14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors have been swirling around the web suggesting the Razer Phone 3 got canceled after the company laid off part of the mobile phone division, but according to people with knowledge of the matter, this isn’t entirely accurate.
And while he avoided discussing the new-generation Razer Phone, company CEO Min-Liang Tan explained in an interview with Engadget that launching a gaming phone right now isn’t the best thing to do for a company like his own.
Tan believes that the current push for 5G networks makes buying a new phone a process that potential buyers should seriously consider before committing to the purchase.
And it’s all because a high-end gaming phone must feature 5G support, but on the other hand, spending a small fortune on such a device doesn’t guarantee 5G capabilities, as the number of carriers with such infrastructure is still very small.
“If I buy a phone this year as a gamer, I want to buy a 5G phone, but if I buy a 5G phone, there’s no network to use it on,” he explained.
Razer Phone 3 likely still on the way
In other words, yes, the Razer Phone 3 is still on its way, but no, there’s no ETA right now. And it’s all because the current implementation of 5G networks limits the options of companies investing in this side of the market, so Razer just wants to wait until the infrastructure is mature enough for such a device.
This means there is a chance that the Razer Phone 3, if it eventually launches, comes with 5G support, but this is projected to happen only after 5G networks are available across the entire world.
This kind of provides us with an estimate regarding the release date too. The rollout of 5G networks is already under way and should accelerate in the second half of the year, so it’s safe to say that we should expect the Razer Phone 3 to see daylight either in late 2019 or in 2020.