Verizon, Sprint, and providers around the world will support 5G Always Connected PCs
Always Connected PCs will be able to keep pace with their smartphone sibling thanks to 5G support from carriers.
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What you need to know
2020 is shaping up to be the year of 5G, and 5G PCs will be part of that push. Qualcomm announced today that Verizon, Sprint, and several major carriers around the world will support 5G PCs. Several 5G PCs have been announced, likethe Lenovo Yoga 5GandHP Dragonfly 5Gthat support both millimeter wave and sub-6GHz 5G networks.
Qualcomm shared the list of carriers that will support 5G PCs:
North America
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Asia, Australia & New Zealand
Notably, AT&T is not mentioned in the announcement, but it’s still early days for 5G, and the technology shouldn’t prevent new 5G devices from working on their network. South America is also not listed by Qualcomm, though that doesn’t mean no carriers on the continent will support 5G PCs.
It’s a bit unclear what support from a carrier means in regard to 5G PCs.Always Connected PCscan connect to 4G networks just by placing a SIM inside. Generally, placing a SIM inside an Always Connected PC just works. There are some exceptions to this, and sometimes 4G Always Connected PCs work better on networks they’ve been optimized for. We’ll have to wait and see if this works in a similar way for 5G PCs.
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Qualcomm announced the5G X55 chipsetfor Always Connected PCs one year ago. That chip can work in ARM-based laptops or Intel ones.
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
