MWC19 Global telecommunications provider ZTE has introduced what it calls the first 5G “flagship” smartphone: the ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G. Developed for launch in cooperation with global carriers including China Unicom, Elisa and Hutchison Drei Austria, the new addition to ZTE’s premium Axon lineup is expected to reach markets in Europe and China in the first half of 2019.
The Axon 10 Pro 5G supports sub‑6GHz 5G networks and aims to deliver a dramatically improved user experience, with faster video streaming and gaming. It is built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Mobile Platform paired with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem and an AI Performance Engine. The handset combines refined industrial design with an advanced in-display fingerprint sensor, enhanced audio, and Axon Vision graphics optimization to produce higher-quality photos and video.
In developing the device, ZTE engineers tackled common 5G challenges such as electromagnetic compatibility, antenna layout, power efficiency and thermal management. According to company materials, the engineering team modeled total power consumption and surface temperature and improved heat dissipation by integrating liquid cooling and composite phase‑change thermal materials.
ZTE’s design also reduces size and thickness compared with many 4G smartphones by arranging numerous smaller components in a precisely integrated “sandwich” layout, helping to make the 5G hardware compact and practical for everyday use.
At the same event, Huawei unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the Huawei Mate X, which the company also says is 5G‑ready. Images of the Mate X appeared ahead of the formal announcement, showing the device in different unfolded states.
The GSMA, which organizes the Mobile World Congress series, reported earlier in the month that 5G is on track to represent about 15% of global mobile connections by 2025, driven in part by continued device launches and broader compatibility in 2019. GSMA forecasts that 5G will contribute approximately $2.2 trillion to the global economy over the next 15 years.
Picture credit: ZTE
Interested in hearing industry leaders discuss topics like these? Co‑located events such as the IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo feature panels and presentations that cover 5G trends, device innovation and related technologies at upcoming shows in Silicon Valley, London, and Amsterdam.