Early Look at 5G RFFE Design

In 5G smartphone designs,
RF Front-End graduates from traditional supporting role to co-star with modem
August 28, 2019
Wayne Lam
Director and Principal Analyst
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TMT - Wireless Semiconductors | White Paper

In 5G smartphone designs, RF Front-End graduates from traditional
supporting role to co-star with modem
Wayne Lam, Principal Analyst
• Majority of early 5G smartphone designs were found to be using Qualcomm modem and RFFE components
• Qualcomm presently offers the industry’s only commercial millimeter wave 5G modem-to-antenna design for
smartphones
• 5G RFFE component costs make up a significant portion of overall RFFE with mmWave driving the most
pronounced increase
• Adopting a proven commercial modem and RFFE solution allows OEMs to more efficiently focus their
development efforts on the overall phone designs
• With their early-mover advantage, Qualcomm is poised to capture a larger portion of semiconductor spend
within 5G smartphones.
In our continuing series looking at early 5G smartphone hardware designs, we now turn our attention to the 5G RF
Front End (RFFE) section of the core electronics. Of the six OEMs with 5G smartphones IHS Markit has sampled thus
far, five of them feature a common design theme at the RFFE section; a complete 5G RFFE solution provided by
Qualcomm. This vote of confidence in Qualcomm speaks not only to their critical role as a major supplier of modems
but also to their growing expertise in bringing an industry-first modem-to-antenna solution to market, beating out
incumbent RFFE component providers1 and disrupting the RFFE market in 5G.
Unlike the previous transition to 4G where smartphones lagged network deployments, 5G smartphones has been
available on day-one of 5G network launches. Also, smartphones are featured as the marquee device to showcase 5G
capabilities. IHS Markit has sampled seven unique 5G smartphone designs from six OEMs thus far. The number and
diversity of OEM brands in this population of early 5G devices are unprecedented especially given the RF challenges
of designing for a new 5G network. Historically, only the more technically capable OEM were the first to launch a new
wireless generation of phones but here, we also have non-tradition or smaller OEMs such as Xiaomi, Oppo and
OnePlus; brands unknown to the industry a decade ago during the 4G transition.
Accommodating New Spectrum in 5G
Early 5G networks are of the “Non-Stand Alone” type2 which dictates that an anchor LTE signal is required for 5G
wireless connectivity. What this requirement means to the RFFE design is that there will be two distinct RF paths for
both LTE and 5G. This requirement will stress the current smartphone RFFE designs which are already complex due
to LTE-A3 features such as carrier aggregation and multi-band support. In this white paper, we will explore the results
of the teardowns into these five Qualcomm-design 5G smartphones, compare the similarities, relative Bill of Materials
(BOM) cost and point to unique design elements.
The implementation of 5G spectrum within the new networks are significant in the evolving RFFE design. By opening
larger swaths of spectrum, 5G will offer higher capacity and speeds. However, to support those wider bandwidths, the
RFFE must be re-designed accordingly to support the frequencies used. 5G frequencies below 6GHz are less
challenging due to its similarly to existing LTE RFFE signals. This 5G frequency range (FR1) is colloquially referred to
as “Sub-6GHz”. The FR1 signal propagation characteristics behaves in the same way as existing high-band LTE but at
a much wider carrier bandwidth (100-200MHz compared to 5-20MHz in LTE).
The other, but more challenging, spectral range (FR2) is commonly known as millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G. FR2
spectrum had not been previously in use in mobile phone applications due to its limited signal propagation and high
attenuation. However, the largest swaths of open spectrum reside in the frequency ranges starting at 24GHz to about
1
Primarily Broadcom/Avago, Skyworks, Qorvo and Murata
2
3GPP Release 15
3 LTE Advanced / LTE Advanced Pro
IHS Markit | Title of Report
90GHz. To overcome the traditional limitations of mmWave, special techniques in radio technology is applied to
extend the usable coverage of FR2. RF techniques such as focused beam-forming and beam tracking are deployed at
the edge of the 5G network to open hundreds of megahertz of bandwidth to make them available to mobile users.
Granted, the real-world coverage of mmWave 5G maxes out at around 1000 feet from a mmWave small-cell but the
sheer capacity (upwards of 800MHz) and speed made available in these virgin spectrums can truly supercharge the
5G experience.
Teardown Results
LG was one of the many OEMs who

announced 5G smartphones this past February
in MWC Barcelona. The V50 ThinQ 5G is a
sub-6GHz 5G smartphone initially designed for
US carrier Sprint4 and later repurposed for
other global carriers deploying sub-6GHz
(typically at band N77/78 @ 3.5GHz).
LG employs the first-generation Qualcomm X50

5G design which includes a discrete 5G
transceiver (SDR8154) and a pair of RFFE
modules, the QPM5650 transmit module and
the QDM5650 diversity receive module to
support the single band N77/78 sub-6GHz 5G
network. As we will see in subsequent
teardown results, this first-generation design
has been adopted by three other OEMs in the
same RF configuration5.
4
5G band N41 at 2.5GHz with over 100MHz in bandwidth
5 Sprint version of LG V50 ThinQ 5G supports 5G band N41
Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 3 29 January 2019


One design challenge of first-generation 5G smartphones other than the RFFE is finding enough PCB surface to mount
the extra 5G components. Here, the Qualcomm X50 modem is seated on the top side of the PCB adjacent to the
Snapdragon 855 SoC while the remaining RFFE components are mounted at the bottom side of the PCB. LG opted to
mount all the 5G components onto one main PCB as opposed to making a modular (i.e. stacked PCBs) design that can
be swapped out to create LTE-only or alternate 5G versions of the same phone. Therefore, the LG V50 ThinQ is
essentially a purpose-built 5G smartphone designed around the Qualcomm architecture.

es
Component Family Component MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description
Type
Integrated Circuit Logic QUALCOMM SDX50M Baseband Processor, Snapdragon X50, 5G NR, 2x2 MIMO mmWave, 4x4 MIM
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8154 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz)
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8150 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, GSM/EDGE/HSPA+/CDMA 1X EVDO
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM2622 Transmit Module, PA Module, Multi-Mode, Low Band, Contains Qualcomm 2 R
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM4630 Transmit Module, PA Module, Multi-Mode, High Band, Contains Qualcomm RF
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM5650 Transmit Module, PA Module, Multi-Mode, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualc
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM5650 FEM, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ BAW Filt
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM QET5100 Power Management IC, Envelope Tracking
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM4670 FEM, Mid & High Band, Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ SAW Filters
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM4620 FEM, Low Band, Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ SAW Filters
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM QLN4650 LNA
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM QAT3550 Antenna Tuner
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS B39162B9839P810 RX RF Extractor SAW Filter, GPS/GLONASS, 1575.42/1601.72MHz, & NON-G
Chart 1 – Selection of major RFFE parts from Bill of Materials (BOM) of the LG V50 5G
The Oppo Reno 5G is a 5G version of their flagship Reno

device (LTE-only). In order to accommodate new camera
features, the Reno has been developed on a larger
chassis which in turn enabled the use of a larger full-
screen display and subsequently a larger internal battery.
This growth in physical design creates additional
headroom to place 5G components into the phone. This
strategy allows Oppo to market and sell two different
versions of their flagship smartphone with essentially the
same design. Common platform designs, of course, helps
with manufacturing scale and component sourcing. This is
a popular strategy amongst competitive OEMs seeking to
reduce supply chain complexities.

Within the Oppo Reno 5G, a modular RF board is

used to swap in [and out] RF components based on
different global regions and markets. This approach
allows Oppo to not have to over-invest in RF
components not necessary in specific markets.
Here again, the Qualcomm X50 modem, SDR8154
transceiver and the pair of RFFE modules
(QDM5650 & QPM5650) are used to complete the
5G modem-to-antenna design. Since this Oppo
Reno 5G was acquired in Europe, the RFFE
supports the single common frequency (N78) used
by most early European 5G network deployments.


Type
Integrated Circuit Logic QUALCOMM SDX50M Baseband Processor, Snapdragon X50, 5G NR, 2x2 MIMO mmWave, 4x4 MIM
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8150 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, GSM/EDGE/HSPA+/CDMA 1X EVDO
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM5650 Transmit Module, PA Module, Multi-Mode, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualc
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM5650 FEM, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ BAW Filt
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM Analog IC
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGSB39122B8884P810
RX RF SAW Filter, GPS
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS RF SAW Filter
Chart 2 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of Oppo Reno 5G
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G is another Qualcomm sub6-GHz

RFFE design. Just like the Oppo Reno discussed earlier, the
Mi Mix 3 5G is designed to be highly configurable so to serve
different global markets. Xiaomi leveraged the existing Mi
Mix 3 design platform which to create a 5G version. Xiaomi
adopted this design approach because it is helpful to not only
get a 5G market sooner but also in overall device SKU
management.
In keeping with the OEM’s company ethos, the Xiaomi Mi Mix

3 5G is the price-leader of the bunch with a starting price of
€600 or about $680 suggested retail.

Xiaomi employs a completely modular

modem-to-antenna 5G design (whereas
Oppo uses a modular RFFE design) which is
ideal to add 5G functionality quickly into a
market proven design. The 5G PCB
assembly above contains the complete set of
X50 modem, SDR8154 transceiver,
QPM5650 Front End and QDM5650 diversity
module. There are also un-populated chip
landing pads in the Mi Mix 3 5G board. This
is likely a design consideration for markets
that have 2 different Sub-6GHz 5G
frequencies (which is the case for their
domestic Chinese market). The model
sampled here was designed for the European
market which is using the predominant band
N77/78.


Type
Integrated Circuit Logic QUALCOMM SDX50M Baseband Processor, Snapdragon X50, 5G NR, 2x2 MIMO mmWave, 4x4 MIMO Sub-6
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8150 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, GSM/EDGE/HSPA+/CDMA 1X EVDO/TD-SCD
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM5650 Transmit Module, PA Module, Multi-Mode, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM5650 FEM, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ BAW Filters
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS Duplexer
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS B39771B8538P810 Duplexer, LTE Band 28, 718/773MHz
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS B39122B8884P810 RX RF SAW Filter, GPS, 1176.45MHz
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS B39162B1234P810 RF SAW Filter
Chart 3 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G
The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is the fourth sub-6GHz 5G

design sampled by IHS Markit. Just as with the
LG V50 5G design, all Qualcomm 5G
components are mounted onto a common main
PCB. However, unlike the LG V50, the OnePlus
7Pro is not a purpose-built 5G smartphone
platform. OnePlus leveraged their OnePlus 7 Pro
platform to add in 5G capability – employing the
same strategy as both Oppo and Xiaomi. By
reusing existing designs, OnePlus was able to
leave much of the LTE-only designs alone
(reducing cost). However, in order to
accommodate 5G components, OnePlus opted to
spin a new PCB design instead of going the
modular route used by Oppo and Xiaomi
described earlier

The OnePlus features an oddly shaped main

PCB. The reason for this is to create the space
necessary accommodate the articulating front
facing camera. The selfie camera pops up
when needed and retracts back into the phone
when it is not to reserve the uninterrupted full
display design. For OnePlus, the only
compromise it took in this 5G design is to
create a completely different main PCB design
between the LTE-only version and the 5G
version. While this strategy increases
manufacturing complexity, it is done so to keep
the phone thickness as low as possible given
the room required for the pop-up selfie camera.
The OnePlus 7 Pro is an exclusive 5G
smartphone offered on the EE network in the
UK and operates on 5G band N78.

Component Family Componen MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

t Type
Integrated Circuit Logic QUALCOMM SDX50M Baseband Processor, Snapdragon X50, 5G NR, 2x2 MIMO mmWave, 4x4 MIMO Sub-6GHz, TDD / N
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8150 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, GSM/EDGE/HSPA+/CDMA 1X EVDO/TD-SCDMA/LTE, GPS
Module RF QUALCOMM QPM5650 Transmit Module, PAM, Multi-Mode, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & PA & LNA
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM5650 FEM, 5G NR(Sub-6 GHz), Contains Qualcomm RF Switch & LNA, w/ BAW Filters
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM QLN Series LNA
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS
B39771B8538P810
Duplexer, LTE Band 28, 718/773MHz
B39122B8884P810
RX RF SAW Filter, GPS, 1176.45MHz
B39162B1234P810
RF SAW Filter
Chart 4 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of OnePlus 7Pro 5G
The last of the early 5G teardowns comes from

Samsung. The Galaxy S10+ 5G is notable for being
one of the few mmWave 5G devices available on the
market. Unlike the Oppo, Xiaomi or OnePlus, the
Samsung is developed on an even-larger version of
the Galaxy S10 series flagship phone. Therefore, this
purpose-built 5G smartphone platform is more akin to
the LG V50 5G than the other Chinese OEMs. The
Samsung Galaxy S10+ 5G comes in two different
versions. One for Sub-6GHz 5G (International
markets) and another for a mmWave 5G network
exclusive to Verizon in the US. The model we will be
discussing is the mmWave version.
For the mmWave version, Samsung has opted to use

a Qualcomm X50 modem solution instead of their own
Exynos platform. Unlike the previous four Sub-6GHz
5G phones reviewed, this Galaxy model features three
mmWave antenna modules (QTM052) located
strategically on the back side of the device. Due to the
high attenuation properties of mmWave, the RF Front
End design had to be completely re-imagined. The
solution provided by Qualcomm here is to use a highly integrated transceiver-to-antenna module design. Since
mmWaves can be blocked by the simple act of holding the devices, multiple antenna modules are deployed so to
always have an exposed mmWave antenna module during normal usage.
The use of mmWave is probably the most difficult technical challenge 5G for the industry to overcome. Unlike other
global markets where mmWave is on the roadmap but not yet deployed, the US carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile and
Verizon decided to go first to market with mmWave 5G. The benefits of mmWave 5G is clear, however, the RF design
presents an extremely difficult engineering problem and ultimately added cost to the overall design.

Samsung’s use of Qualcomm’s mmWave solution speaks volumes about the maturity of the Qualcomm modem-to-
antenna capability. It is unusual for a very large and capable OEM such as Samsung to outsource their RFFE design,
but in the case of mmWave, only Qualcomm has a proven design that works presently. Amongst the incumbent
players in the RFFE market, only Skyworks has mmWave solutions, however, not mature enough to be
commercialized.
The PCB figures below illustrate the complexity of the Samsung Galaxy S10+ 5G design. Note that in the main PCB,
the 2 unpopulated landing pads are there because in a later version of the Galaxy S10+ 5G, the smartphone is
designed with both mmWave and Sub-6GHz RFFE. The larger pad is to support the SDR8154 5G transceiver and
smaller one is for a 5G PAMiD for band N41 (QPM5580).

Samsung engineers created three internal cavities for the three Qualcomm QTM052 mmWave antenna modules to be
mounted right under the back cover for best RF reception.
Millimeter wave antenna modules need to be highly integrated in order to reduce the distance (and signal loss)
between RF components. The module includes a series of four phased-array antenna6 packaged with Power
Management IC (PMIC) and transceiver just below the antenna stack. Within the mmWave communication regime, the
signal budget of the 5G RFFE is crucially important. By choosing to go with the Qualcomm solution as opposed to their
own RF solution is a testament to the early technical leadership of Qualcomm in mmWave 5G technology. Having the
complete modem-to-antenna solution also is critical in ensuring that the 5G radio is optimized for signal reception and
low power consumption.
6 Represents a 2x2 MIMO configuration, future Stand-Alone mmWave networks will employ 4x4 MIMO designs

The need for redundant mmWave antenna modules will obviously increase BOM cost of mmWave 5G phones. Over
time, antenna modules and other 5G RF components will come down in price as scale builds for mmWave 5G antenna
module supply chain. However, it is an unmistakable fact that first-generation 5G RFFE will have a significant cost
premium over that of the existing LTE RFFE solutions. So much so that, in this first-generation example, the cost of
mmWave components far exceeds that of a multiband LTE RFFE.
Component Family Componen MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

t Type
Integrated Circuit Logic QUALCOMM SDX50M Baseband Processor, Snapdragon X50, 5G NR, 2x2 MIMO mmWave, 4x4 MIMO
Module RF QUALCOMM QTM052 mmWave Antenna Module, Contains 2 Qualcomm RF ICs, 5G NR n257/n260/n2
Integrated Circuit Analog QUALCOMM SDR8150 RF Transceiver, Multi-Mode, Multi-Band, GSM/EDGE/HSPA+/CDMA 1X EVDO/
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM3870 FEM, Mid & High Band, Contains Silanna Antenna Switch & Qualcomm Analog IC
Module RF QUALCOMM QDM3870 FEM, Mid & High Band, Contains Silanna Antenna Switch & Qualcomm Analog IC
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS B39162B8666L210 RX RF Extractor SAW Filter, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS Duplexer, LTE Band 14, 793/763MHz
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS RX RF SAW Filter, LTE Band 14, 783.5MHz
Passive Filter RF360 HOLDINGS RX RF SAW Filter
Chart 5 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of Samsung Galaxy S10+ 5G

First-generation 5G RFFE cost premium
Chart 6 – Component cost comparisons of all 5 Qualcomm 5G designs
The chart above summarizes the cost premium of adding 5G RFFE into the five first-generation 5G phones analyzed in
this paper. Note that the cost of 5G basebands are excluded in this selective BOM cost analysis. Only components
from the RF transceiver to the antenna are used for LTE and 5G RFFE cost comparisons.
The teardown data shows that Sub-6GHz 5G RFFE carries a cost premium of around half of the cost of existing LTE
RFFE. While the mmWave solution (illustrated by the Samsung device) represent a staggering twice the cost of
existing LTE RFFE. We must caution that these early results were expected to be high since first-generation design
always carry a cost premium. Just as with early LTE designs a decade ago, subsequent generations of 5G phone
design should lessen the 5G RFFE cost premium. In mature 5G designs, the 5G RFFE is expected to be absorbed
into an integrated 5G/4G/3G RFFE design. This cost premium chart highlights the significance of 5G RFFE and can be
used to argue the point that in terms of component cost, 5G RFFE is just as important as the modem chipset.
It is still early innings of 5G smartphone design and bigger changes are undoubtably on the horizon for the RFFE
components industry. We look forward to the potential technological break-throughs and advanced capabilities yet to
come.
Importance of Modem-to-Antenna Design in 5G
As discuss in the previous white paper, the 5G era opens new challenges for the core electronics supplier.
Specifically, no longer are modem capability the standard measure of capability but the entire modem-to-antenna
design is considered the new standard of 5G component offerings. Qualcomm has clearly captured the first-mover
advantage of this new design paradigm of a complete 5G RFFE offering but the incumbents RFFE suppliers are not
taking this market disruption lying down. Expect the RFFE components market to heat up as incumbent component

makers respond by offer more complete RFFE solutions as 5G smartphones mature. For smartphone manufacturing,
ultimately it boils down to a balancing act of cost verse performance.
The common thread that connects all five 5G smartphones featured in the teardown analysis is the fact that they are all
using the first-generation designs featuring the Qualcomm X50 platform. More significantly, a complete Qualcomm
modem-to-antenna solution is used in each example – irrespective of the fact if it was either Sub-6GHz or mmWave
RFFE. The fact that Qualcomm is gaining a higher share of smartphone components in the initial round of 5G phones
tell us that:
• Pre-baked 5G solutions help OEMs go to market faster.

• Complete modem-to-antenna solution saves development cost and de-risk early 5G designs (just as
it has done in 4G LTE)
• Having a single component supplier from the modem-to-antenna has other benefits such as
optimization for power consumption up and down the RF chain
• Ideal design and supplier choice for OEMs as RFFE increases in complexity
• Few competitive 5G component providers driving early wins for Qualcomm’s complete modem to
antenna solution
What to Expect in 2nd Generation 5G RFFE Designs
Moving into the new design cycle for 2020, second-generation 5G solutions are expected to feature tighter component
integration between 4G LTE and 5G NR. Also, we will begin to see 5G devices that combine both Sub-6GH and
mmWave in the same RFFE. These designs will allow for better chip-level integration, convergence of 4G and 5G
RFFE and reduced overall cost. Second-generation 5G design are defined as multimode 5G/4G/3G/2G capable
modem (single chip modem) capability and converged single RF transceiver handling both LTE and 5G as well as a
converged RFFE design. Multiple 5G designs based on Qualcomm’s X55 second-generation 5G platform are slated to
be released allowing OEMs to make bigger strides in component integration and cost optimization of the modem as
well as the RFFE. Other merchant modem suppliers that have announced multimode 5G/4G/3G/2G designs include
Mediatek and UniSoC, however, to date, these remain mainly modem-only pre-production solutions without a
companion 5G RFFE design. Captive providers such as HiSilicon (Huawei) and Exynos (Samsung) will likely offer
newer generation 5G designs, but again, not a complete modem to antenna solution.
The RF design challenges of mmWave 5G will still be present in the second-generation 5G phones. Millimeter wave
attenuation continues to present the problems for mobile RFFE designs. The top three global OEMs [Samsung,
Huawei and Apple (Intel acquisition)] have some mmWave capabilities but they all trail Qualcomm to market with a
viable solution. As for Qualcomm’s mmWave technology evolution, the component maker is preparing smaller antenna
module designs which should better aid in accommodating smartphone industrial design by allowing for easier
placements of mmWave antenna modules.
As the industry moves through the 5G transition in the coming years, significant changes to the RFFE landscape are
expected. Large OEMs will likely attempt to move away from a single supplier modem-to-antenna solution in order to
preserve multi-source capabilities, but the benefits of a complete solution are hard to ignore, especially for competitive
OEMs with ambitions of growing their market position with 5G technology.
Conclusion
With every new technology transition comes opportunities for market disruption. While the RF Front End market has
several incumbent players that are best in class for specific RFFE niche components (i.e. Avago/Broadcom for BAW
filters, PAMiDs for Qorvo and Filters/Antennas for Murata), no incumbent supplier has assembled a complete solution
from modem-to-transceiver-to-RFFE and antenna until now. Qualcomm’s entrance into the RFFE market is clearly
targeted at this new opportunity. The success of this strategy hinges on many factors, least of which are 5G adoption,

cost of RFFE solutions and competitive forces from incumbent players. However, for the first round of 5G, Qualcomm
appears to be holding a winning hand with their modem-to-antenna offering.
IHS Markit Customer Care:

[email protected]
Americas: +1 800 IHS CARE (+1 800 447 2273)
Europe, Middle East, and Africa: +44 (0) 1344 328 300
Asia and the Pacific Rim: +604 291 3600

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In 5G smartphone designs,

RF Front-End graduates from traditional supporting role to co-star with modem

August 28, 2019

TMT - Wireless Semiconductors | White Paper

Accommodating New Spectrum in 5G

LG was one of the many OEMs who

LG employs the first-generation Qualcomm X50

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 3 29 January 2019

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 4 29 January 2019

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 5 29 January 2019

The Oppo Reno 5G is a 5G version of their flagship Reno

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 6 29 January 2019

Within the Oppo Reno 5G, a modular RF board is

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 7 29 January 2019

Component Family Component MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

Chart 2 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of Oppo Reno 5G

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G is another Qualcomm sub6-GHz

In keeping with the OEM’s company ethos, the Xiaomi Mi Mix

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 8 29 January 2019

Xiaomi employs a completely modular

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 9 29 January 2019

Component Family Component MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

Chart 3 – Selection of major RFFE parts from BOM of Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G

The OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is the fourth sub-6GHz 5G

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 10 29 January 2019

The OnePlus features an oddly shaped main

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 11 29 January 2019

Component Family Componen MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

The last of the early 5G teardowns comes from

For the mmWave version, Samsung has opted to use

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 12 29 January 2019

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 13 29 January 2019

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 14 29 January 2019

Component Family Componen MfgName MfgPartNbr Concatenate Description

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 15 29 January 2019

First-generation 5G RFFE cost premium

Chart 6 – Component cost comparisons of all 5 Qualcomm 5G designs

Importance of Modem-to-Antenna Design in 5G

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 16 29 January 2019

• Pre-baked 5G solutions help OEMs go to market faster.

What to Expect in 2nd Generation 5G RFFE Designs

Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 17 29 January 2019

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Confidential. © 2019 IHS Markit. All rights reserved. 18 29 January 2019

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