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Emma Walsh here, managing editor of the Journal. Regular Journal readers understand that tech isn't our usual beat. And when it comes to tech investing, we leave it to the specialists. Thankfully, we have several such experts in our Rolodex. Our colleague Jeff Brown will be familiar to our longtime readers.
In fact, he had numerous triple-digit returns in his Brownstone Research portfolios in 2015. Here's what Jeff thinks the tech sector will bring us in 2021 Each year, I like to take a look at the huge picture and predict what's simply around the corner. Longtime readers of my work understand that I follow the most interesting tech trends on the brink of mass adoption.
These patterns are experiencing rapid growth and producing incredible opportunities for financiers. 5G Devices Our new 5G (fifth-generation) wireless networks are a topic I've been covering for years now.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with supply chains last year, an excellent 250 million 5G-enabled gadgets were still sold. Specifically in the 2nd quarter, there were supply chain disruptions, manufacturing delays, and work interruptions. And all of this eventually led to Apple delaying the release of the 5G-enabled i, Phone 12 by 2 months.
When you think about all of that, selling 250 million units is amazing. More significantly, the hold-ups caused by the pandemic produced a lots of bottled-up demand. And that demand is now going to be pushed into 2021. In reality, I predict that more than 500 million 5G devices will be shipped in 2021.
Stage 3 of 5G When I have actually spoken about 5G in the past, I have actually explained its three various phases. In Phase One, the infrastructure of these brand-new networks is built out, including all the brand-new towers and fiber-optic wiring that 5G will need. In Phase Two, 5G gadgets go on sale.
And in Stage 3, 5G services start to be provided. That's when we begin to see applications operating on 5G networks. Think of things like massive multiplayer games over a cellphone. That's not possible with 4G. It will be with 5G. And my second 5G prediction for 2021 is that we will start Stage 3 by this summertime.
More and more customers will go out to buy a 5G phone to access these applications. 5G is going to open up a suite of amazing applications: self-driving cars, the Web of Things, robotic surgery, and more.
The investment chances going forward will be huge. CRISPR Genetic Editing Stepping away from 5G, the next crucial innovation I predict in 2021 is CRISPR genetic editing. It's one of the most interesting advancements in biotechnology.