5G Expands to More-Affordable Phones as Chip Prices Fall

5G Expands to More-Affordable Phones as Chip Prices Fall

Phone companies are more willing to upgrade the capability of phones in the $200 range, market researchers say

5G is increasingly available in cheaper phones, making faster mobile service affordable to more lower-income consumers around the world, market researchers say.

The key to this broader access to 5G service is the falling price of the specialized semiconductors needed for 5G phones, a trend that analysts expect to continue over the next two years. The lower price makes it economically feasible to put the chips in a wider range of phones.

Already, 5G technology has moved beyond the premium smartphone market, in which devices sell for $550 or more, to the midtier market where devices sell for $250 to $550, and even cheaper 5G phones are available in…