5.5G networks are here, and so are the first Android smartphones to support them

While we wait for the widespread adoption of reliable 5G connectivity, China is making great strides in next-generation wireless technology. Today, China Mobile announced the commercial launch of its 5.5G (also known as 5G-Advanced or 5GA) network. And it looks like we may already have the first Android smartphone to take advantage of it.

It was first reported GSM Arena, OPPO’s Chief Product Officer Pete Lau shared a teaser in which the Find X7 Ultra phone’s network status shows “5GA”. A Weibo post confirms this, further claiming that the standard Find X7 will also come with 5.5G functionality. This makes the Find X7 series the world’s first mobile phone to support 5.5G networks.

China Mobile plans to cover more than 300 cities with its 5.5G network by the end of the year. They have already set up demonstration areas across the country, allowing Find X7 owners to experience the speed improvements first-hand.

5.5G is the name given to 5G-Advanced (5GA) networks, which fall within the 5G standard but offer significantly faster speeds. 5G-Advanced significantly increases speeds, delivering downlink speeds of up to 10 Gbps and uplink speeds of 1 Gbps.

Tech-savvy readers may remember similar advances with 4G. 4G networks were first introduced around 2010, and a few years later a more advanced version of his 4G network, called 4G-Advanced or 4G LTE, was released with improved network speeds and latency.

Although 5G has found its place in smartphones, it has yet to fully satisfy the industry’s demands for ultra-fast uploads, near-zero latency, extremely stringent security, reliable performance, and low power consumption. 5.5G aims to change this by improving on what 5G is already great at and serves as an important bridge to the future of 6G.

Will 5.5G come to the US?

Like the Find X7 Ultra itself, it’s unlikely that US consumers will get 5.5G networks anytime soon. However, a few months ago, AT&T President Chris Sambor expressed excitement about the arrival of his 5.5G network ahead of 6G. Commercial 5GA may not arrive in the United States until around 2025, but buzz is already starting to spread.

The good news is that the Find X7 Ultra uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. This is also featured in his other 2024 Android flagships, such as the Galaxy S24 Ultra and OnePlus 12. So, in theory, these phones should be compatible with 5GA networks if: They finally come to America.