Not only the first 5G smartphone and the first 5G router were presented at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this year, but also the first mobile 5G router was also shown. Huawei, known for many years for mobile hotspots, has already introduced the second mobile 5G WiFi router after the world’s first one Netgear Nighthawk M2 5G mobile router.
The “5G Mobile WiFi“, as Huawei calls its first mobile 5G hotspot, does not seem to have a model number yet, but visitors to the MWC can already view the device at the Huawei stand. Visually, the model looks very similar to the predecessor 4G mobile hotspot Huawei E5788, but the 5G Mobile WiFi is significantly larger. This is probably due to the integrated 8,000 mAh strong battery – the battery of the E5788 is not as strong as even half. The battery is charged via USB Type C, it is also possible to connect to the computer. Optionally, the large battery is also suitable as a power bank, devices such as smartphones can even be charged via wireless charging with the Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi.
The Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi is operated either via touch screen or via an app on the smartphone. As a 5G modem, a HiSilicon Balong 5000 chipset is used, an in-house development by Huawei. The Balong 5000 can also use 4G/LTE in addition to 5G. So the mobile hotspot is backwards compatible with older mobile networks, so that the connection does not break off when you change from the 5G radio cell into an LTE cell.
The Huawei 5G WiFi Router can use Wi-Fi at 2.4 and 5 gigahertz and supports not only the current WLAN 802.11ac standard (WLAN 5) but also the new WiFi 6 standard. How many devices can be supplied with Internet at the same time is not yet known. Huawei advertises that it is sufficient to scan a QR code to connect to the WLAN. If required, the QR code will be shown in the display of the device.
Further technical specifications about the Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi are not yet available. Also information about the price and availability of the mobile 5G router are not yet known. The first 5G networks are expected to go into operation in mid-2019, and we suppose then the Huawei 5G mobile WiFi would be available to use.
The Quectel EP06 is an LTE Category 6 module, which allows downstream speeds up to 300Mbps and upstream speeds up to 50Mbps. In Mini PCIe form factor, Quectel EP06 could be easily mounted in an LTE broadband Router with a port type such as ZBT-WE826T and MTK MT7623. Since more and more LTE advanced Pro modules available now, the EP06 card is in good price now based on the main features below:
2 frequency band aggregation in most regions (depending on model):
Support UMTS/HSPA+ besides LTE
Support GNSS, GPS with dedicated antenna port
Support DFOTA, eCall and DTMF
Support MIMO technology
Among which, the 2 antenna ports and the GNSS port are in Ipex format. There are several version of this card such as EP06-E, EP06-A, EP06-LA, EP06-APAC etc…
The Quectel EP06-E version could support following frequency bands:
LTE-FDD B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28/B32
LTE-TDD B38/B40/B41
The 2AC aggregation available on:
B1 + B1/B5/B8/B20/B28
B3 + B3/B5/B7/B8/B20/B28
B7 + B5/B7/B8/B20/B28
B20 + B32
B38 + B38
B40 + B40
B41 +B41
Like other Quectel 4G LTE Modules, the EP06 module could be controlled by AT commands, which is documented by the manufacturer. A certain mastery of the subject is necessary, but if you have acquired your router box under OpenWRT or ROOter, it is that you have at least knowledge about it. And this will allow you to configure it with little opinions.
The Quectel EP06 card is basically designed for the M2M industrial market, so it meets the standards of this market. In particular, it supports the firmware update via DFOTA from an FTP server for example.
At the World Mobile Congress 2019 in Barcelona, HUAWEI unveiled a number of new products, including the updated flagship laptop HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, new laptops of HUAWEI MateBook 13 and HUAWEI MateBook 14, folding 5G-smartphone HUAWEI Mate X, Huawei 5G mobile WiFi and Huawei 5G CPE Pro based on the first serial multi-mode chipset Balong 5000.
At MWC 2018, HUAWEI unveiled the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro, the first laptop with a FullView screen. Today at the MWC 2019, HUAWEI presents the new improved HUAWEI MateBook X Pro. It has all the characteristics of the flagship: modern design, innovation and smart technology, high performance and versatile communications that raise the bar for the flagship laptop to a new height.
HUAWEI MateBook X Pro is equipped with a 13.9-inch FullView screen with a resolution of 3K Ultra and a 91% ratio of screen area and laptop case. In addition, the touch layer with the recognition of 10 simultaneous touches and the world’s first technology screenshots finger gestures provide users with a new, intuitive way to interact with your computer.
High performance HUAWEI MateBook X Pro is provided by an 8th generation Intel® Core ™ i7-8565 processor, a discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250 GPU with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. The laptop is also equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless connectivity modules, Thunderbolt ™ 3 high-speed port and Dolby Atmos audio system with surround sound technology.
Smart connections and cross-platform interactions between devices are the mainstream universal user experience. The new HUAWEI MateBook X Pro supports HUAWEI Share 3.0 technology with OneHop function, which not only provides a quick exchange of photos and videos between laptops and smartphones, but also recognizes characters in images, transforming them into text. Screen recording has become as simple as ever. It is enough to shake the smartphone, and on the computer screen print HUAWEI PC Share, so that the image from the laptop screen starts to be transmitted to the mobile device. HUAWEI has also developed the unique Clipboard Sharing feature that allows you to copy content on one device and paste it on another one nearby. Thus, both devices can work with one synchronized memory buffer.
HUAWEI MateBook 13 and HUAWEI MateBook 14 laptops make advanced technologies accessible to middle-income users. They combine all the qualities of a new generation of products: FullView screens, high performance, mobility, high workmanship and modern design. The devices also offer users the latest smart communication tools between their computer and mobile devices.
HUAWEI MateBook 14 has all the main features of the MateBook series: FullView screen, high workmanship, sophisticated design, and good performance.
HUAWEI MateBook 13 and HUAWEI MateBook 14 are equipped with FullView screens with a convenient 3: 2 aspect ratio, thin frames and a touch layer that recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches. Both laptops support new handy features, such as a screenshot with finger gestures that highlight the user’s personality.
HUAWEI MateBook 14 is equipped with high-performance components: Intel® Core ™ i7-8565U 8th generation processor and a discrete NVIDIA® GeForce® MX250 video card, but it does not heat up due to an efficient cooling system with special design coolers. A battery with a capacity of 57.4 W * h and energy-saving software features HUAWEI provide long battery life.
HUAWEI MateBook 13, in turn, is improving standards in screen, performance, and cross-platform connectivity among 13-inch mid-price laptops. It is also equipped with an 8th generation Intel® Core ™ i7-8565U processor, a NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 GPU discrete graphics card, and a cooling system based on HUAWEI Shark Fin Fans 2.0 coolers, which, even under heavy loads, efficiently removes heat and still work silently.
HUAWEI MateBook 13 is equipped with a FullView screen with a 3: 2 aspect ratio and a 88% screen-to-area ratio, and also with a touch layer that recognizes up to 10 simultaneous touches.
To enhance the capabilities of HUAWEI computers, developers have proposed smart means of interacting with mobile devices: HUAWEI Share 3.0 technology, which, thanks to the OneHop and Clipboard Sharing features, provides smart, fast and simple, cross-platform interaction between laptops and smartphones. Other features include finger gestures screenshot, power button with integrated fingerprint scanner, Dolby Atmos ®technology. All of them are for those who need instant connection and universal interaction of all devices, including laptops and smartphones.
HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro brings 5G to smart homes
Balong 5000 supports a range of 5G devices, including 5G smartphones, home broadband devices, car systems and 5G modules. Thus, it provides users with 5G communication in a variety of situations.
The HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro Router, equipped with the Balong 5000 chipset, supports 4G and 5G connections and sets new standards for wireless modems. For example, a 1 GB video clip can be downloaded in just three seconds, and 8K video is broadcast continuously, without any delay. The HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro modem can be used for super-speed broadband access not only in homes, but also in the offices of companies.
Using the new Wi-Fi 6 technology, the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro modem provides data rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. In addition, it is the world’s smallest consumer telecommunications device (CPE) and the world’s first 5G CPE device that supports HUAWEI HiLink protocols and translates smart homes into a 5G era.
In the coming 5G era, HUAWEI has the leading position and capabilities to implement its universal strategy. Now HUAWEI is the only manufacturer of the full range of 5G products, including chipsets, Edge-class networks and cloud services. Huawei intends to expand the capabilities of 5G communication in order to provide users with all the benefits of a truly universal “smart” life.
At the Mobile World Congress, Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) presented the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro, a CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) unit that provides ultra-fast broadband speeds, as well as Dual-link functions. This new Huawei 5G Router is designed to achieve more robust “zero distance” connectivity between users and connected equipment. Powered by the Balong 5000, this 5G WiFi router is a breakthrough in the extension and accessibility of 5G technology for consumers around the world.
Developer by Huawei, the Balong 5000 is the world’s first 5G multimodal chipset modem. The power of this chipset allows the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro to be the first with support for 4G and 5G commercial applications in dual modes. It is the first chipset to have the capacity to complete industry requirements at maximum 5G download speeds. Its dual mode functions allow it to operate by default in 4G when the 5G coverage is not strong enough.
“Huawei’s dedication to its research and development has driven the advancement of technology and connectivity from the beginning, so we have made progress, as well as the leadership of the 5G sector from its early stages,” said Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group. “We started our exploration and investment in 5G technology since 2009, and that is why today we are ready to welcome the new 5G era.” We are committed to the development of intelligent systems in all sectors.”
To ensure that the demands for access to networks and consumer connectivity are met, the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro uses fiber-like technology with speeds up to 3.2Gbps in commercial networks, to be compatible with ultra high definition visual communications, as well as powerful multimedia interactions. Additionally, the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro uses a dedicated video channel as well as video game acceleration channel technology, which means that the performance will be the best possible even in situations of multimedia in 8K resolution or in Virtual Reality games.
The HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro sets the standards for mobile spaces, as it is compatible with Wi-Fi 6 technology, also known as 802.11ax. The Huawei WiFi Router allows next-generation Wi-Fi speeds and connectivity, and is designed to operate at the best speeds in any situation. Some extra benefits are: better data transfer speeds, greater capacity and efficiency. Thanks to all this, the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro supports WLAN download speeds of up to 4.8Gbps, which is 15 times faster than the 300Mbps of Wi-Fi 4 technology (802.11n, 2 × 2 MIMO).
Designed to receive better signals, the HUAWEI 5G CPE Pro is the world’s first “small cross-polarized” type antenna that minimizes auto interference effectively. Thanks to its unique design of two crossed antennas, the standard anti-interference distance of 10mm between the antennas has been eliminated, reducing the size of the structure by 20%, and increasing the Wi-Fi coverage by 30%, in both directions vertical as horizontal.
Huawei officially launched the multi-mode 5G chipset called Balong 5000 and was first used on the Huawei 5G CPE Pro router. The perfect combination of these two products will bring the world’s fastest wireless connection speed not only on smartphones but also for larger spaces like houses, offices and other large spaces.
The Balong 5000 chipset is expected to help Huawei formally open the era for leading advanced 5G technology. In addition, the Balong 5000 chipset also provides optimal support on a range of other 5G products, such as home broadband network equipment, car-mounted devices and 5G modules. Thus, Balong 5000 will help consumers have the opportunity to experience 5G completely new in many different usage situations.
With a compact design (SFF) and a high level of integration, Balong 5000 supports 2G, 3G, 4G and even 5G on a single chip. This will minimize the latency and power consumption when transferring data between different modes, and significantly improve the user experience in the early stages of 5G deployment. Balong 5000 marked a big step forward for the Balong chipset series.
On the market, Balong 5000 is the first chip for download speed reaching 5G standard. In Sub-6 GHz band (low operating frequency, main frequency used for 5G), Balong 5000 can achieve download speeds up to 4.6 Gbps. In the mmWave spectrum band (high operating frequency, used for extended spectrum for 5G), Balong can achieve download speed of 6.5 Gbps – 10 times faster than the leading 4G LTE router in the current market.
Besides, Balong 5000 is also the first chip in the world to support both independent network architecture (SA) and non-independent (NSA). With a non-independent form, 5G network architecture is built on 4G LTE network platform. Meanwhile, the independent form, as the name suggests, will have its own architecture. Balong 5000 can flexibly meet different requirements from users and operators in connecting equipment throughout the development stages of 5G.
Moreover, Balong 5000 is also the world’s first multi-mode chip that supports the V2X protocol (universal connection method), providing a reliable and low-latency solution for connected media. Huawei’s 5G smartphones using Balong 5000 will be launched at the Global Mobile Exhibition (MWC) in Barcelona this year.
Huawei 5G CPE Pro – Huawei First Commercial 5G Router
Based on the Balong 5000, Huawei 5G CPE Pro router supports both 4G and 5G connections. With 5G network, a 1GB HD video clip can be downloaded in just 3 seconds. 8K format videos can also be played smoothly, without interruption. This set new standards for home CPE equipment. In addition, the Huawei 5G CPE Router can also be used for small and medium enterprises, with fast broadband Internet access speed.
Applying new generation 6 Wi-Fi technology, Huawei 5G CPE Pro router can provides speeds up to 4.8 Gbps. This is the first 5G CPE to support Huawei HiLink protocol, bringing smart home ecosystem (smart home) into the 5G era.
As a pioneer in 5G technology, Huawei has started to research and develop 5G since 2009, currently the only company on the market that can provide all devices for 5G networks. Huawei has more than 5,700 engineers working in the R&D department, including more than 500 network experts. In total, Huawei has established 11 creative cooperation centers for the 5G solution globally.
It’s obvious that the Huawei Mate X is the main role at the Barcelona event MWC2019. With the Mate X, Huawei also presented some 5G gadgets such as Huawei 5G CPE Pro and Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi Hotspot. Although they are not very spectacular, the useful line of innovations naturally attracts intentions at the event.
Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi Specifications
According to Huawei, the Huawei 5G Mobile Pocket Wi-Fi router has built a Balong 5000 chipset platform modem, the maximum data rate can reach 4.6 Gbit/s, which is very faster than current 4G speeds. The new 5G device supports sixth-generation Wi-Fi networks (ax), with the use of which the speed of data exchange within the network reaches 4.8 Gbit/s. Due to this, a file of 1 GB can be downloaded in just 3 seconds, that is, almost instantly.
With the support of Wi-Fi 6 (ax) HiLink technology, owners of the new Huawei 5G portable WiFi router can communicate with multiple devices within the network any data as much as four times as fast as using Wi-Fi 5 (ac). The Huawei 5G WiFi Hotspot router has a large battery pack of 8000 mAh, and it provides about 7 hours of operation in the 5G network at the highest speed. When using networks 3G and 4G LTE, this figure is increased by 2 – 3 times.
Huawei 5G Pocket WiFi Battery
The Huawei 5G Mobile Wi-Fi Portable Router supports Qi’s fast charging technology and can also be used as a stationary access point – for this you need to connect the charger via a USB Type-C connector. Also, the manufacturer would provide the antenna connectors in the Huawei 5G pocket WiFi and also introduced a touch screen that allows you to control routers with different capabilities without having to enter the “admin” via a third-party device.
Huawei 5G Mobile WiFi Router Availability and Price
Since Huawei mobile WiFi hotspots are always popular in thousands of users worldwide, the latest Huawei 5G WiFi router would be no doubt a selling star. However, Huawei didn’t tell when they would be available. We predict it would be available around June, 2019. And the price would not be cheap because the 5G network construction over the world is still on the way. But we would keep updating the news of this new 5G WiFi router.
A couple of days ago, Samsung presented its world’s foldable smartphone named Galaxy Fold, which soon attracts the focus. After the bezel-less display design, there is a high chance that foldable phone is going to be the next significant trend in the smartphone world. Previously, there was a report suggesting that many brands are now in the development phase for their first ever foldable device. Huawei, the world’s third largest smartphone supplier, will release its first foldable phone and named it Huawei Mate X, which was leaked by the banner for Huawei show at MWC2019.
Huawei Mate X Specs and Features
Per the leaked information, we can see the Huawei Mate X specs includes two 5.9-inch IPS LCD screens with the resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels. Moreover, the Huawei device also opens up like a book and lets you use it on both tablet mode and smartphone mode. Additionally, the Huawei flagship comes with a notch on the display and metal back panel.
As per the concept, Huawei Mate X phone will sport two separate displays. One of the screens will measure 5-inches, while the other will be 8-inches in size both of which will be supporting HDR 10. When folded, we will get to use the 5-inch display, which otherwise looks like any other smartphone. But when unfolded the screen size goes to 8-inches featuring a 4K display and will be perfect as a tablet.
On the other hand, there is also another idea developed but in the laptop mode with a 120-degree fold. If a smartphone is designed in this way, it can be literally used as a regular laptop. And with half of the fold, the Huawei foldable phone can be used as a fully functional keyboard, while the rest will be used as a display. In addition, the device’s user interface will also be changed like the desktop UI, so that it can give laptop-like experience to the users. Apart from this, the device will get a sleek design that combines both metal and glass of approximately 7.5-inch total thickness. Moreover, the device will also feature IP68 water and dust resistant.
Huawei Mate X is based on Hisilicon Kirin 980 chipset and offer 6GB RAM and 512GB ROM for storage. Huawei Mate X camera expects to get a dual: 12 MP (f/1.6) +20 MP (f/1.6) rear snapper. Other features should include Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, and HDR. On the front, there is also an 8MP selfie shooter. In term of the battery, this Huawei phone rocks a non-removable Li-Po 4000mAh battery. Lastly, Huawei Mate X is going to run on the latest Android 8.1 Oreo with EMUI 9.0 on top.
Huawei Mate X Release Date and Price
According to our information, Huawei Mate X would be open for sale in the first quarter of 2019. Regarding the price, we suppose the Mate X foldable phone would refer to Samsung Galaxy Fold and would not be cheap at the beginning. Samsung offer the Galaxy Fold at 1980$, we suppose the Mate X price would be around 1500$ or more.
Network equipment supplier Huawei has already delivered more than 40,000 5G-enabled mobile base stations worldwide. This was announced by Ryan Ding, president of the Huawei Carrier Business Group, in the run-up to the Mobile World Congress. Given that the use of Huawei 5G technology is currently much discussed politically, this number is quite remarkable. Especially in Europe, the Chinese network equipment supplier is strong.
Eighteen European mobile network operators have already selected Huawei as the supplier for their 5G network. Corresponding contracts have already been signed, according to Ryan Ding. As of February 2019, Huawei has completed around 30 such 5G equipment supplier contracts worldwide, so that the focus is clearly on Europe.
Huawei has been delivering 5G base stations since September 2018, and within a few months 40,000 devices have already been sold to network operators. 5G base stations are usually also backwards compatible with older mobile technologies. Thus, they can be used, for example, for an LTE network expansion, a later upgrade to 5G is then easily possible. First commercial 5G mobile networks are expected in mid-2019.
Huawei 5G base stations: smaller, lighter and more energy efficient
In the run-up to the Mobile World Congress 2019, Huawei has also shown new hardware for the 5G network expansion. Ryan Ding emphasizes that the 5G network technology is significantly smaller and lighter than the technology used in previous generations of mobile phones, such as LTE. Network operators can therefore install the technology with little effort and at low cost and quickly upgrade their networks to 5G. The 5G base stations should also be significantly more energy efficient so that no expansion of the power supply should be necessary to existing locations.
Yesterday, Samsung has also introduced a 5G version of the S10 series in addition to the Galaxy S10, the Galaxy S10+ and the Galaxy S10e: the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G. The 5G Galaxy S10 is one of the world’s first 5G phones and is technically based on the Galaxy S10+. As soon as the first commercial 5G networks are launched, Samsung wants to be able to deliver the right device with the Galaxy S10 5G.
5G modem from Samsung or Qualcomm
Depending on the region in which the Galaxy S10 5G is delivered, Samsung uses either a 5G modem from themselves or Qualcomm. In North America, the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 modem will be used, in the remaining regions such as Asia and Europe, the Samsung Exynos 5100 modem. In 5G operation, both the C-band (frequency range between 3.4 and 3.8 gigahertz) and the millimeter-wave range between 26 and 28 GHz are supported. Standalone 5G cannot use the Galaxy S10 5G, it only supports non-standalone (NSA) 5G.
Both modems are so-called multimode modems and allow 5G connections as well as 2G, 3G and 4G networks. In 4G LTE networks, speeds of up to 2 gigabits per second are supported in the download and 150 MBit/s in the upload via LTE Cat20.
High-end 5G Smartphone
The Samsung Galaxy S10 5G is technically very similar to the Galaxy S10+, but comes with a slightly larger 6.7-inch display. The resolution is 1440 x 3040 pixels identical to the S10+. Another difference is with the cameras. The S10+ has a fourth camera with a so-called “Time of Flight” functionality and additionally allows a “Multi Level Bokeh Effect”. In addition, the camera allows the measurement of objects.
Like the other Galaxy S10 models, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G supports WLAN 802.11ax, also known as WLAN 6, also supports up to 1.2 gigabits per second in the downlink and uplink. The internal memory is 256 gigabytes in size and, unlike the other Galaxy S10 models, it cannot be expanded by memory card. The RAM is 8 GB in size.
Availability and Price
As Samsung officially announced, the Galaxy S10 5G will be launched in the summer of 2019 in Europe but earlier in Asia. Prices and an exact availability date are not yet available. According to Samsung, the following providers want to introduce the S10 5G in their product contract:
Yesterday, Qualcomm introduced the second generation of its 5G modem, the Snapdragon X55. The X55 modem can use 5G in a variety of frequency ranges and allows speeds of up to 7 gigabits per second. It supports both 5G standalone networks and 5G non-standalone networks. The Snapdragon X55 modem is also backwards compatible with LTE, UMTS and GSM (4G, 3G and 2G) in the initial phase of 5G.
As the successor to X50, the Snapdragon X55 modem is already Qualcomm’s second 5G modem. The X55 modem is prepared for 4G / 5G spectrum sharing, allowing network operators to easily switch from LTE to 5G. The supported frequency ranges range from the millimeter-wave range (above 26 GHz) to the frequency range below 6 GHz. The range between 3.4 and 3.8 GHz used in Germany and Europe to launch 5G is also supported by the Qualcomm Snapdragon X55.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 modem is also up to date in the LTE network. With LTE Cat22, up to 2.5 Gbps can be used in the fourth-generation mobile network. The prerequisite for such high speeds is of course that the network operator uses sufficient spectrum and bundles this via carrier aggregation. Even the highest possible modulation and the use of 4 × 4 MIMO significantly increases the speed.
First commercial handsets with the new Snapdragon X55 5G modem will hit the market in late 2019, according to Qualcomm. For the first generation of 5G smartphones, which will probably appear in mid-2019, the modem comes a little too late. It might still be worthwhile to wait a bit and not to access the very first 5G smartphones, because the first generation of new mobile modems is experience quite energy hungry and quickly outdated.