The dust has finally settled on Mobile World Congress 2019, Europe’s biggest tech show which takes place in Barcelona every year.
The conversations this year were dominated by two major themes: 5G and folding phones, though there were a few other “normal” smartphones on display.
Here’s everything you need to know about the mobiles at MWC 2019.
Folding phones
A few companies had their folding phones, or versions at least, on display at MWC.
Huawei unveiled its version, the Huawei Mate X, on the Sunday at MWC, whilst Samsung, which launched its Galaxy Fold a week before, had it safely secured inside a glass case.
LG also had a version of a folding phone on show – its V50 ThinQ handset has a matching dual-screen add-on. That’s one way to create a folding device.
Is this the next step in smartphone design? We’ll have to see.
5G phones
5G was everywhere at MWC.
The next generation in mobile technology promises faster speeds and higher bandwidth, and everyone was offering their opinion on what 5G is going to do for consumers.
In terms of phones, Samsung had its Samsung Galaxy S10 5G on display, though the release date is still TBC.
Chinese smartphone company Xiaomi also launched the Mi Mix 3 5G – the 5G version of last year’s snazzy Mi Mix 3 smartphone.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2019 – In pictures
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The Nomu S50 Pro waterproof smartphone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
AFP/Getty Images
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AFP/Getty Images
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A TCL DragonHinge foldable prototype is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor plays with a 5G technological robot
EPA
5/24
A Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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Manuel Valls (2-R), candidate of Ciudadanos Party for Barcelona’s Mayor, next to party’s leader in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas (R), visits the automobile company SEAT’ stand, during the second day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
EPA
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A BlackBerry Key2 is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A person holds America-based Chinese company Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai
AFP/Getty Images
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People dance in a 360-degree Samsung videobooth
AFP/Getty Images
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Sophie the Robot of Hanson Robotics is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a virtual reality headset at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a collaborative mobile sensor
AFP/Getty Images
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EHang 216, a 5G-enabled aerial taxi by Ooredoo
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor tests a LG 5G VR headset
EPA
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A BMW Vision iNEXT is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A purse featuring Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
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A XR-1 5G cloud robot by CloudMinds shakes hands with a visitor,
AP
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An employee frames the new Huawei Mate X foldable phone
EPA
19/24
A visitor interacts with a Huawei Cloud X simulated reality stand
AFP/Getty Images
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A visitor holds the new Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
AP
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The new models of Sony Xperia 10
AP
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Attendees take pictures of the new Huawei Mate X foldable 5G smartphone
AP
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A woman holds a 5G-enabled Samsung phone
AFP/Getty Images
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Singtel Group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong delivers a keynote speech
AFP/Getty Images
1/24
The Nomu S50 Pro waterproof smartphone is displayed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
AFP/Getty Images
2/24
AFP/Getty Images
3/24
A TCL DragonHinge foldable prototype is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
4/24
A visitor plays with a 5G technological robot
EPA
5/24
A Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
6/24
Manuel Valls (2-R), candidate of Ciudadanos Party for Barcelona’s Mayor, next to party’s leader in Catalonia, Ines Arrimadas (R), visits the automobile company SEAT’ stand, during the second day of Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona
EPA
7/24
A BlackBerry Key2 is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
8/24
A person holds America-based Chinese company Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai
AFP/Getty Images
9/24
People dance in a 360-degree Samsung videobooth
AFP/Getty Images
10/24
Sophie the Robot of Hanson Robotics is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
11/24
A visitor tests a virtual reality headset at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC)
AFP/Getty Images
12/24
A visitor tests a collaborative mobile sensor
AFP/Getty Images
13/24
EHang 216, a 5G-enabled aerial taxi by Ooredoo
AFP/Getty Images
14/24
A visitor tests a LG 5G VR headset
EPA
15/24
A BMW Vision iNEXT is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
16/24
A purse featuring Royole’s foldable mobile device FlexiPai is displayed
AFP/Getty Images
17/24
A XR-1 5G cloud robot by CloudMinds shakes hands with a visitor,
AP
18/24
An employee frames the new Huawei Mate X foldable phone
EPA
19/24
A visitor interacts with a Huawei Cloud X simulated reality stand
AFP/Getty Images
20/24
A visitor holds the new Samsung Galaxy S10 5G
AP
21/24
The new models of Sony Xperia 10
AP
22/24
Attendees take pictures of the new Huawei Mate X foldable 5G smartphone
AP
23/24
A woman holds a 5G-enabled Samsung phone
AFP/Getty Images
24/24
Singtel Group chief executive officer Chua Sock Koong delivers a keynote speech
AFP/Getty Images
Normal phones
And then there were the normal phones, which aren’t to be sniffed at because it’s more likely you’ll be using one of these than a 5G or folding phone this year.
Xiaomi, Nokia and Sony all threw their hat in the ring with their version of the 2019 flagship.
From five cameras on the Nokia 9 PureView smartphone, to a 21:9 ratio screen on the Sony Xperia 1, to a Gaudi-inspired design on the Xiaomi Mi 9, there’s going to be a lot to choose from when it comes to buying a smartphone in 2019.
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