Intel is a crucial part of the 5G connectivity future. And it is using India as a pivot to showcase its might in the telecom arena.
They will not be making phones to start selling SIMs with connection like Reliance Jio or Airtel did. Instead, they will be the backbone of the 5G prowess of device makers.
Staying true to its tradition, Intel displayed a concept 2-in-1 portable PC that will be powered by 5G whenever the connectivity is available – via different forms of router, tower etc. The chip maker, recently caught up with bug issues, wants to start off the 5G era with a clean slate and what’s on display at the India Mobile Congress is a true picture of that.
Intel has somehow downsized the 5G modem from a large unit to a small sensor on a chip (as seen in the picture below). This can be embedded into a lightweight device like the Microsoft Surface Pro series.
Using technological prowess to shrink a big box into a chip-sized sensor, has expanded the possibilities that device-makers can take advantage of.
Intel has demoed a device with antennas to show what a full-fledged 5G-enabled network can offer. They’ve set up a test network that has a video running constantly to make their point.
Brands like Dell, HP and Lenovo, among others, are likely to be the first device makers who will release products supporting 5G, aided by the likes of Intel and Qualcomm.
The reference design of the laptop doesn’t really meet the specs criteria for a 5G-enabled device. But folks at Intel promise that 4K content will definitely get the lift it has been found wanting for many years now.
Will 5G Affect the Battery Life?
But what about the battery life on these laptops? After all, high-range networks with faster modems do take a toll on the life of the device. Intel said that battery life will not be the prime concern for 5G-enabled devices, at least not in the early stages.
They’ll instead focus on making sure that the modems consistently project a 5G-level speed for the user. These devices are not expected to become a mass-market product till 2023.
Mobiles, smart homes, and now, laptops. The 5G wagon is slowly gathering steam to reach the consumer, if only in the future.
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