Cellular World Congress is happening in Barcelona this week, providing producers a chance to point out off new gear while not having to carry their very own splashy occasion. Up to now, we've discovered about some new laptops and telephones, in addition to upcoming AI updates to Android and an web connectivity announcement from Meta. There's additionally been some fascinating concepts on the earth of headphones and an entire lot of ideas which may by no means make it to market, however are enjoyable to have a look at any method.
Right here's a have a look at all the things introduced at Cellular World Congress that caught our eye. We'll replace this story all through the week.
Lenovo
Among the many bigger-name producers, Lenovo has arguably had the busiest MWC thus far. The corporate has revealed an entire bunch of laptops, together with upgraded ThinkPads and several other intriguing idea fashions.
The ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 has a design that’s extra aligned with the convertible format of the Yoga lineup than a typical ThinkPad. The 14-inch machine might be outfitted with a 400-nit WUXGA contact show. Different ThinkPads are getting spec upgrades, whereas Lenovo claims the brand new ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 has “one of many lightest ThinkPad designs ever.” The corporate has a contemporary slate of laptops with generative AI capabilities as effectively.
A few of Lenovo’s ideas have actually caught our consideration. It’s a bummer that the corporate doesn’t at present plan to show the Yoga Photo voltaic PC Idea right into a industrial system. Because of the photo voltaic cells on the casing, the laptop computer can take in sufficient power from the solar in 20 minutes to play an hour of movies. As little as 0.3 watts of sunshine is sufficient to juice up the battery. Whereas solar-powered laptops aren't precisely new, the Yoga Photo voltaic PC feels polished. Right here's hoping Lenovo does extra with the notion sooner or later.
As well as, Lenovo confirmed off some conceptual show equipment for a ThinkBook laptop computer. There's an eight-inch display screen that attaches to the aspect magnetically that will help you, as an example, sustain with notifications and widgets. The Magic Bay Twin Show Idea provides a 13.3-inch panel to both aspect of the principle show. There's additionally a slim second show that's designed to sit down above your laptop computer display screen and supply fast entry to issues just like the time, climate, notifications, a spotlight mode timer, an AI assistant and notifications.
On prime of all of that, Lenovo provided a have a look at a brand new prototype laptop computer with a versatile show. Constructing on the tech the corporate used within the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, the ThinkBook codename Flip AI PC Proof of idea (to offer its full identify) has a fold-out display screen. This enables Lenovo to double the panel's dimension from 13 inches to 18.1 inches. The ThinkBook Rollable's show, alternatively, can lengthen to 16.7 inches. Once more, Lenovo doesn't at present plan to launch a industrial model of this fold-out laptop computer, however it's an fascinating concept.
Samsung
The primary MWC information from Samsung this yr is the corporate's newest midrange and finances telephones. The Galaxy A56 has a bigger display screen than its predecessor at 6.7 inches, however it's thinner too at 7.44mm vs. 8.2mm. There's now a small bump the place the quantity and energy buttons are — a tweak that we really feel makes the A56 simpler to deal with.
Samsung has switched up the digicam array within the A56. On the entrance, there's a lower-res 12MP lens. On the opposite aspect, you'll discover an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP fundamental sensor and a 5MP macro lens. The A56 has a bunch of AI-powered digicam and picture enhancing options, comparable to enhanced topic detection in portrait mode and an object eraser.
Pre-orders are open within the UK for the Galaxy A56, which prices $499/£499. It’s going to hit the UK on March 19, however people within the US should wait till "later this yr" for it.
Samsung additionally revealed the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G. Each units have a 120Hz, 6.7-inch show with brightness of as much as 1,200 nits. In addition they share an IP67 ranking and 5,000mAh battery with the A56.
Nevertheless, the bottom fashions of every solely have 6GB of RAM (in contrast with the A56's 12GB). As well as, the A36 has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor as an alternative of the Exynos 1580 that the A56 boasts, whereas the A26 has a Exynos 1380 chipset.
Samsung's idea folding telephones and gaming handhelds
Along with correctly launching the trio of A-series telephones, Samsung additionally introduced a bunch of idea units to Barcelona, additional exhibiting off its versatile show prowess. We've seen reporting of those, like Android Police's protection of a "Flex Gaming" handheld. That prototype consists of a 7.2-inch OLED display screen that bends in half. Flanking the show are what seem like controllers and holes the place they'd match when the hand held is folded up. Elsewhere on the web we additionally noticed Samsung showcase a Galaxy Z Flip-esque system that had two hinges that allow it fold in on itself from the highest and backside. Allison Johnson at The Verge has nicknamed it "The Claw," which to our editor Cherlynn Low is simply paying homage to an MSI system.
Xiaomi
Sadly, Xiaomi doesn't have plans to carry a handset it confirmed off at MWC to the US. That's an actual pity, as a result of no different corporations are promoting telephones fairly just like the Xiaomi 15 Extremely within the nation lately.
Xiaomi teamed up with Leica to make a smartphone that leans closely into images. The digicam array features a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony fundamental sensor, an f/2.2 50MP ultrawide cam, a 50MP midrange lens with a 70mm focal size and a 200MP periscope array with a 100mm focal size — that equates to a 4.7x optical zoom. Some preset Leica filters assist to tie the 2 manufacturers' knowhow collectively.
That's not all that could be fascinating to cellular snappers. Xiaomi's separate Images package contains an add-on digicam grip with a bodily shutter button, an adjustable dial and devoted video button. You'll have the choice to connect a regular 67mm filter adapter to a case as effectively — in different phrases, a number of the tools you would possibly use on a devoted digicam is appropriate with the Extremely 15 as a part of this setup.
Furthermore, the Extremely 15 has a 6.7-inch AMOLED show with 120Hz refresh charge and as much as 3,200 nits of brightness that will help you get a great have a look at your captures. Plus, not like another Chinese language telephones (like Huawei's), Xiaomi helps Google providers in HyperOS 2, which is an Android pores and skin. The Extremely 15 begins at about €1,499 (round $1,572).
Android
Talking of Android, Google introduced two new AI-powered options for the working system at MWC. The Dwell Video perform, which Google first previewed at I/O 2024, lets you share what your telephone's digicam sees with Gemini so you’ll be able to ask the chatbot questions concerning the footage.
The brand new screensharing perform works in an analogous method. You’ll be able to ask Gemini questions on no matter's in your telephone or pill's show.
In the event that they work in addition to marketed, these options may very well be a boon for accessibility. Google will first provide them to Gemini Superior subscribers beginning later this month. These with a $20 per 30 days Google One AI Premium membership, which is included with some Verizon plans, have entry to Gemini Superior.
Nothing
Samsung wasn't the one smartphone maker of be aware to point out off two new mid-range units at MWC. Nothing debuted its Cellphone 3a Professional and Cellphone 3a on the occasion — regardless that it has but to unleash the Cellphone 3.
The 3a Professional has a beefier digicam module (fairly actually because the system is about 10 grams heavier than the 3a). It incorporates a 50MP telephoto sensor with a 3x optical zoom; a 50MP major sensor with f/1.88 lens and dual-pixel part detection auto-focus (PDAF); and an ultrawide 8MP sensor with a 120-degree discipline of view. The handset has a telemacro mode too. As for the 3a, that boasts a fundamental 50MP digicam with single-pixel PDAF, however the different two sensors are the identical as on the 3a Professional.
The cameras are the principle distinction between the 2 telephones, which each have a 6.77-inch AMOLED LTPS show with a 120Hz refresh charge and as much as 1,300 nits of brightness. The telephones have a 5,000mAh battery with help for 50W quick charging, they usually run on a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset.
The units have Nothing's multipurpose Important Key, a bodily button that may take screenshots and make it easier to report voice notes. The telephones even have some generative AI options, comparable to the power to transcribe mentioned voice notes and describe what's in screenshots and images.
As ordinary, Nothing is initially providing these units within the US by way of a beta program. Cellphone 3a pre-orders are open now and the $379 handset ships on March 11. That's the date when pre-orders for the Cellphone 3a Professional go reside. The $459 telephone might be in your arms on March 25.
Meta
There was extra information out of MWC past new gear and OS updates. Meta and the Web Society introduced a partnership to bolster inexpensive web connectivity across the globe. They're collectively placing $30 million into the initiative over the subsequent 5 years.
A serious intention of the mission is to assist construct out infrastructure in areas the place industrial suppliers have but to take action. The Connectivity Co-Funding Initiative can even again coaching applications, community-centered options for underserved areas and regionally owned networks. The Web Society is hoping to search out extra companions to assist with the mission.
HMD
Finnish firm HMD, which additionally makes units beneath the Nokia model, introduced a bunch of telephones to Barcelona this yr, however perhaps essentially the most fascinating factor was some earbuds. The Amped Earbuds are a pair of pretty normal Bluetooth buds, with a twist within the case: It's obtained a 1,600mAh battery in-built that helps reverse wi-fi charging. It's a fairly strong concept — given you're probably already carrying a telephone and a few headphones. Maybe the one concern is that capability: 1,600mAh is sufficient to cost loads of headphones, however it's dramatically smaller than the battery in your telephone. Nonetheless, an additional 20 % of battery life may very well be an lifesaver.
Replace, March 7 2025, 4:05PM ET: This story has been up to date twice since publish. As soon as to incorporate a piece on Samsung's idea folding units, and as soon as so as to add a piece on HMD's Amped Earbuds. The introduction of the article was additionally modified.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/everything-announced-at-mwc-2025-samsung-nothing-lenovo-xiaomi-and-more-tech-news-200029465.html?src=rss
