By Jun Ji-hye



Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics plan to release mobile phones supporting fifth-generation (5G) networks in the United States next month, seeking to spearhead leadership of the North American 5G market ahead of Apple and other rivals, industry sources said Wednesday.



Samsung Electronics released the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G on April 5 in Korea, while LG Electronics will launch its V50 ThinQ 5G network-enabled smartphone here on April 19.



According to sources, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will make its U.S. debut with Verizon on May 16.



Earlier this month, Verizon launched its mobile 5G networks using Motorola's 5G-upgradable phone Moto Z3, with critics saying the U.S. mobile carrier offered a very partial, "4.5G service," failing to launch genuine 5G services.





Samsung Galaxy S10 5G / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics



LG Electronics is also planning to release the V50 ThinQ 5G in the U.S. next month in partnership with Sprint.



"The exact date for the launch has yet to be decided," an official from LG Electronics said.



Sprint earlier said it was going launch commercial 5G services in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Kansas City starting in May, and will expand the services to other cities including New York in the latter half of the year.





LG V50 ThinQ 5G / Courtesy of LG Electronics