3 Key Android Developments Pushing 5G Adoption in 2024

Starting in 2024, some of Android’s biggest hardware developers are pushing for 5G accessibility through several agreements and product offerings. Nokia, Samsung, Honor and TCL have announced a variety of changes that are set to make 5G smartphones even more popular in the coming year.

More Android Phones on the Way

This year opened with the exciting CES 2024 show in Las Vegas, where a raft of new products and features were highlighted. One of the earliest announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show came from TCL, whose mobile division unveiled the TCL 50 Series comprised of seven new phones and even more 5G-enabled devices coming to US markets.

Ranging from smartphones to their NxtPaper tablets/e-readers, TCL is targeting handheld entertainment on all fronts. While their NxtPaper products are marketed for portable work and reading e-books, all devices boast fast 5G connectivity which enables users to better access a wide array of online entertainment.

More than ever, users are searching, communicating and spending leisure time with their mobiles thanks to streaming and other online activities. Industries like streaming and iGaming enable you to watch your favourite show or play online bingo on your phone, even giving free trials and spins to attract users to their services. All online businesses rely on a robust market of handheld devices, a market that TCL aims to capitalise on with its reputation for affordable consumer electronics. Months before CES 2024, TCL also showcased a comprehensive suite of 5G devices.

Nokia & Honor Strike 5G Patent License Agreement

Elsewhere, Nokia and Honor have started the year by inking a patent agreement that covers a span of mobile technologies including 5G. Throughout 2023, Nokia has made several shrewd patent agreements with some of the world’s leading tech brands. At present, its IP portfolio stands at 20,000 filings with over a quarter of them critical to 5G development and rollout.

After signing deals with Apple and Samsung, now Honor has signed a patent agreement with Nokia that strengthens their IP claims in the Chinese market. Formerly a Huawei satellite company, Honor was purchased by Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology Co. Ltd in 2020. As part of the agreement, Honor will pay royalties to Nokia and ensure IP legitimacy as they expand in both the Chinese and European markets. Previously, other Chinese brands have been banned in EU markets due to IP disputes, many of them involving Nokia as the claimant. By striking a deal with one of the largest mobile patent holders, Honor and Nokia’s other partner companies will avoid those hurdles as 5G adoption continues.

Samsung Galaxy A33 5G Gets Major OS Update

When compared to most of Samsung’s product catalogue, the Galaxy A33 is one of the most affordable ways to get a big brand 5G smartphone in your hands. The 5G variant was introduced in 2022, where it was running Android 12 OS at the time. Later that year, a handful of specified countries including Germany and South Korea received the One UI 5.0 stable update, which brought the Android 13 OS to the mobile platform.

However, modern Android phones are running the Android 14 OS that was released in October of 2023. For Galaxy A33 5G users, especially those in Eastern Europe and Asia, they missed out on the initial Android 14 rollout. To bring the phone in line with other Android products, Samsung have expanded the new OS rollout with the One UI 6.0 update targeting markets between Germany and China. At the same time, the similar Galaxy A23 5G received the update further west in the UK, France and Portugal.

The One UI 6.0 update misses out on the recent January 2024 security update, which other Samsung devices accepted. However, users of Samsung’s affordable 5G mobile platform will likely receive it in the future as the manufacturer has demonstrated interest in continued support for the model.

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