RedCap, the 5G for wearables and IoT, will get its first devices soon

T-Mobile and AT&T are planning to release their first devices that run on RedCap, a 5G specification designed for Internet of Things devices. RedCap, also known as "reduced capability" or NR-Light, is a low-bandwidth version of 5G that aims to make devices like wearables, sensors, or surveillance cameras simpler and more power efficient. This could result in cheaper cellular-connected smartwatches, XR glasses, or other portable products that last longer on a charge. AT&T plans to release its first NR-Light devices in 2025, while T-Mobile will launch one before the end of this year. It's unclear what these devices will be, but AT&T's AVP of device architecture, Jason Silkes, has suggested that early RedCap devices might be cheap mobile hotspots and dongles. TCL recently announced a 5G USB dongle called the TCL Linkport IK511, which could be one of the first RedCap products. Early products may use a modem chipset called the Snapdragon X35, which was launched by Qualcomm last year. Several companies, including T-Mobile and AT&T, plan to use the modem in future products. More information may be revealed during CES early next year.