At Mobile World Congress 2019 many interesting smartphones made their debut: Mate X, LG G8s ThinQ, Nokia 9 and Xperia 1
The Mobile World Congress 2019 has just ended and we can draw conclusions. It was definitely one of the most interesting in recent years, with many smartphones presented and with some novelties that we will only see in the coming months.
From the events organized by the companies and the devices present in the stands, we can guess the two trends that will drive the future of the mobile world: 5G and flexible smartphones. Major manufacturers presented at least one 5G smartphone. Huawei has brought the Mate X, flexible smartphone that integrates the Balong 5000 modem that supports the new network standard, LG has shown the V50 ThinQ 5G, while Xiaomi has announced that the Mi Mix 3 5G will arrive in the coming months in Italy. It is a sign that the 5G network is no longer a mirage and that in a few years we will be surfing at 20 times the current speed.
Huawei Mate X
It was definitely the most innovative smartphone of Mobile World Congress 2019. The Mate X is the first flexible smartphone made by the Chinese company and will hit the market in the second half of 2019. The device features an eight-inch screen (when fully open) and a side bar that allows for a stable grip. Thanks to the mechanical hinge it can be folded in two, so as to decrease its size. Once folded you can use the 6.6 inch front screen or the 6.36” rear display. In the sidebar are all the sensors and also the three cameras. The Balong 5000 modem supports 5G connection and provides download speeds of up to 4.5Gbps. Price of 2299 euros.
LG G8s ThinQ and LG V50 ThinQ 5G
LG arrived at Mobile World Congress 2019 with no less than two new smartphones. Compared to 2018, LG has brought truly innovative solutions and smartphones that will be much talked about.
LG G8s ThinQ is the first smartphone that can be controlled directly with gestures without having to interact with the smartphone. A 3D photo sensor is built into the front that detects hand gestures and turns them into actions on the smartphone. The hardware platform of the smartphone is true top-of-the-line: Snapdragon 855, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
Along with the G8s, LG also presented the V50 ThinQ 5G, the first smartphone with support for the South Korean company’s new network standard. The device has a design common to many other smartphones, but is able to transform into a unique cell phone. By inserting a normal cover you can add a second screen that can be used while watching a TV series or when playing games.
Sony Xperia 1
It was supposed to be the Sony Xperia XZ4 the star of Mobile World Congress 2019, but in a surprise blow the Japanese company has decided to change the name of its top of the line. Xperia 1 is a very special top-of-the-line smartphone with a unique screen. The OLED display has a 6.5-inch diagonal with a 4K resolution and an aspect ratio of 21:9. Sony has brought to the mobile world some technologies developed in its experience in the world of televisions and SLR cameras. Such as the electronic system integrated into the rear camera.
Nokia 9
The world’s first smartphone with five rear cameras. Nokia wanted to amaze the mobile world by inserting a penta-cam in the back capable of taking pictures with a resolution of 60 megapixels (which in post-production is decreased to 12 megapixels). The five sensors are all 12 Megapixels: two take RGB images and three take black and white images. To take an image the five cameras work in unison.
The Nokia 9, however, is not without its flaws. The Finnish company has chosen as its processor the Snapdragon 845, a chipset released last year and replaced by the newer Snapdragon 855. The smartphone is already available for pre-order.
Xiaomi Mi 9
Xiaomi took advantage of the stage of Mobile World Congress 2019 to present the Mi 9 and the Mi Mix 3 5G in Europe as well.
The Mi 9 is a top-of-the-line smartphone, with very interesting features and a price that makes it the best buy in the industry. It mounts a Snapdragon 855 processor with supporting 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Also available is a version with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. 6.39-inch screen with FullHD+ resolution. The photo compartment is one of the most interesting features of the device. The Mi 9 mounts a triple rear camera that has been rated by DxOMark as one of the best on the market. The Mi 9 will hit the market at 449 euros, a very interesting price.
OnePlus 5G
OnePlus brought to the Mobile World Congress a 5G prototype of its next smartphone, the OnePlus 7. Unfortunately, it was not possible to see it because it was hidden inside a display case. Those lucky few who managed to catch a glimpse of something, talk about a smartphone with a completely different desgin than in the past. OnePlus also showed the possibilities that 5G will be able to offer to the world of gaming: lag-free online challenges.
Carl Pei, the CEO of OnePlus, assured that the OnePlus 7 will arrive on the market in the second half of 2019 at a price well below 1000 euros.