On Tuesday, OnePlus unveiled its latest flagship lineup, the OnePlus 13 Series, in India. Comprising the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R, the series boasts state-of-the-art features, including advanced AI capabilities, a revolutionary Silicon NanoStack battery, and the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. However, what truly sets these devices apart in India is their exclusive collaboration with Jio, making them the first smartphones in the country to support 5.5G technology.
During the online launch event, James Paterson, Senior Global PR Manager at OnePlus, detailed the groundbreaking 5.5G technology. He explained how the devices can connect to three separate network cells, potentially from different towers, simultaneously. This enables significantly faster download speeds, seamless connectivity, and improved performance—a major leap forward in mobile network capabilities. Paterson humorously remarked that users will now be able to check live cricket scores faster than ever before.
Why It Matters
OnePlus demonstrated the real-world impact of 5.5G during the launch, comparing downlink speeds on Jio’s networks. The results were striking—while a standard Non-3CC Jio 5G connection delivered a downlink speed of 277.78 Mbps, the 5G-Advanced (5.5G) 3CC setup achieved a blistering 1,014.86 Mbps. According to Jio, its True 5G users in India are already experiencing speeds up to 1 Gbps, thanks to its 5G Standalone (SA) architecture.
What is 5.5G?
Also known as 5G-Advanced, 5.5G represents the next evolutionary step in wireless technology, offering vastly superior performance over traditional 5G. It promises:
- Higher speeds
- Lower latency
- Better network reliability
- Enhanced connectivity
- Built-in network intelligence
Commercial deployment of 5G-Advanced began with Release 18, considered the first phase of this new standard. Future iterations are expected to follow, with Release 21 projected for 2028, according to Ericsson. Meanwhile, Huawei highlights that 5.5G’s advanced multi-carrier aggregation can reach downlink speeds of 10 Gbps and uplink speeds of 1 Gbps, alongside a tenfold boost in overall network efficiency.