MWC 2026: What to anticipate on the world’s largest telephone present

I’ve been writing about telephones for a very long time, and do not keep in mind after I anticipated to see so many new telephones in such a short while span. I’m speaking late February to early March, once we might see greater than a dozen new gadgets inside per week or two.

Samsung usually launches its new Galaxy flagships in January, however this time it is in all probability taking place in late February. This yr, Apple can be reportedly launching its new iPhone 17e in that very same time-frame. And the Mobile World Congress, an annual cell business occasion going down in Barcelona, Spain, kicks off on March 2, with some bulletins in all probability coming a day or two earlier.

MWC is at all times about telephones, with some tablets, laptops, and different devices thrown into the combo. So what’s totally different this yr? Well, there’s simply gonna be a little bit extra of every part, we suspect.

This yr marks the Mobile World Congress’ 20th year in Barcelona. The occasion was badly harm through the Covid pandemic years, but it surely managed to rebound, as soon as once more attracting quite a few giant telephone producers which is able to present their new gadgets in Barcelona for the primary time.

Judging by the invitations we’ve got, and the studies we have seen, there will probably be a variety of these. Here’s what we all know proper now.

Xiaomi might convey a shock or two

Xiaomi is the biggest shopper electronics firm that usually unveils its complete new lineup of cell merchandise at MWC. Think telephones, tablets, earbuds, watches, and a bunch of equipment.

In the previous couple of years, Xiaomi additionally spiced issues up by bringing its newest electrical autos to the present, in addition to displaying off cool devices like this cute, back-flipping robotic canine. We’ve bought large expectations for the corporate’s MWC sales space, and Xiaomi at all times manages to surpass them.

Honor’s Robot telephone extremely anticipated

Honor is an organization that quietly ships gadgets with specs that beat most different telephones on the market. Last yr, Honor largely centered on technique, which is not the most enjoyable subject from the patron’s standpoint. This yr, nonetheless, Honor’s sales space goes to be much more attention-grabbing.

First, the corporate is bringing a brand new foldable, the Honor Magic V6, to the present. It follows the Magic V5 which globally debuted in August 2025; hopefully, Honor’s bought an excellent cause to point out us the V6 a lot earlier within the yr.

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We’ll additionally doubtless see new tablets and laptops from Honor at MWC. But the actual star of the present might be the Honor Robot telephone, an idea machine with a robotic gimbal digital camera that extends from the rear of the telephone. The concept extends a smartphone’s performance into a novel mix of a house sensible companion, a tripod, and a child monitor. The Robot Phone has been noticed within the wild earlier than, however at this yr’s MWC, we might get a very shut take a look at what it will possibly do.

Samsung prone to convey Galaxy S telephones

This is an odd one. In the previous couple of years, Samsung has revealed its Galaxy S flagships in January, leaving a little bit house between the launch and MWC. This January the corporate showcased a completely new class of gadgets with its triple-folding Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold, however the Galaxy telephones are doubtless coming in late February.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked is ready for Feb. 25, simply days earlier than MWC kicks off. We’ll undoubtedly cowl Unpacked, however maybe the MWC offers an opportunity to have a second take a look at a few of the new Samsung telephones, or possibly the corporate is saving a shock or two for the Barcelona present. Remember the Samsung Galaxy Ring? We (unexpectedly) bought a primary glimpse of it in Barcelona, just a few years again.

Lenovo/Motorola may convey a enjoyable idea

Lenovo likes to convey daring new ideas to MWC, and we’re anticipating one thing comparable this yr. Think laptops with rotating shows, flip laptops, laptops with clear show…nicely, you get the concept.

Lenovo’s telephone model Motorola in all probability will not launch something main throughout MWC, however we’ll be looking out for brand spanking new ideas and prototypes.

TCL will doubtless convey all of it

China’s TCL retains constructing on its attention-grabbing NXTPAPER tech, which turns a regular-looking smartphone’s show into one thing a lot simpler on the eyes and akin to an e-ink show.

The firm usually brings its complete lineup to Barcelona. Often, these are telephones which have already launched in China, but it surely’s at all times cool to get an summary of what the corporate has in retailer (and when it plans to launch the newest gadgets globally).

Nothing anticipated to have a brand new telephone to point out off

Nothing, the model that makes these see-throughy telephones that appear to be nothing else in the marketplace, launched its Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro throughout MWC final yr.

We’re unsure whether or not the corporate will comply with up with successors this yr, however we do know that it’ll have a presence in Barcelona. Fingers crossed.

Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, ZTE, Nubia, Tecno, and others to convey telephones, cameras, extra

Yes, a variety of Chinese firms have a powerful presence at MWC, and a variety of them are bringing new gadgets to the present this yr.

We’re not conscious of any particular main flagship that is about to launch in Barcelona this yr, however that does not matter, as a result of idea telephones and prototypes that we see at these firms’ cubicles usually find yourself being extra thrilling than your commonplace sweet bar telephones. Think ultra-thin foldables, flexible shows, telephones with extremely highly effective cameras, and different off-the-charts stuff. Will all of them ever really make it to market, particularly the U.S. market? Probably not, however they’re actually cool to have a look at.

Mobile World Congress 2026 is formally held in Barcelona from March 2 to five, 2026, with press days beginning on February 28. Mashable will probably be there to cowl all of the information popping out of the occasion.

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Mobile World Congress