Affordable 5G phones are coming
The $200 psychological price point
5G smartphone global shipments have sharply increased in 2021, yet 5G network connectivity remains a feature mostly reserved for mid and high-end devices. Such could change this year.
Announced earlier this month at CES 2022, the Nokia G400 is an entry level phone with a 6.6-inch screen and 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a Snapdragon 480 5G processor and comes with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage. There is a 48-megapixel primary rear camera, a 5-megapixel ultrawide angle camera as well as a 2-megapixel macro camera. The suggested retail price is expected to be $239 in the U.S.
Also announced at CES, the TCL 30 V 5G features a 6.67-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 480 5G chip, 4GB RAM, and a 4,500mAh battery. It will be a Verizon exclusive, and cost US $299.
Let’s not forget the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G (with a suggested retail price of US $279.99) which comes more modest specs (including a lo-res 720p 6.5 inch screen); and the ultra low-cost T-Mobile REVVL V+ 5G (priced at US $199!).
We can expect a number of similar product releases throughout the year and such could have a significant impact on market adoption.
This story was first published on The PhilaVerse (my Substack newsletter).