Xiaomi is all-in on 5G, and it’s now looking at 6G too
by Hadlee Simons
Xiaomi has just released the cheapest 5G phones yet in the Redmi 10X series, starting at ~$224 in China. But the company is also looking ahead to future connectivity projects.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun told the state-run Xinhua News agency (h/t: Gizchina) that the manufacturer has started preliminary research on 6G technology. The executive didn’t divulge any more details, but they’d be joining the likes of Huawei and Samsung in confirming work on 6G.
It looks like the manufacturer isn’t stopping there either, as Jun says Xiaomi is conducting preliminary research on satellite internet and how it could work with phones.
Satellite internet is a key technology for people living in rural areas, where mobile networks and fixed-line infrastructure leave much to be desired. Xiaomi offers plenty of internet-based services in China, so increased internet penetration via satellite internet should ultimately benefit the company.
The executive also apparently stated that Xiaomi has cleared its 4G phone line in China to make way for 5G. It’s unclear if this means Xiaomi is solely offering 5G phones in China, as the firm just launched the Redmi 10X 4G alongside the Redmi 10X 5G series yesterday (May 26). And chipset manufacturers haven’t revealed truly low-end 5G processors just yet, which means Xiaomi could likely still release 4G phones in the sub-$150 tier in China.
Nevertheless, the firm’s focus on 5G phones makes sense at home, as all the major networks in the country have switched to the new connectivity standard. But with the likes of India and several other markets yet to switch to 5G, 4G devices are still clearly important for the brand outside China.