Google hasn’t revealed its plans for 5G, and the company declined to reply to a request to comment. What we do know is that Verizon said it’s planning to roll out its 5G network in early 2019, similar to other carriers.
What does that have to do with Google? For the past few years, Google has tapped Verizon as its exclusive carrier partner for its Pixel phones, including the new Pixel 3. (You can still purchase the phone unlocked and bring it to another carrier, or buy it on Google’s Wi-Fi-first network, Google Fi.)
This could mean that Google’s next flagship, presumably called the Pixel 4, could be a 5G phone. If it sticks with its usual phone launch schedule, the Pixel 4 would debut around October 2019 — well after the first half of the year.