Lenovo

Among the prominent manufacturers, Lenovo has had a notably busy presence at MWC. The company has unveiled several laptops, including and several intriguing concept models, which have garnered significant attention.

The ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 boasts a design that aligns more closely with the Yoga series than traditional ThinkPads, featuring a 14-inch machine that can be equipped with a 400-nit WUXGA touch display. Other ThinkPads are receiving spec upgrades, with Lenovo claiming that the new ThinkPad X13 Gen 6 has “one of the lightest ThinkPad designs ever.” Additionally, the company has introduced a range of .

Lenovo has also showcased some notable concepts, including the , which unfortunately does not have a current release plan. The solar cells integrated into the casing enable the laptop to harness sufficient energy from the sun in just 20 minutes to support an hour of video playback, with as little as 0.3 watts of light being enough to charge the battery. While solar-powered laptops are not entirely new, the Yoga Solar PC Concept exudes a sense of refinement, leaving us hopeful that Lenovo will explore this notion further in the future.

Furthermore, Lenovo has demonstrated some conceptual display accessories for a ThinkBook laptop, including an eight-inch screen that attaches magnetically to the side, allowing users to keep track of notifications and widgets. The Magic Bay Dual Display Concept adds a 13.3-inch panel to either side of the main display. There’s also a slim secondary display designed to sit above the laptop screen, providing easy access to information such as the time, weather, and notifications.

In addition, Lenovo showcased a prototype laptop with a flexible display, building upon the technology used in the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable. The features a fold-out screen, allowing the company to double the panel’s size from 13 inches to 18.1 inches. Although Lenovo does not currently plan to release a commercial version of this fold-out laptop, the concept is certainly intriguing.

Samsung

The primary news from Samsung at MWC this year revolves around the . The Galaxy A56 features a larger 6.7-inch screen compared to its predecessor, but with a reduced thickness of 7.44mm versus 8.2mm. The volume and power buttons now have a small bump, which makes the device easier to handle.

Samsung has revamped the camera array in the A56, with a lower-resolution 12MP lens on the front and an upgraded 12MP ultrawide, 50MP main sensor, and 5MP macro lens on the back. The A56 also boasts various AI-powered camera and image editing features, such as enhanced subject detection in portrait mode and an object eraser.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy A56 are open in the UK, priced at $499/£499, with availability starting on March 19. However, US customers will have to wait until later this year for the device to be released.

In addition to the A56, Samsung has also unveiled the Galaxy A36 5G and Galaxy A26 5G, both featuring a 120Hz, 6.7-inch display with a brightness of up to 1,200 nits, as well as an IP67 rating and a 5,000mAh battery.

However, the base models of these devices come with only 6GB of RAM, compared to the A56’s 12GB, and different processors – the A36 has the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, while the A26 has the Exynos 1380 chipset.

Xiaomi

Unfortunately, Xiaomi does not plan to release a handset it showcased at MWC in the US. The is a unique device that leans heavily into photography, making its US absence notable.

Xiaomi has collaborated with Leica to create a smartphone with a strong focus on photography. The camera array includes a 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony main sensor, an f/2.2 50MP ultrawide cam, a 50MP midrange lens with a 70mm focal length, and a 200MP periscope array with a 100mm focal length, equivalent to a 4.7x optical zoom. The device also features preset Leica filters, which help to combine the expertise of both brands.

Moreover, Xiaomi’s separate Photography kit includes an add-on camera grip with a physical shutter button, an adjustable dial, and a dedicated video button. The kit also allows for the attachment of a standard 67mm filter adapter to a case, making some equipment used on dedicated cameras compatible with the Ultra 15.

The Ultra 15 boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,200 nits of brightness, facilitating a good view of captured images. Additionally, unlike some other Chinese phones, the Ultra 15 supports Google services in HyperOS 2, an Android skin. The device starts at approximately €1,499 (around $1,572).

Android

Google has announced . The Live Video function, initially previewed at I/O 2024, enables sharing of the phone’s camera view with Gemini, allowing users to ask the chatbot questions about the footage.

The new screensharing function operates similarly, allowing users to ask Gemini questions about the content on their phone or tablet’s display.

If these features perform as advertised, they could significantly enhance accessibility. Google will initially offer them to Gemini Advanced subscribers starting later this month. Those with a $20 per month membership, included with , will have access to Gemini Advanced.