The Mobile World Congress (MWC), an annual event organised by the GSMA, showcased the latest in mobile technology, including smartphones, services, and advancements in 5G and artificial intelligence. Held in Barcelona, Spain, it is the largest exhibition for the mobile industry, attracting global participants from the tech community.
This year, it hosted a plethora of devices with AI integration being the common thread. One standout example of AI’s application was the Honor Magic V2, where eye-tracking technology allows users to interact with their device in a hands-free manner.
This feature, along with other AI-driven innovations presented at MWC, underscores the industry’s shift towards creating more personalised and efficient user experiences.
Here is a list of top 10 gadgets showcased at MWC this year.
Top 10 Gadgets in MWC Showcase 2024
HMD Barbie Phone
HMD, initially celebrated for reviving Nokia phones at MWC 2017, struggled to compete with giants like Samsung and Apple, shifting its focus to budget Android and feature phones. At MWC 2024, it announced its first profitable year in 2023 and introduced a rebranding strategy, adopting ‘Human Mobile Devices’ as its new moniker.
Its 2024 device lineup featured a classic Nokia model, and a unique Barbie flip phone developed in collaboration with Mattel, targeting a summer release as a pink, digital detox tool. As for the non-Barbie phones, the company has plans for those, too, though no details are available at the moment.
Motorola Debuts Smart Connect
Motorola showed off its innovative Adaptive Display concept phone, a departure from traditional designs with its bendable structure, allowing it to be bent backward.
Motorola also introduced Smart Connect, a collaborative effort with Lenovo that builds upon the Ready for platform. This new feature allows for wireless connection between a Motorola phone and nearby displays, including Lenovo tablets and Windows laptops available through the Microsoft Store, enhancing productivity and inter-device usability.
OnePlus Watch 2
In the spotlight at MWC 2024 was the OnePlus Watch 2, which boasts a significant improvement over its predecessor. A standout feature of the OnePlus Watch 2 is its dual operating system capability, powered by two distinct processors. It operates on Google Wear OS with the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset for demanding tasks such as navigation, music playback, and app usage.
The OnePlus Watch 2, priced at $300, is currently available for preorder and will officially go on sale on March 4. OnePlus is also offering a promotional discount of $50 for those trading in any watch, including analog models, towards the purchase.
A Transparent Laptop from Lenovo
Lenovo introduced a concept at MWC 2024, known as Project Crystal, a transparent laptop. While it’s not slated for immediate release, the concept showcases a glimpse into the future of laptop design. The laptop’s Micro-LED transparent screen offers a futuristic look, allowing users to see through the device while still providing a bright display for normal app usage.
However, this transparency means that others can see the user’s screen, posing privacy concerns. Lenovo mentioned the potential for adjusting the screen’s transmissivity to create an opaque layer for privacy, though such features were not demonstrated.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung unveiled its latest wearable, the Galaxy ring, at the Mobile World Congress. This is the first time it was showcased to the public. This smart ring, designed to monitor health data and provide insights based on daily and nightly metrics, will expand Samsung’s wearable market. The Galaxy ring can monitor temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, sleep movement, and time taken to fall asleep.
Interestingly, the Galaxy ring will also offer payment capabilities, distinguishing it from other smart rings that focus solely on health or fitness tracking. The ring is available in black, gold, and silver, and comes in nine sizes, accompanied by a sizing kit. Its price in India starts from ₹24,599 and is set to be released later this year.
Honor Magic V2
Honor displayed its new devices, the Magic 6 Pro and Magic V2 RSR smartphones, and the MagicBook Pro 16 laptop, heavily emphasising AI features that aren’t necessarily driven by actual artificial intelligence. A notable demonstration featured the eye-tracking technology on the Magic 6 Pro, which allows users to expand notifications by simply looking at them.
This feature, expected to be added via a software update, was highlighted through an unusual demo where the technology was used to control a car (an Alfa Romeo), with options like Engine Start and Stop, Forward, and Backward, showcasing the potential of eye-tracking for hands-free device interaction.
TCL’s NXTPaper 5G and Portable 5G Dongle
TCL introduced a new addition to its NXTPaper range, the TCL 50 XL NXTPaper 5G, featuring a 6.8-inch screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate designed to mimic paper. Despite its modest specs, its $229 price point is aimed at readers preferring to engage with digital content on their phones.
Additionally, TCL unveiled the NXTPAPER 14 Pro, equipped with the same eye-friendly technology in a larger 14-inch display, targeting productivity users with its MediaTek Dimensity 8020 processor, 12 GB of RAM, a 12,000-mAh battery, and 256 GB of storage.
ZTE 5G+AI Eyewear-free 3D Tablet
Nubia introduced its latest devices on the ZTE stage, despite emphasising its independence from ZTE. The highlights include the Nubia Flip, the brand’s first foldable phone, featuring a 6.9-inch 120-Hz display that folds to a compact size and sports a unique circular screen on the front. Priced at $599, it offers a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor and unique features like a 3D interactive pet and extensive customization options.
Another significant release was the Nubia Pad 3D II, a tablet capable of displaying 3D content without glasses through eye-tracking technology. This new version introduces 5G connectivity and incorporates “AI concepts” for enhanced functionality, including dual cameras for 3D content creation and an AI feature that converts 2D to 3D content.
Xiaomi 14 Smartphone
Xiaomi unveiled its flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra at the Mobile World Congress. This model enhances its predecessor’s capabilities, offering an unparalleled display, a more durable construction. However, the high cost and specific target market of photography enthusiasts might limit its appeal. The device, starting at €1,499, with an optional Photography Kit for €199, introduces HyperOS, an interface designed to refine user experience.
Additionally, Xiaomi unveiled other devices including the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro, Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, and the Watch S3 with HyperOS, alongside the Xiaomi Watch 2 running on Google’s Wear OS. While these products won’t reach the US market, their launch in Europe demonstrates Xiaomi’s strategic global expansion.
Humane AI
The Humane Ai pin, introduced a few months ago, was on display at the MWC. The wearable device aims towards a future less dependent on smartphones. It is designed by former Apple employees, and aims for a screen-free existence, blending seamlessly into personal attire while offering sophisticated AI functionalities.
Priced at $699, with a $24 monthly subscription for connectivity and AI services, the Ai Pin operates through voice and gesture interactions, supporting up to 50 languages and adapting to local languages automatically. Humane emphasises privacy with features like an LED indicator for the camera and encrypted data management, marking the Ai Pin as an innovative step towards integrating AI into daily life without screens.
