Mate 20 X, Huawei’s first 5G smartphone set to launch on July 26

China’s telecom giant Huawei is planning to release its first 5G smartphone on July 26 to march ahead in the global race for setting up the super-fast telecommunications system, amid simmering tensions with the US over technology and trade.

Huawei is expected to release its first 5G smartphone, the Huawei Mate 20 X, at its headquarters in Shenzhen, state-run Global Times quoted unnamed Huawei officials as saying. China had last month given a green signal to major state-owned companies to start rolling out 5G services.

Huawei’s move to launch its 5G phone could signal that it is leading 5G commercialisation despite a US ban in the wake of escalated trade tensions between America and China and offers a boost to overall 5G industrialisation, analysts said.