Verizon will kick off the show with a keynote on 5G. And while not officially part of CES, Samsung will cap things off by introducing its 5G-enabled Galaxy S21 line.

CES 2021 is filled with loads of uncertainties. How does the show replace the excitement of hands-on time with gadgets when everything is remote? Is there anything worth tuning in for? Will the heavy hitters of the tech industry show up? But one thing is for sure: 5G will be front and center at the trade show, which kicks off next week in a virtual format. 

Like last year, 5G will dominate the conversation. Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg is the first keynote speaker at CES, kicking things off Monday evening with a talk about the next-generation cellular technology. Capping off the show on Wednesday will be Samsung, which is expected to unveil its Galaxy S21 family — 5G-enabled, of course — in a separate event that isn’t officially part of CES, but that will capture much of the same audience. In between, expect a lot of 5G.

Also like last year, there won’t be too many 5G phones beyond Samsung’s offerings. CES has never been a mobile-centric show, with launches occurring later in the year. 

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