This 12 months’s Cell World Congress (MWC) is sort of upon us, promising 4 days of cellular product bulletins and improvements.
On the threat of dampening expectations on the outset, the very first thing to notice is that we’re unlikely to get any main surprises subsequent week. The large manufacturers all favor to have their very own separate bulletins.
Samsung and Google have each introduced main new smartphone {hardware} prior to now week, whereas Xiaomi introduced its newest flagships in December, so the MWC occasion is a world launch for many of its new gadgets.
Even with smaller manufacturers, the character of the trendy press and social media atmosphere implies that we now have at the very least some concept of what’s going to be on the showroom ground in Barcelona already.
That’s to not say there’s no pleasure to be discovered at this 12 months’s occasion in Barcelona. The next three gadgets have intrigued and titillated me within the weeks main as much as MWC 2026, and every guarantees so as to add one thing distinctive to the cellular occasion.
Tecno Modular Cellphone
Hong Kong-based Tecno hasn’t precisely wowed with its region-specific smartphones so far, however the Tecno Modular Magnetic Cellphone suggests it’s ramping up its ambitions.
This could possibly be essentially the most superior and downright visually interesting modular telephone idea we’ve ever seen (seen above).
It appears to be taking the thin telephone idea pioneered by the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air, and giving it a real goal by implementing a magnetic accent ecosystem.
Tecno
There are ten such equipment that you could persist with the body of Tecno’s glossy telephone, together with numerous digicam configurations, a battery enlargement, lanyards, and even a recreation controller. As a result of the bottom is so skinny, attaching most of those modules will depart you with a reasonably normal-sized telephone.
It’ll be intriguing to see how absolutely fleshed out this idea is – certainly, if there’s an precise product there in any respect. MWC ought to hopefully reveal all.
Motorola Razr Fold
Motorola’s first book-style foldable, the Motorola Razr Fold, can be one of many largest genuinely new smartphone launches at MWC 2026.
It must also be one of the thrilling foldable launches. Personally, I’m extra excited by this than I’m the Honor Magic V6, which can also be set for an MWC outing.
Evleaks
Whereas Honor’s foldable would be the extra premium providing of the 2, it’s Motorola that appears prone to handle the pricing difficulty that has plagued foldables from the off. If stories are to be believed, it may retail for round £1,500 – nonetheless costly, however a whole bunch cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Motorola may poke Samsung’s imperious foldable in one other approach, too. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 famously ditched stylus help altogether, however the Motorola Razr Fold will help the corporate’s new Pen Extremely stylus on each of its screens.
Honor MagicPad 4
As talked about, Honor Magic V6 foldable will seemingly appeal to extra headlines, however for my cash, the corporate’s subsequent MagicPad pill is the extra fascinating MWC announcement to look out for.
It guarantees to supply a startlingly full pill package deal, full with a 12.3-inch 165Hz OLED show and a flagship-grade Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor (the primary pill to take action), all wrapped up in a teeny-tiny 4.8mm-thick body.
That’s thinner than the Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely and iPad Professional M5.
Honor
The important context I’m in search of right here is the value. If Honor sticks anyplace close to the £600 pricing of the Honor MagicPad 3, this could possibly be the pill discount of the 12 months.
Honorable mentions
London-based Nothing can be saying its new telephone at an occasion in London simply after MWC – presumably as a result of it’s cheaper after which extra eyes can be found – in any other case it will have occupied one in all my prime picks.
The Nothing Cellphone (4a) is a fair greater deal than typical for the model, since Nothing beforehand introduced that it wouldn’t be launching a flagship telephone in 2026. It additionally guarantees a daring new tackle the signature Glyph notification lighting system and may make for a pleasant Pixel 10a rival.
Elsewhere, we’ll be trying ahead to seeing the Xiaomi 17 sequence take its international bow.
They at all times show to be elegant Galaxy S rivals, whereas the Xiaomi 17 Extremely specifically is certain to be a number one contender for the Greatest Digital camera Cellphone crown in 2026.