MWC 2023 took place this week in Barcelona, Spain, and it’s always a big hit for companies looking to carve out a place with their new product announcements. Many products were unveiled at the event, from actual phones to just concepts that may never make it to store shelves. However, for various reasons, some products have caught our attention more than others.
Here are some of our favorite phones, concepts, and technologies showcased at MWC 2023.
Best idea: Motorola Rizr
There were a few concept devices shown at MWC, but none were as interesting as Motorola’s foldable smartphone concept. The phone is called the Motorola Rizr, after the old slider from days gone by, and it’s a practical foldable phone concept that many MWC attendees got some hands-on time with.
Kicking off #mwc2023 with the @Moto *action* foldable smartphone concept. Double tap the power button to raise/lower the screen or… pic.twitter.com/xdZZQDD0fmFebruary 26, 2023
The phone extends its screen from a relatively small 5.4 inches to a long 6.5 inches using a mechanism that pushes the screen from the back and bottom. It can do this with the press of a button or automatically, depending on the content displayed. And when you need to take a selfie, the screen will shrink even more to reveal the hidden camera and speaker.
It’s a great device, and we hope it makes its commercial debut sooner rather than later.
Best phone: Realme GT3
Many of the best Android phones push the needle when it comes to charging speeds. OEMs can squeeze a lot of battery into a phone, so faster charging rates can help make up for any shortcomings in battery life. Many OEMs, especially Chinese brands, have already achieved charging speeds in excess of 100W. Realme’s latest phone has now proven to be the new charging king.
The Realme GT3 is the rebranded GT Neo 5 with a 4,600mAh battery that can get a full charge in just nine minutes thanks to its 240W charging support. That’s incredibly fast, especially compared to phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which take nearly an hour to charge. Imagine waking up to a dead smartphone, plugging it in while getting ready to leave for work, and unplugging it on a full charge.
This flagship phone also has other great specifications and features, and it is powered by Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is not the latest and greatest chip from Qualcomm, but it is still very powerful. On the back, you also get a cool RGB light that can alert you with notifications or act as a status indicator for battery level, charging, and more. And the best part is that it will be launched in select markets outside of China for around $649.
Best budget phone: Nokia G22
One of the most annoying things about breaking a phone (besides breaking a phone) is trying to fix it. Smartphones are not known for being easy to fix, but Nokia is trying to change that with the new Nokia G22.
Following companies like Google and Samsung, the company has partnered with iFixit to provide original Nokia parts to anyone who wants to try to get their device fixed. But then Nokia says that starting with the G22, the company will focus on making its phones easy to repair so that you can easily swap out batteries, charging ports, or screens.
It goes a long way toward making a phone last longer and reducing e-waste, and we’d love to see more Android OEMs take the same approach when building their phones.
Best Foldable: Honor Magic Vs
Since Honor’s split from Huawei, the company has taken steps, launching not one but two foldable phones. The Honor Magic Vs are the latest from the company and the first to ship globally. If you’re looking for a foldable phone, this might be the one to consider over the Galaxy Z Fold 4.
In his hands-on Magic Vs, Harish Jonnalagadda came away very impressed with what Honor managed to achieve. The device is just as premium as what you’d expect from a Samsung or Xiaomi foldable, and it’s been stress-tested 400,000 times to prove its durability. And just like the Z Fold 4, you can hold the screen at any angle while working, watching videos, or making a video call.
Also, like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, the phone isn’t exactly cheap, retailing for €1,500 when it goes on sale in Europe. Still, it’s nice to see more OEMs give Samsung competition in the foldable space.
Best Value: Tecno Phantom V Fold
Speaking of foldable competition, one company we didn’t really expect to enter the race is Tecno. The company is known for its large presence in Africa but it has expanded to more regions and has released rather impressive flagship phones like the Phantom X2 Pro. Now, the company has a fold of its own, and it’s seriously undermining the rest.
The Phantom V Fold has a large foldable “wrinkle-free” 7.85-inch display and an external 6.42-inch display, both with 120Hz refresh rates. It’s powered by the flagship MediaTek 9000+ with 12GB and 256GB of storage, and on the back is a 50MP triple camera setup.
The phone is pretty impressive and apparently can hold its own against the best foldable phones. At around $1,100, however, the phone is much cheaper than most large-screen foldables and might be a good entry point for many consumers tempted by the form factor.
Best feature: chameleon coloring technology
Tecno didn’t come to MWC 2023 with a foldable value. The company is no stranger to giving its phones unique color-changing properties, as seen on the Tecno Camon 19 Pro, but it took things up a notch with its recent announcement at MWC. The company also showed off its new Chameleon Coloring technology, which allows users to change the back cover of their phones based on various factors, such as running apps, battery life, air temperature, and more.
This technology uses sub-micron prism material to achieve full-spectrum color rendering, supporting up to 1,600 colors and allowing users to customize their devices just the way they want, whether it be to fit their mood or match their style.
Unfortunately, Tecno has not announced a new phone with this technology, but given the limited color options we get with smartphones these days, the new Tecno technology looks very attractive.
Best wearable: Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition
There was more than just phones at MWC, and with AR/VR growing in popularity, Xiaomi took to the show to unveil its new augmented reality glasses. The Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition glasses are powered by the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 1 and are compatible with the Xiaomi 13 Pro and other Snapdragon Spaces devices.
The glasses are lightweight, weighing just 126g, and are equipped with bright MicroOLED screens. It also features built-in hand tracking cameras for gesture control, allowing users to interact with both virtual and real objects.
But beyond the cool tech, it’s just the glasses look Cool and they are bound to catch some eyes when Xiaomi decides to release them. Unfortunately, the glasses shown at MWC 2023 were just a prototype, but hopefully, the final product will look just as cool.