5G NR improves communications performance with much better speed and reliability, along with lower latency for the end user. The ENDC (E-UTRAN New Radio – Dual Connectivity) deployment method allows user equipment to connect to both 5G NR and 4G LTE networks as a backbone, giving network operators more capacity and enabling a faster 5G rollout. Smartphone manufacturers need to create devices which can globally support countless possible frequency aggregations. As a consequence, 5G multi-carrier and application layer performance needs to be thoroughly tested and validated in the R&D phase. Facing this challenge when developing its first 5G-capable smartphone, newcomer Nothing Technology turned to Rohde & Schwarz and its mobile device testing expertise.

Rohde & Schwarz provided Nothing Technology with the new R&S CMX500 one-box tester, which combines flexibility and superior performance in a single instrument. In the highly integrated test platform, users can test 5G mobile devices and chipsets in all possible 5G NR network deployments and frequency ranges, including FR1, FR2 and LTE bands.

Nothing Technology could speed up testing times and time to market for its Phone (1) by using the R&S CMsequencer shuffler wizard to effectively sweep through the UE FR1 bands/channels and the supporting band combinations, providing throughput and VoLTE/VoNR measurements for each case. This ensured that the mobile device performs as intended in real-world scenarios for each supported band combination. This enabled the expected device experience for the end user when it was launched in July 2022.

Sam Lee, Head of Mobile Software and Taiwan General Manager at Nothing Technology says: “When innovating new mobile products and developing for emerging markets, validation is essential to the development and design process. The R&S CMX500 one-box tester helped us rapidly bring our Phone (1) to the market, while making sure it meets all global compliance and performance requirements for a flawless user experience.”

Christoph Pointner, Senior Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, says: Whether for newcomers or experienced engineers, our automated approach in the R&S CMX500 one-box tester makes 5G testing easier than ever before. We look forward to continue working with Nothing Technology to ensure the development and validation of new 5G communications products and applications.”

To learn more about the R&S CMX500 one-box signalling tester, visit: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/cmx500