“5G is here” was the straightforward claim plastered all over Qualcomm’s booth at this year’s Mobile World Congress. But while that might be true for the chipmaker, the reality is far more complicated. Carriers are still in the process of upgrading their networks ready for the launch of consumer-ready 5G services, and even then the proportion of areas covered will be slim.

Although they won’t be ready for a little while longer, phone manufacturers have wasted no time in announcing 5G devices at this year’s MWC. Huawei, LG, Samsung, Xiaomi, and ZTE introduced their own 5G handsets that are complete with vague release dates, while Sony, Oppo, and OnePlus had earlier prototype devices on display.

Whether or not these devices are a viable…

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