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Emma Walsh here, handling editor of the Diary. Regular Diary readers understand that tech isn't our typical beat. And when it pertains to tech investing, we leave it to the experts. Fortunately, we have several such professionals in our Rolodex. Our colleague Jeff Brown will be familiar to our longtime readers.
In reality, he had several triple-digit returns in his Brownstone Research study portfolios last year. Here's what Jeff believes the tech sector will bring us in 2021 Each year, I like to take a look at the huge picture and forecast what's just around the corner. Longtime readers of my work understand that I follow the most interesting tech trends on the edge of mass adoption.
These trends are experiencing rapid growth and producing extraordinary opportunities for financiers. I wish to ensure all our readers are gotten ready for what's next. And with that in mind, let me draw the photo of what I see can be found in the next 12 months 1. 5G Gadgets Our brand-new 5G (fifth-generation) cordless networks are a subject I have actually been covering for years now.
Despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted supply chains last year, an impressive 250 million 5G-enabled devices were still sold. Especially in the second quarter, there were supply chain disturbances, producing hold-ups, and work interruptions. And all of this ultimately resulted in Apple postponing the release of the 5G-enabled i, Phone 12 by 2 months.
When you consider all of that, selling 250 million units is amazing. More importantly, the hold-ups triggered by the pandemic produced a lots of pent-up demand. Which demand is now going to be pressed into 2021. In reality, I anticipate that more than 500 million 5G devices will be shipped in 2021.
Stage 3 of 5G When I've talked about 5G in the past, I've explained its three different stages. In Phase One, the facilities of these brand-new networks is built out, consisting of all the brand-new towers and fiber-optic electrical wiring that 5G will require. In Phase Two, 5G devices go on sale.
And in Stage Three, 5G services begin to be used. That's when we begin to see applications running on 5G networks. Think about things like enormous multiplayer video games over a smart phone. That's not possible with 4G. It will be with 5G. And my 2nd 5G forecast for 2021 is that we will start Stage Three by this summer.
But they will care if there are amazing applications that can just be accessed with a 5G phone. So more and more consumers will go out to purchase a 5G phone to gain access to these applications. That results in more 5G apps being developed. In fact, 5G is going to open up a suite of extraordinary applications: self-driving vehicles, the Web of Things, robotic surgical treatment, and more.
The investment opportunities moving forward will be massive. 3. CRISPR Genetic Modifying Stepping far from 5G, the next crucial innovation I visualize in 2021 is CRISPR hereditary modifying. CRISPR represents "clustered frequently interspaced brief palindromic repeat." It's a mouthful. But it is among the most exciting developments in biotechnology.