The world's first 5G tablet could be right around the corner
While only a small fraction of smartphone users in markets like the US currently have (spotty) access to the real-life benefits of 5G mobile connectivity, there's no denying this is the future, expected to bring back global sales growth once more operators and device manufacturers embrace the cutting-edge new technology.
For the time being, Samsung seems to be very well-positioned to take and retain the lead for at least the first few years of the mobile industry's big transition to 5G. We're talking about a company that's managed to release the Galaxy S10 5G on all big four US carriers before reportedly hitting it out of the park with 5G-enabled variants of its latest flagship in Korea and on Verizon.
After also making headlines with the non-flagship Galaxy A90 5G, Samsung is gearing up for another first. Namely, the world's first tablet with built-in 5G support. As the name suggests, the Galaxy Tab S6 5G is likely to borrow most of its key specs and features from the Wi-Fi-only and 4G LTE-capable Tab S6 models. Of course, that doesn't necessarily have to be the case, as the Galaxy S10 5G is a little more than a standard S10 or S10+ with 5G connectivity.
Unfortunately, we don't know if the Tab S6 5G is headed for any US networks yet. The assumption is the upgraded Android slate will be released first in Samsung's homeland, which happens to be one the world's most developed 5G markets.
Spotted in the last couple of weeks at the Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG for obligatory pre-launch certification visits, the Galaxy Tab S6 5G, aka SM-T866N, is pretty much guaranteed to see daylight by the end of the year. But we have nothing more to share on timelines, availability, or pricing. Considering the Snapdragon 855 powerhouse is already quite expensive in a Wi-Fi-only variant in the US, starting at a whopping $650, it's probably better not to think how much more a 5G-enabled flavor could cost.
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