Companies from all over the world come here to show their latest products and innovations.
Which smartphones can you expect at MWC 2019? We have prepared an overview for you, in which the most important models are discussed.
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MWC 2019 trends
The Mobile World Congress is the trade fair for smartphone manufacturers to introduce and exhibit their new flagship devices for the year’s first half. MWC 2019 takes place this year from February 25 to February 28, 2019.
A clear trend that will be used this year is that of electronic devices with a flexible, folding screen. At the MWC 2019, most manufacturers will probably exhibit their first foldable smartphones.
Another trend that we will encounter in the smartphone industry this year is that of the punch-hole camera. In other words, a hole is made in the display for the selfie camera. The fingerprint sensor will also be placed behind the screen with more and more smartphone models. In time, the receiver and various sensors will disappear under the glass. And although the new 5G network is still under development, the first 5G smartphones will be introduced in 2019.
Below is an overview of all smartphones that are expected on MWC 2019. The smartphone overview is subdivided per brand. Only the premium manufacturers are discussed in it; there will also be some manufacturers who introduce budget phones, like Asus, Alcatel, and Wiko. Also, on MWC 2019, several other mobile devices will be revealed; think of tablets and smartwatches, but of course, also smartphone accessories.
Samsung smartphones
A few days before the MWC exhibition starts, Samsung will organize the Galaxy Unpacked 2019 event, where the new Galaxy S10 smartphones are expected and the first foldable Samsung smartphone.
Every year when Samsung is about to unveil its new S-series, there is a lot of interest. This year is even more special because Samsung will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Galaxy S-series.
That is why Samsung has decided not to launch two but four Galaxy S10 models this year. Of these, there will probably be three on the MWC 2019, the Galaxy S10E, the S10, and the S10 Plus. The 5G variant will be unveiled a month later.
All four new Samsung smartphones will have a hole in the display for one or more selfie cameras, depending on the model. Three of the four variants will also have an in-display fingerprint sensor.
Last year, Samsung already gave a preview of the folding phone that is being developed. Based on this information, LetsGoDigital has had 3D renders designed. This revolutionary device is expected to be called Galaxy Fold and will be exhibited at MWC 2019.
Samsung will also show its new Galaxy M series at the Mobile World Congress. This will be the new budget smartphone line-up of the Korean manufacturer, consisting of the Samsung Galaxy M10, M20, and the M30. The recently introduced Galaxy A9 Pro will also be on display at the fair.
LG smartphones
The Korean manufacturer, LG, will unveil its new flagship at MWC 2019, the LG G8. Like its predecessor, the LG G7, this phone will get a notch at the top of the screen. A smartphone with a hole in the display does not seem to be available for LG yet.
However, LG will possibly provide its new top device with another unique function; a 3D camera. More phones with a 3D camera are expected this year. The first devices with 3D front cameras are already there; Apple has provided its smartphones since the iPhone X with a 3D front camera. Apple will also be one of the few smartphone manufacturers not present at MWC 2019.
Last year there were also rumors that the LG G8 ThinQ would have a 4K display to respond to VR; we have not heard anything about this afterward. The new LG smartphone will probably have a 6.1-inch display with a 19.5: 9 aspect ratio. In addition, the fingerprint sensor will be placed on the back of the device.
Last week LG had a remarkable teaser spread with the text ‘Goodbye touch’; different gesture movements were made. What exactly this feature involves is still unknown; it is, in any case, ‘stunning’, according to LG. In addition, the company seems – like competitors like Samsung – to work on Sound On Display technology, but the chances are that this technology is already applied to the LG G8 ThinQ.
A message was also circulated via the Korean LG newsroom in which a few specs were mentioned. The new flagship will be LG’s first 5G smartphone. The device is powered by the new Snapdragon 855 chipset – this will be the case for most top models – and a 4,000 mAh battery is installed. Also new is the Vapor Chamber Cooling System, probably meant to effectively drain heat generated by the device.
Incidentally, LG will also bring a foldable smartphone to MWC 2019, but it will only be shown to limited companies. LG may opt for a similar design to that of Samsung, so there are noises that the LG foldable smartphone will have slightly larger displays.
Huawei smartphones
Huawei will present its foldable smartphone at MWC 2019, which will also be the first 5G smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer. Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, has now confirmed this news. The groundbreaking device is further equipped with the powerful Kirin 980 processor, which is also used in the Mate 20 series. Probably you can buy the foldable Huawei smartphone in June 2019, the suggested price is still unknown.
The new Huawei smartphone models within the high-end P-series will probably not be introduced until the end of March. It is the Huawei P30 and the P30 Pro, which will also be 5G smartphones. In addition, there are noises that Huawei will launch the cheaper P30 Lite simultaneously with the other P-series smartphones.
The P30 series will also be equipped with a notch, just like the LG G8. This is remarkable since Huawei has already announced the Nova 4 and the Honor View 20. Both have a punch-hole camera. The Honor View 20 will be on display at MWC 2019.
Sony smartphones
Sony has scheduled a press conference on February 25, the day that MWC 2019 starts. The Japanese manufacturer will introduce its Xperia XZ4 here. This high-end smartphone is reportedly equipped with a 6.5-inch screen and a 21: 9 aspect ratio. The display has a Full HD + resolution (2520 × 1080 pixels).
The Sony Xperia XZ4 will probably be equipped with a triple camera on the back of the device. In addition, the new Sony smartphone would be provided with a double selfie camera. The fingerprint scanner is integrated on the side, in the power button. It is possible that Sony will introduce its smaller brother, the Xperia XZ4 Compact, simultaneously with the XZ4.
Nokia smartphones
A new flagship model from Nokia has been talked about for months. There has been some delay in the development of this phone, but the Nokia 9 PureView is really coming. HMD Global has now sent press invitations and has put a teaser online that includes the date 24 February.
The teaser also confirms that this smartphone will have a very special camera. The Nokia 9 PureView becomes the world’s first smartphone with a Penta camera or five cameras. In addition, Nokia’s top model will have an in-display fingerprint scanner.
In addition to the Nokia 9, two smartphones are expected, the Nokia 6.2 and the Nokia 8.1 Plus. Both phones get a punch-hole, but it is still unclear whether both Nokia smartphones will also appear at MWC 2019. It is possible that only one of the two models will be on display at the Spanish fair.
Motorola smartphones
Lenovo will announce four new Motorola smartphones at MWC 2019. From inexpensive to expensive are the Motorola G7 Play, the G7 Power, the G7 and finally, the G7 Plus. All specs have already been leaked by Motorola itself.
The middle-class Motorola smartphones get a display size ranging from 5.7-inch to 6.24-inch; all four models are provided with a notch. The Motorola G7 and G7 Plus get a dual camera; the cheap models have a single camera, both front and rear.
As the name suggests, the Moto G7 Power will have an extra large battery capacity. Where the other models have 3,000 mAh, the Power gets a 5,000 mAh battery.
In addition to these mid-range smartphones, a collapsible Motorola smartphone will most likely also be shown. Motorola presumably opts for a clamshell design where most other foldable smartphones unfold to a tablet. The foldable phone is probably placed within the RAZR line-up.
Incidentally, it can not be ruled out that in the background, there is also a Motorola foldable smartphone that can be folded into a tablet; for such a design, the original American manufacturer has already applied for various patents – as shown in the 3D render above.
HTC smartphones
It is becoming increasingly quiet around HTC smartphones. Where people used to be very enthusiastic when a new HTC model was presented, it is now unfortunately different for many. Although the top models are provided with good specs, the price that has to be paid for this is simply too high.
A year and a half ago, Google acquired a significant part of the Taiwanese company. HTC would focus more on VR, although the company still introduces a few smartphones per year. In 2019, HTC had a new top model in the planning.
However, the chance is small that this new HTC smartphone will be unveiled at MWC 2019. The current top model, the HTC U12+, was introduced in May 2018, so the cycle of a year is not over yet. In addition, there simply seems to be too few details known.
OPPO smartphones
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OPPO has already announced a smartphone with 10x optical zoom to introduce at MWC 2019. It is probably the OPPO F19 and F19 Pro. It is the first time that a smartphone is introduced with such a large optical zoom range. The company has already announced a 5x optical zoom, but this time the zoom lens will actually be integrated into an OPPO smartphone. It did not happen that last time.
In the middle of last year, OPPO announced the Find X, a full-screen smartphone with a retractable selfie camera.
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Earlier this month, the Chinese manufacturer announced a 5G variant of the Find X. OPPO also seems to opt for a punch-hole camera design this year. This design is probably already applied to the OPPO F19.
OPPO will also reveal more information about its foldable smartphone next month, whose details are currently unknown. It was assumed that OPPO would officially introduce its folding device at MWC 2019, but it seems too early for this. Nevertheless, there is also a foldable OPPO smartphone.
OnePlus smartphones
OnePlus, a sister company of Oppo and Vivo, has already confirmed that it will present a 5G smartphone at MWC 2019. It may be the OnePlus 7, although the smartphone could also get another name. His predecessor, the OnePlus 6T, was only presented a few months ago, which you can buy here.
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Therefore, the 5G device will, not go directly into the sale, but it will be before the summer of 2019.
The OnePlus 7 is expected to be equipped with the Snapdragon 855 processor. Undoubtedly enough RAM memory is built in; here OnePlus is never so economical. There is the talk of 10GB of RAM. The OnePlus 7 also seems to be the first smartphone of the Chinese manufacturer with a hole in the display for the selfie camera. However, a photo recently leaked in which a OnePlus smartphone with a pop-up camera was shown.
Vivo smartphones
Vivo announced a very special smartphone concept last week, which will also be on show at MWC 2019. The Vivo APEX 2019 is a futuristic smartphone with a super unibody design, or the entire housing consists of one piece. The device consists exclusively of glass; no metal frame is used. There are also no buttons. Instead, pressure-sensitive sensors are used.
The smartphone does not have a selfie camera. However, the receiver is placed behind the screen. Furthermore, the APEX 2019 is equipped with a full-screen in-display fingerprint sensor. It is also the first Vivo smartphone that offers 5G support.
The USB port has been replaced with a MagPort. This magnetic power connector can charge the Vivo APEX 2019 and send data. A screen vibration function is added that ensures that the display can function as a speaker.
Xiaomi smartphones 2019
In October last year, Xiaomi announced the Mi Mix 3.
This full-screen Xiaomi smartphone features a 6.4-inch screen with a retractable dual front camera. During the introduction, it was announced that in early 2019, a 5G variant would be released from this device.
On February 24, Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi scheduled a press conference. Probably the new 5G smartphone will be revealed at that moment. It is as yet unknown whether Xiaomi will only add 5G support, or that the phone also deviates from the existing Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 on a few other points.
