MWC 2025 has rekindled my enthusiasm for phones, and you should feel the same way.

      Mobile World Congress 2025 turned out to be an unexpectedly thrilling event as it focused primarily on smartphones for a change. This may astonish those unfamiliar with the event, as the large trade show typically covers a vast array of mobile technology, often relegating phones to a secondary role. However, this year was different, and it was a delight to witness.

      How many phones?

      Xiaomi 15 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Three major brands dominated the smartphone coverage at MWC, each showcasing multiple devices. Samsung was a pleasant surprise; although it previously unveiled its new S series phones at MWC, it had mostly shifted to its own Unpacked events, maintaining a low profile at the show. This year, however, it kicked off MWC with the introduction of the Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A56, its mid-range options in contrast to the Galaxy S25 series, which continue to be popular among consumers.

      Xiaomi followed Samsung's announcement with a range of new products. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra was the standout phone of the exhibition, although the standard Xiaomi 15 also impressed, with the company dedicating roughly half of its two-hour, action-packed launch event to these two models. As soon as MWC officially began (with Samsung and Xiaomi having launched phones over the preceding weekend), Nothing revealed the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro, which boast a unique design unlike any other phone available today, making them highly sought after.

      Nothing Phone 3a Pro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      With three brands showcasing six phones, each had different motivations for participating in MWC. Xiaomi is focusing on expanding its presence in Europe, Nothing aims to display its distinct designs to a larger audience, and Samsung recognizes the significance of its A-series. It had no desire to allow other brands to dominate MWC this year, despite not hosting a full event. This already surpasses the number of new phones we’ve seen at some recent MWC events, but there's more to come.

      Concepts and craziness

      Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2 Jason Howell / Digital Trends

      Beyond the prominent brands with phones ready for consumers, MWC 2025 featured a plethora of additional phones and tech driven by mobile innovations. HMD (the home of Nokia phones) introduced the HMD Fusion X1 alongside several Nokia feature phones, some highlighting its new partnership with Barcelona football club. TCL announced the TCL 60XE and the Nxtpaper 11 Plus tablet for the U.S. (as well as multiple phones for other markets). Tecno presented the Camon 40 phone, and Realme was also eager to join in with the global launch of its color-changing Realme 14 Pro Plus.

      Realme was among the brands displaying concept devices as well. Its innovative Ultra camera/phone hybrid, featuring interchangeable camera lenses on the back, nearly stole the spotlight from the more refined, yet less thrilling, Xiaomi Modular phone that utilized a high-tech magnetic connection system for the lenses. Tecno showcased a tri-fold smartphone, Lenovo unveiled a striking concept laptop with a folding screen, and T-Mobile continued discussions about its AI Phone, first introduced at MWC 2024.

      Realme Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

      Chinese smartphone manufacturers certainly capitalized on MWC 2025, presenting a mix of smartphones, laptops, wearables, and concept devices to attract various audiences. While you might expect to see Apple in this mix, it does not attend MWC. Nevertheless, it skillfully grabs the spotlight with announcements such as the Apple iPhone 16e a week before the event and the unveiling of the new iPad Air during the peak of the show. These are also mobile products released around, if not precisely at, MWC 2025.

      AI and even 6G too

      Qualcomm X85 modem Qualcomm

      Digital Trends interviewed Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart, who attended the event, seeking his insights on MWC 2025 and the abundance of smartphones.

      “This year’s Mobile World Congress showcased a significant number of smartphones from Chinese companies, some of which are headed to Europe but not the U.S. due to political and distribution challenges,” he explained via email. “Nothing’s 3a demonstrated that mid-range phones can possess unique designs and impressive cameras.”

      Greengart also discussed technologies that extended beyond smartphones at MWC 2025, still centering largely on smartphone-related advancements.

      “MediaTek and Qualcomm unveiled their next-generation modems, capable of supporting higher speeds and enhanced flexibility, particularly at the network's edge or during content uploads,” he noted. “I engaged in multiple discussions about satellite connectivity extending beyond emergency services, as the business model continues to be refined. 6G was primarily a back-channel discussion, while on-device AI emerged as a significant focal point for smartphone manufacturers and their chip suppliers.”

      AI was indeed a hot topic, as evidenced by Honor, Tecno, and Oppo's