We love Cellular World Congress, the tech present in Barcelona that provides telephones, tablets and wearables galore. However there was a standout pattern in 2025 which we weren’t anticipating – ideas.
Sometimes, companies like Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung and others launch their newest and best gadgets throughout a variety of product classes. And whereas that occurred as soon as once more, it appeared, strolling around the present halls, that there have been simply as many gadgets you may by no means get your arms on.
At the least one idea machine was anticipated from Lenovo, because the agency loves proof of ideas. Final yr we noticed a clear display laptop computer and this yr we noticed the ThinkBook Flip with its outward folding show in addition to a solar-powered Yoga laptop computer.
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I assumed that may just about be the lot, however nearly each huge tech model exhibiting off wares in Barcelona had some form of bizarre and whacky thought and it made wandering between cubicles way more fascinating.
On the telephone facet of issues, two pictures targeted handsets stood out. Xiaomi’s Module Optical System, which is way extra thrilling than the identify suggests, with a magnetic snap-on lens and sensor, and Realme’s Extremely idea which has a built-in sensor and might deal with conventional interchangeable lenses.
We’re removed from over right here as a visit to Tecno’s sales space revealed it had a Galaxy S25 Edge rival within the Spark Slim. It’s simply 5.75mm thick in comparison with the Edge’s 6.4mm. It seems like a wonderfully believable handset to launch, particularly when it outpaces a Samsung, however no, it’s one other idea.
Tecno wasn’t stopping there, because it additionally confirmed off a tri-fold to rival Huawei’s Mate XT and Samsung’s upcoming tri-fold anticipated to be known as the Galaxy G Fold. Tecno’s model is an idea, however the Phantom Final 2 is even thinner than Huawei’s at 11mm when folded in comparison with Huawei’s 12.8mm.
Talking of Samsung, the agency’s show arm of the corporate had an entire collection of ideas on show. A few of which have been seen again in January at CES 2025 however lots have been contemporary from the lab.
Most fascinating of all was a tool finest described as if Nintendo shrunk the Change console and made it foldable within the center. A gaming telephone with devoted controls, which doesn’t want a case since you simply fold it whenever you’re finished? Sure please, Samsung.
The agency additionally confirmed off a Versatile Briefcase as a form of gnarly foldable pill and a Galaxy Z Flip fashion telephone with not one hinge, however two. Sadly, we didn’t see this in particular person because it had reportedly been scratched and brought off the stand.
You may suppose absolutely that was it for ideas at MWC, however we’re not fairly finished. Although not on show on the present itself, Infinix unveiled two idea telephones at Present Stoppers.
One has photo voltaic panels on the again for charging within the sunshine or a powerful sufficient mild supply, whereas the opposite has a colour-changing eInk display on the rear.
We’ve left the present wowed and amazed by these ideas. It definitely made a change from yet one more mid-range Android telephone with completely nice specs and a boring design.
It’s bittersweet, nonetheless, as little question many of those gadgets won’t ever see the sunshine of day. We wouldn’t be shocked if we see a few of the know-how arrive in future merchandise, although – significantly when ones just like the Xiaomi snap-on digicam are fairly polished and purposeful already.
Right here’s hoping we see it at MWC 2026 on the Xiaomi 16 sequence together with a few of the different funky gadgets we noticed this yr. For now, listed below are our Better of MWC 2025 Awards.