LG and Sprint Say They’ll Have the First 5G Phone in the US in Early 2019

Motorola and Verizon might try and be first to 5G in the US with a sold-separately attachment for a disappointing phone, but Sprint and LG say they’ll do it first within an actual smartphone – no Mod required. The two announced this morning that in the first half of 2019, they will release the “first mobile 5G smartphone in the US.”

Neither were willing to say what exactly this phone would be called, what its specs are, or the date that they’ll deliver it. They did say that they have “confirmed a significant wireless milestone” that will allow for them to release this first 5G phone with LG. I’d imagine that has to do with all of Qualcomm’s 5G breakthroughs and use of their X50 5G modem, as well as network advances in Sprint’s 5G markets. Remember, LG and Sprint were both listed as some of Qualcomm’s early 5G partners.

My favorite part about this announcement is the quote about the phone being “a beautifully-designed advanced 5G smartphone.” While likely unintentional, I can’t help but take that as a shot at Motorola and the tank Moto Mod they want people to actual use in a real-world setting, just to say they have 5G. Yeah I’ll pass on that and wait for the phones that don’t need help from external bricks.

Sprint and LG could be talking about an LG G8 ThinQ, which will probably launch in the first half of 2019. They could also be talking about something less top-tier. Since it’s only August 2018, speculate away.

// Sprint