The 5G version of ZTE’s Axon 10 Pro mobile phone started selling on Monday, according to media reports. Suning and JD, two China’s retail giants, claimed to have sold the “first 5G mobile phone in China”.

(File Photo: VCG)

According to JD, the first ZTE phone was sent from JD’s warehouse at 12 am on Monday. It is also the first commercial 5G phone sold in China. The buyer, who lives in Chaoyang District, Beijing, successfully signed for the express 10 minutes later.

The first 5G buyer claimed by Suning purchased the phone at the Ciyunsi Suning Plaza in Beijing. The buyer also bought the China Telecom 5G experience package and tried it on the spot.

The launch of 5G mobile phones in China is symbolic, marking the arrival of the first wave of 5G mobile phone shipments. In addition to ZTE, Huawei, Vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi and other mobile phone companies have all committed to launching 5G phones in the third quarter.

The industry predicts that the market penetration rate of 5G mobile phones will reach 10 to 15 percent next year with total sales of 100 million. China is expected to sell 10 million units this year.

(Compiled by Tong Beichen)