ZTE to release a 5G-ready smartphone by early 2019 in the US

ZTE is dead serious about its mobile business in the United States. After pledging to expand its foldable smartphone portfolio in the country, ZTE has just announced another premiere for the company.

ZTE's chief executive officer, Lixin Cheng recently confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that his company plans to launch a smartphone with 5G capabilities in the United States at the end of 2018 or in early 2019.

Obviously, ZTE might change these plans depending on how the 5G network coverage and equipment evolve in the coming months. ZTE's Cheng said that aside from the 5G-ready smartphone, his company may also add a 5G tablet or wireless-internet hub for homes to its portfolio.

It remains to be seen whether or not ZTE will be the first company to launch a 5G-ready smartphone in the US, or rivals like Samsung and Apple will take the lead even though they haven't yet announced any plans for 5G smartphones in 2018.