The Mobile World Congress (2017) is the next destination after CES 2017 where tech enthusiasts will witness the unveiling of new smartphones loaded with innovative features. MWC is one of the biggest fixtures in the mobile launch calendar and is the launch platform for many of the year's big smartphones. It has also given us a range of tablets, smartwatches and other connected devices in recent years. Here’s everything you could expect from the tech giants at MWC scheduled at Barcelona, end of February 2017.
Google has always used the MWC as an opportunity to showcase all its Android partners. However this time Google will be launching Android Wear 2.0 alongside its new smartwatches. Devices like Casio WSD-F20 have already confirmed to feature the new OS, making it evident that Google will launch its new platform at world's biggest mobile tradeshow.
Huawei
Huawei has a mixed history with MWC, often using the platform to unveil its new products. However MWC doesn’t see the launch of Huawei’s flagship smartphones, which often gets its own bigger launch event a month later. Huawei may launch the P10 smartphone and the Mate 9 Pro is also expected to be announced for the UK and US markets. Google also revealed the Huawei VR headset, which may also see a launch alongside other products.
Samsung
All eyes are eagerly waiting for the news from Samsung. The Korean tech giant is expected to bring its next flagship, the Galaxy S8, to the table. If the rumours are to be believed, Samsung might be pushing the S8 launch event to later in the year. Samsung has always managed to pull an audience at MWC, and hence we can expect the company to have some plans for the upcoming event.
Nokia
Nokia recently teased that it would be making a big announcement at MWC. The company also announced the Nokia 6, its first Android smartphone. There's long floating rumour about a second smartphone, the Nokia P1, which was always pitched as a flagship device. More recently, another leak suggested this phone to be named Nokia 8 and to feature some impressive specifications. Hope they manage to impress the old fans.
Sony
Sony is known to make major announcements at events such as IFA and MWC. There are rumours circulating that the company might be using MWC 2017 to launch the latest additions of Xperia X series. In fact, two new Sony Xperia devices with model numbers G3112 and G3221 were recently posted by Sony’s user-agent profile UAProf. Although there is no other information leaked about the two handsets, the G3112 and G3221 are believed to target the low-end and high-end smartphone markets respectively.
LG
LG hasn’t always used MWC as a launch pad, but now the company is expected to launch its flagship smartphone, the G6 at MWC this year. There have been many online reports claiming that the device will be ditching its earlier modular design (G5). Rumours also suggest that the device will feature an iris scanner and a dual camera setup, apart from a so-called ‘fire-resistant’ feature.
HTC
HTC Ocean is said to be company’s next flagship offering at the event. While the official name of the device is yet to be confirmed, a company executive has already confirmed that the device will not be named HTC 11. The smartphone is expected to sport a full metal body and will have the company’s own AI-based Sense Companion, a digital AI assistant. It is expected to come equipped with a dual rear camera combo of 12MP and 8MP along with an LED flash. The device will run on a Snapdragon 835 chip and sport a 5.5-inch QHD display and a 3700mAh powerhouse.
BlackBerry
While most of us had our hopes pinned on TCL to unveil the much-anticipated BlackBerry QWERTY smartphone at CES 2017, it appears like we will have to wait just a bit longer. TCL in a press release last week revealed that amongst the first smartphones it will launch this year is the ‘latest BlackBerry smartphone’ said to focus on ‘security, productivity and reliability.’ The smartphone was previewed at CES and the company also revealed that it is codenamed Mercury.
There will be other manufacturers at the MWC who will show off their smartphones and other gadgets and the event will be closely watched by techies around the world.
