apple was doing this in China. Tit for tat.

Still, a worthwhile caveat unless you want the Chinese government spying on everything you do in addition to every one else, but even more remorselessly, and without any fear of reprisal from the laws or watchdogs or public backlash that protect you from companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

In fact, you should be wary of every Chinese-headquartered phone company at this point.

I won't even connect to WiFi when I'm over there.

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Lets hope Huawei does better than HTC. HTC got absolutely spanked by Samsung.