In the mobile phone market in 2019, 5G is an unavoidable topic. The arrival of 5G will bring about earth-shaking changes in our lives, and it will affect all aspects, not just the single market of mobile phones.
Many people’s impression of 5G should be that it will significantly increase network speeds. Indeed, the network speeds we use range from 2G to 3G to 4G to the current 5G. The network speeds have been greatly improved with each update iteration. .
Moreover, the transition from 4G to 5G is different from the previous transition from 3G to 4G. The previous 4G network was upgraded from the original 3G base station. Although there are also new ones, the number is small. 5G is different from 4G. 5G base stations basically need to be rebuilt. The impact in the future is not only the improvement of network speed. 5G will connect everything and realize the true Internet of Things. It will also change all aspects. The download rate of 5G will increase the network speed. Creating 10Gbps, far exceeding 4G’s 100Mbps, downloading a high-definition movie only takes a few seconds.
In terms of mobile phones, the main question faced by many people this year may be: should they buy a 5G mobile phone this year. And if you browse some recent mobile phone industry news, the overwhelming publicity from mobile phone manufacturers will give you the illusion that 5G has arrived and we are part of it.
However, before spending money, we need to think calmly, do I really need a 5G mobile phone in 2019? The author does not agree.
First of all, the price of mobile phones is high
Price is often the most important factor we consider when buying a product (except for rich people, of course), and when a product is the most expensive, it is usually When new.
As a major update iteration, 5G requires heavy investment, especially in the early stages of technology. The research and development of various technologies requires a large amount of manpower and material resources, so mobile phone manufacturers must pay high prices when using it. Naturally, the patent fee will not be low, and the price of 5G mobile phones will certainly not be low. On the one hand, it is a new thing, and on the other hand, things are rare and expensive.
Under normal circumstances, the initial 5G mobile phones will be high-end flagship products of various brands, and the prices will also be in the 5,000 price range. Therefore, the price of 5G mobile phones in 2019 will inevitably be very high, which is very harmful to the wallet. A big challenge.
2. The technology is not mature enough
A mobile phone is a highly sophisticated product, and the changes 5G brings to mobile phones are not just a simple change of a network module. From baseband to radio frequency to antennas and operator networks, comprehensive upgrades are needed. At present, many technologies are still immature.
Although since last year, many mobile phone manufacturers have shown that their mobile phones can connect to 5G networks to post Weibo, online videos, make phone calls, etc. These mobile phones are generally equipped with Snapdragon 845, and then equipped with The problem of plug-in baseband is realized, such as the previous Xiaomi MIX3, which achieved 5G connection by plugging in X505GNR baseband.
At present, Qualcomm has not launched a mobile phone with integrated 5G communication baseband. Even the latest Snapdragon 855, which will be equipped with this year’s flagship mobile phone, does not integrate 5G baseband, but integrates Snapdragon X24 baseband, using It is manufactured using the 7nm process, and to achieve 5G connection, it is still necessary to use a plug-in with the Snapdragon X50 5G baseband to enable the mobile phone to support the 5G network.
3. Supporting facilities have not caught up yet
As mentioned in the first article, this year’s 5G mobile phones will be very expensive. This is only one aspect. Even if you buy it, you won’t be able to use it. That's the most important thing, and the most worrying thing.
If you want to use a 5G network, base stations are indispensable. As mentioned earlier, unlike 4G base stations, which are upgraded based on 3G base stations, 5G base stations need to be rebuilt. This requires a large investment of financial, human and material resources, as well as a large amount of time.
Previously, the three major operators spent at least 800 billion on 4G network construction, so 5G will only be much more, at least in the scale of more than one trillion. If all base stations are completed, at least it will have to wait until next year. , and to say the least, even if the base station is completed, other supporting facilities may not necessarily be better.
So, what’s the use of having a cell phone when you don’t even have a signal?
4. The data rate is too expensive
I recall that when I used 3G or 4G mobile phones to surf the Internet, I would always pay attention to the data rate, not to mention using the data to watch videos and pictures. It's very cautious. There is even a saying that if you turn on the data one night to watch videos, the house will belong to the operator the next day. You can imagine how expensive the data rates will be at that time.
Later, with the reduction of costs, the data rates also dropped. Until now, you can safely use the data to watch videos. There are even packages that are 1 yuan per GB, which is so cheap that no one has friends. Moreover, Internet companies and operators have launched various phone cards that can provide various types of free data. Basically, there is no need to worry about mobile phone data rates anymore.
The situation may be different in the 5G era, and we are likely to go back to the days when we were careful to use data while wearing our belts.
5G has characteristics such as larger bandwidth, faster transmission speed, and lower communication delay. Due to the high investment in time, money, manpower, material resources, etc., the initial cost will remain high. , so it will definitely be reflected in the traffic flow, and due to the ultra-high speed of 5G, the traffic consumption will definitely be very fast, and the money may have slipped away before you even react.
5. The current 4G network is completely sufficient
Corresponding to the previous point, 5G charges will be very expensive, so why not continue to use the 4G network, and the current 4G network is still It is completely sufficient. Whether it is watching videos, downloading things, playing games, or browsing Weibo, it can fully meet our needs. The most important thing is that it is cheap.
Therefore, instead of worrying about traffic charges all the time, it is better to use the 4G network with confidence and boldness. There is no need to worry too much even if the usage exceeds, not to mention that many people now have a lot of surplus every month.
The popularization of 6.5G will take a certain amount of time
The popularization of any technology will take a certain amount of time. From 2G to 3G, from 3G to 4G, the time between each generation of technology is getting shorter and shorter. , the speed of update iterations is getting faster and faster, and the existence time is getting shorter and shorter.
No matter which generation, there is a process from trial commercial use to commercial use. For example, the 3G standard was issued a license for trial commercial use in 2008, and it was not really popularized nationwide until 2012, which took 4 years; 4G It took more than two and nearly three years from the issuance of licenses for trial commercial use at the end of 2013 to 2015 when it was basically fully covered and became mainstream.
Therefore, it can be speculated that 5G will go from commercial trial to full commercial use within two years. Starting from this year, 5G has begun commercial trials. At present, the three major operators have disclosed their pilot work plans in cities across the country. Among them, China Mobile will be in five cities: Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Suzhou, and Wuhan, and China Unicom will be in Beijing. 5G pilot projects are being carried out in 16 cities including Tianjin, Qingdao, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guiyang and Chengdu, while China Telecom will conduct 5G pilot projects in Xiongan, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Suzhou and Chengdu.
Lei Jun said at the 2019 Xiaomi Annual Meeting that “there are still two to three years before 5G can be commercialized on a large scale.” Honor President Zhao Ming believes that 5G mobile phones are still more of a marketing concept.
7. Mobile phones are fast-moving consumer goods
Many people may have this idea. 5G mobile phones are coming soon, so I will stick to my current mobile phone and change it when the time comes. The author does not agree with this idea. If you come across a mobile phone you like and it is within your ability to afford it, you can buy it directly now, not to mention that it will take a long time for 5G to be commercialized on a large scale, and mobile phones are now a Fast-moving consumer goods are not like TVs, air conditioners, washing machines and other household appliances that last for several years. Mobile phone updates are now so fast that if you like them, you can buy them with confidence.
5G is the future trend, and all walks of life are preparing for it. The author has made arrangements in advance. As ordinary consumers, if you intend to change your mobile phone in a few years, don’t be entangled in whether to choose a 4G mobile phone or a 5G mobile phone. The author recommends buying a 4G mobile phone.