Intel might not be building 5G modems on its own anymore, but its partnership with MediaTek is starting to bear fruit. The two companies have unveiled MediaTek’s T700 5G modem that’s designed to be used with next-generation Intel-powered laptops. For its part, Intel said it has been working on “system integration, validation and developing platform optimizations” for the 5G chip, as well as providing assistance for OEM partners.

MediaTek’s T700 modem supports Sub-6 5G tech, and the company said it has tested 5G standalone calls that don’t depend on a 4G LTE network. At the same time, however, the chipset also supports non-standalone Sub-6 5G networks that rely on a 4G network backup. MediaTek also promised that it’s “highly power efficient” so that it won’t drain your laptop if you’re surfing 5G or making calls.

MediaTek is trying to make 5G more accessible on less-than-flagship phones with the launch of the Dimensity 820 processor. It has the latest carrier aggregation tech that offers improved coverage and seamless handovers between 5G coverage areas, faster download speeds, dual-SIM tech and voice over new radio (VoNR), the 5G equivalent to VoLTE tech. In other words, it has some of the most advanced sub-6Ghz 5G tech around for Asia, North America and Europe, built into a mid-to-high-end processor.

It’s just a step down from MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000 chip performance-wise, with four Arm Cortex-A76 (rather than A77) cores running at up to 2.6 Ghz, along with four 2.0 Ghz Cortex-A55 cores and a five-core Arm Mali-G57 GPU. It also has MediaTek’s APU 3.0 AI processing unit for facial recognition and other functions, along with 4K HDR video recording and HDR10+ media playback. It supports up to 80-megapixel cameras and 120Hz displays, along with improved gaming performance via MediaTek’s HyperEngine 2.0.

As shown below, the hinge allows you to slide the screen off of the keyboard, then flip it up so you can use it like a mini-laptop. A full (albeit tiny) physical QWERTY keyboard is then revealed so you can tap messages or do productivity chores. Once finished, you can slide the screen back and answer calls or drop it in your pocket. That differs from the Cosmo Communicator, a hinge-only clamshell phone with a small rear screen that lets you answer calls with the case closed.

Whether a phone or PDA, the Astro Slide looks pretty powerful. It packs Android 10 and will have dual-boot Linux capability down the road, for one thing. Inside, there’s a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 chipset with built-in 5G “offering twice the performance of other 5G chipsets with significantly reduced power consumption,” the company said. It also offers a 48-megapixel rear camera, a front selfie camera, 6GB of RAM, an eSIM slot (on top of two nano SIM slots) and expandable MicroSD memory.

The Astro Slide hearkens back to the glory days of BlackBerry PDA productivity, while delivering all the benefits of a regular smartphone (albeit in a much thicker package). The only red flag is that it’s being crowdfunded on Indiegogo, where highly-touted products often go to die. However, Planet Computers has a good track record, as it successfully crowdfunded and delivered the Cosmo Communicator. The Astro Slide launched today for an early-bird starting price of $491, with shipping estimated for March of 2021.

Google noted the patch (CVE-2020-0069) in its March Android security bulletin. While this is the first public disclosure, details about the exploit have been online for months. The vulnerability is still exploitable on dozens of device models, and hackers are actively using it. Worse, in all likelihood, many devices will never get the patch at all.

Hackers that use the exploit can cause damage in a number of ways. For instance, they could install any app and then grant it whatever permission it needs to hack the device. In the wrong hands, root access can empower ransomware and hypothetically make an entire device inoperable.

MediaTek has had patches available to fix this vulnerability since May 2019, but the company can’t force OEMs to fix their devices. Google, however, can force many OEMs to do so, through license agreements and program terms, XDA explains. Still according to XDA, Google knew about the vulnerability months before it took action. That’s especially disconcerting considering how widespread and dangerous the flaw is.

Engadget has reached out to Google for comment.

Thankfully, there might be speed to spare. MediaTek claims the “world’s fastest” data throughput, with support for 4.7Gbps downstream and 2.5Gbps upstream on sub-6GHz 5G networks. There’s WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1+ support, too. And yes, there should be some solid computing power to back up the wireless performance. The Dimensity 1000 touts four ARM Cortex-A77 high-performance cores, four low-power Cortex-A55 cores and a new AI unit that’s twice as fast as the prior generation. A five-core image signal processor can handle up to 80-megapixel cameras, although you’re more realistically going to see lower-resolution multi-camera devices.

The first phones using Dimensity 1000 chips should arrive in the first quarter of 2020. There’s no guarantee dual-SIM 5G phones will be among them, but we wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a race to ship one before competitors show up in droves. Even if you have to wait, though, this is good news for 5G’s early adopters. MediaTek’s design promises to lower the cost and improve the power efficiency of 5G, and it’ll support sub-6GHz wireless both in Asia (the company’s home turf) as well as Europe and North America. In other words, there might be a 5G phone you can both afford and find in a store near you.

The G90 chips will use HyperEngine game tech that promises to cut back on lag. and interruptions. Like some phones, it can invoke LTE to help out if you have a flaky WiFi connection. It can maintain two WiFi connections on different bands, too. Call and data concurrency keeps your internet access alive if there’s a phone call. MediaTek also vows low touch lag, higher prioritization for processing resources and an image quality engine that supports HDR10 visuals.

Photographers will get support for up to 64-megapixel single- and multi-camera arrays, support for night shots and AI facial detection.

There’s no mention of when G90-equipped phones will ship, although that’s going to depend on individual manufacturers. Really, the focus here is on showing that MediaTek can produce powerful chips you might be happy to use for a round of mobile Fortnite or PUBG. They’re not likely to be fast as the best from Apple or Qualcomm (both of which use highly customized architectures), but they don’t have to be. They just need to show up in lower-cost phones that can offer comparable speed.

MediaTek hardware is a mainstay of lower-end devices, like Nokia’s 5.1 Plus / X5 and Oppo’s R15, where price is a big factor. This 7-nanometer chip should hopefully offer a decent mix of power efficiency and speed, although don’t expect anyone at Qualcomm to feel too worried. The silicon will be available for companies to use at some point before the Fall, with the first releases due at the start of 2020.

Given the relative dearth of companies making 5G hardware, MediaTek’s persistence is welcome to avoid the space becoming too small. After all, Qualcomm is almost the only game in town, given that the only other company making 5G modems is Samsung. Intel has recently decided to get out of the space, and Huawei is living in its own world of hurt right about now. MediaTek might wind up becoming the go-to option for many companies who can’t, or won’t opt, for Qualcomm’s technology.