The 2024 edition of Mobile World Congress (
MWC
), the
world's most important
cell phone and mobile technology fair, closed its doors in
Barcelona
this Thursday and marked the definitive entry of the telephone sector into the era of
artificial intelligence
(AI).
The convention occupied the eight pavilions of the FIRA Gran Via and brought together - over four days - more than
95,000 attendees
from all over the world, some
2,400 exhibiting companies
and more than
750 operators and manufacturers
in the telecommunications sector, thus recovering the pre-pandemic numbers.
Although the MWC has been changing its spirit for years (brands prefer to launch their smartphone lines at
their own events
), 2024 stood out for the presentation of
prototypes
with disruptive technologies and several devices that promise to change the panorama of the sector.
Without major news in terms of virtual and augmented reality (Apple is not participating in the congress),
generative AI seemed to be the industry's
big bet
this year
to boost cell phone sales, which have been declining for several months.
From the cell phone without applications to the surprise for the election of the "best smartphone of the year", these are
the 10 notable novelties of MWC 2024
.
Deutsche Telekom AI Phone
The cell phone without apps, one of the most striking presentations.
(Photo: AFP)
It is a futuristic phone concept with a single app: an
artificial intelligence assistant that takes care of everything
.
Examples of what the cell phone could do include responding to prompts and generating
personalized recommendations
for travel destinations, purchasing a product for its owner, generating images with artificial intelligence, or sending photos and videos to contacts.
It is still
unclear if it will ever come to market
.
Motorola Adaptive Display
Halfway between a cell phone and a smartwatch.
(Photo: AFP)
Motorola's "Adaptive Display" concept - one of the most sought-after devices at the fair - stands out for its
flexible 6.9-inch pOLED screen
that can be folded into several positions, folding in half inwards and even turning into a
bracelet intelligent
.
The manufacturer integrated an artificial intelligence assistant called
Moto AI
into the device that allows, among other functions, to generate a wallpaper with the same color patterns of the clothes one is wearing.
It is worth clarifying that it is a prototype: it still does not have a name and
it is not even clear that it will go on the market
.
Humane AI Pin
It was created by former Apple executives.
(Photo: Bloomberg)
Developed by former Apple executives, the AI Pin promises
to replace cell phones
with artificial intelligence: it is a small portable device that
is placed on clothing with magnets as if it were a brooch
.
It is used in two ways: by
voice commands
(such as Alexa or Siri) or through a
laser
that projects a screen on the palm of the hand.
Although it is a first generation, its
features
include the ability to make calls, send emails and text messages, ask questions (like ChatGPT), take photos, play songs, take notes, translate and more.
It will begin to be sold in the United States in the coming months, starting at
$700
.
Lenovo ThinkBook Transparent Display
Another of the great attractions of the fair.
(Photo: AP)
This is a
transparent screen laptop
concept : a PC with a seemingly floating bottom bracket design that promises to revolutionize the interaction and creation experience with a
borderless 17.3-inch microLED panel
that allows you to see through and overlay virtual images to the real world seen behind the screen.
With a commercial interest yet to be defined, the laptop
does not have a keyboard
, but rather a touch surface where the keys can be projected.
At the moment this product is just a
prototype
, but "it shows a futuristic perspective of computers with artificial intelligence, combining digital and physical environments that can improve user experiences in ways never imagined."
Samsung Galaxy Ring
The South Korean company showed its new device to the public for the first time.
(Photo: Bloomberg)
The South Korean company presented its Galaxy Ring, a
smart ring
, to the public for the first time in Barcelona .
Adaptable to all sizes and available in three colors (gold, silver and black), the ring will be marketed in the
second half of 2024
.
At the moment, Samsung did not give further details of the scope of its applications, but anticipates that
it could serve in the field of health:
it could collect precise information about the user such as the
state of their sleep or their heart rate
, using discreet sensors.
Xiaomi 14 Ultra
It can record video in 8K.
(Photo: Xiaomi)
A few days after its launch in China, Xiaomi brought its most advanced smartphone to Barcelona for 2024, which stands out for its
four lenses developed with Leica
with 50 megapixels and 30x digital zoom: they are capable of
recording video in 8K
.
As for the rest of the technical features, the 14 Ultra has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor;
WiFi 7 and 5G as its biggest competitors.
It also offers a new operating system,
Hyper OS
.
The price?
1,300 dollars
.
Honor Magic6 Pro
It allows you to control some applications just by moving your eyes.
(Photo: Honor)
It has a set of premium features, among which the new Qualcomm
Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
chip , a 180 megapixel telephoto camera and an aesthetic inspired by nature stand out.
The front part, without edges and curved on its sides, is crowned by a pill-shaped cutout called "Magic Capsule" in which the front camera and a
sensor with 3D facial recognition technology
are housed and which allows you
to control some applications just moving your eyes
.
At the back, the main protagonist is a
huge circular camera module
in which the three photographic sensors and the LED flash are located.
Energizer P28K
It has the largest battery in the world.
(Photo: Energizer)
Manufactured by
Avenir Telecom
.
It includes a
28,000 mAh battery
that, in addition to powering the smartphone on which it is mounted, allows it to be used as
a powerbank
to charge other devices.
The brand explains that this phone is designed to be used in countries where constant electricity supply is a problem, since its
battery can last up to a week
.
It is worth highlighting its weight: about
570 grams
, which places it well above the largest folding ones.
The Energizer P28K is expected to go on sale in October for around
250 euros
, although it is not known in which markets.
Huawei 5.5G
A new standard in connectivity.
(Photo: Xinhua)
During the event,
Huawei
took the opportunity to introduce the network-cloud-artificial intelligence synergy with the aim of accelerating the 5G business and preparing for a new era: that of
5.5G
.
This technology, the company assures, will bring everyone closer to an intelligent digital world with
total connectivity
that is integrated into all aspects of life, industry and society.
With tests in several cities around the world, this new standard, which could see the commercial light during 2024, brings advantages such as
ten times the speed compared to 5G
and minimal latency that allows localization at centimeter level, as well as the
use of virtual and augmented reality
.
Google Pixel 8, the best smartphone of the year
It beat the iPhone 15 Pro and the Galaxy S23, among others.
(Photo: AFP)
The Global Mobile Awards (
GLOMO
), held in the context of the MWC, crowned the
Google Pixel 8
as
best smartphone of the year
, a category in which it competed with several heavyweights in the sector such as the iPhone 15 Pro (the 14 Pro had been last year's winner), the OnePlus Open/OPPO Find N3, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Introduced late last year, the Pixel 8 Pro has one of the
best displays on the market
, a refined design, an excellent camera system, and
new AI features
powered by the Google Tensor G3 chip.
Although
it is not officially sold in Argentina
, it can be obtained through importers.
Prices
range from $700 to $1,000, depending on the model
.