Mobile World Congress 2025 has introduced the tech world to the busy streets of Barcelona to tout its newest, biggest improvements. And we have seen loads in our time right here, from quirky concepts to products you can actually buy. (In fact, we have additionally eaten our weight in tapas and perhaps even tried a couple of native beers.)
Because the present attracts to an in depth, we wished to present you an summary of the highest merchandise we noticed. Although not all of them are issues you should purchase, they’re all modern in their very own manner, providing one thing that makes them stand out from the gang — a design, an concept and even only a worth.
Right here, then, are CNET’s high picks from Cellular World Congress 2025.
Nothing Telephone 3A and 3A Professional
Right here is the Nothing Telephone 3A on the left and Nothing Telephone 3A Professional on the precise.
London-based tech firm Nothing is finest recognized for its reasonably priced Android phones that mild up on the again, and the new Phone 3A and 3A Pro comply with that format. The 2 fashions share most of their key specs, together with a good Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 processor, a vibrant 6.7-inch show and a 5,000-mAh battery.
And whereas each have 50-megapixel principal cameras, the 3A Professional has a extra superior autofocus system and a periscope digital camera for better-looking zoom pictures. I put it to the check round Barcelona and received some fairly cool photos.
Watch this: Unboxing the Nothing Telephone 3a Professional Shot With a 3a Professional’s Digicam
Crucially, each telephones are additionally reasonably priced, with the 3A beginning at $379, and the 3A Professional beginning at $459. Not unhealthy for telephones that embrace Google’s Gemini AI instruments and supply six years of software program and safety assist.
Learn extra: Samsung Display Wowed Us With Its Concept Devices at MWC 2025
Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, A56 telephones
The Samsung Galaxy A26, A36 and A56.
We will not speak about reasonably priced telephones with out mentioning Samsung’s new Galaxy A series. The corporate took the wraps off the most recent additions to the vary, together with the $300 Galaxy A26, the $400 A36 and the $500 A56. (Why is not there an A46, I’m wondering.)
All three have the identical 6.7-inch show and 5,000-mAh battery, however spending extra on one of many higher-end fashions will get you a more-powerful processor, extra RAM and a barely stronger digital camera setup. AI options baked into Samsung’s One UI — in addition to Google Gemini and Circle to Search — can be found on all three.
Xiaomi’s modular digital camera idea
The Xiaomi modular digital camera idea.
Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra, with its superior rear cameras, would possibly actually be the best phone of the present, however it’s not that far faraway from final yr’s 14 Ultra, and I had my eye on one thing else from the corporate.
Its “modular optical system” as Xiaomi calls it, is actually a digital camera lens and huge sensor that attaches to the cellphone, providing you with a pro-quality imaging setup that also makes use of your cellphone because the mind, to make the most of on the spot enhancing and social sharing. It is not dissimilar to Sony’s QX10 from 2013, which was arguably forward of its time, however I actually appreciated it as an concept.
MWC 2025: Xiaomi’s Pictures-Centered 15 Extremely Is a Powerhouse
Sadly, Xiaomi’s lens may be very a lot being proven off as an idea. I actually hope this one makes it so far as the store cabinets. As an expert photographer, I really like the concept of getting one thing that lets me get higher-quality photos than my cellphone, with out the added bulk of carrying a full-size digital camera and lens setup.
HMD Fusion X1 cellphone for teenagers
The HMD Fusion X1 is a stepping stone between an offline childhood and an internet maturity.
Although we usually speak about which smartphones have essentially the most energy or the most effective digital camera or the longest battery life, HMD’s Fusion X1 serves a really totally different goal than most telephones. It is aimed squarely at younger teenagers and permits mother and father to restrict entry — or display screen time — from their very own cellphone, to assist their children develop a more healthy relationship with expertise and social media.
“Whereas most telephones with parental controls both depend on an app that may be deleted or bypassed, the Fusion X1 combines app-based controls baked deep into its model of Android OS.” CNET’s Katie Collins explains in her hands-on with the gadget. “This creates a locked-down protected area the place children can nonetheless have restricted entry to Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok — if their mother and father agree.”
The HMD Fusion X1 can be accessible in Might for £229 (about $290 transformed).
Learn extra: RedMagic 10 Pro’s $1,499 Golden Saga Phone Comes to MWC 2025
Aurzen Zip folding projector
The Aurzen Zip projector.
Projectors are typically cumbersome gadgets you’d normally mount to your ceiling and depart in place. The Aurzen Zip is a unique beast altogether. Utilizing a folding mechanism that makes it look a bit like a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Zip can stand on a floor and venture your motion pictures as much as 80 inches in measurement, after which fold down into one thing sufficiently small to slot in your pocket.
It really works over Apple AirPlay, permitting you to stream Netflix movies out of your iPhone, although an HDMI adapter will even be accessible, if you wish to plug in your laptop computer to stream different content material. Its battery offers as much as 1.5 hours of use, so watching Dune 2 would require you to plug it in, however it options quick charging to get the juice again rapidly.
Although its 720-pixel decision will not go well with cinephiles, its small measurement makes it nice for taking ‘spherical to your good friend’s place for a film night time, touring, or just utilizing in a space-challenged house.
Following its profitable Kickstarter launch, the Zip will go on basic sale later this month, beginning at $300.
Learn extra: RealMe’s Pro 14 Color-Changing Phone Takes a Bath at MWC 2025
Tecno Spark Slim
The Tecno Spark Slim is thinner than a pencil. It felt tremendous mild in my hand.
Although rumors counsel Samsung’s teased Galaxy S25 Edge could also be just below 6 millimeters thick, Tecno’s Spark Slim concept takes that even additional. At simply 5.75mm, it purports to be the world’s slimmest cellphone, and in particular person it actually does look virtually bizarrely skinny.
Typically, slim telephones compromise on battery life, just because there’s much less area to suit all these cells. However someway Tecno has managed to squeeze in a whopping 5,200-mAh battery, together with 50-megapixel principal and ultrawide cameras.
It is very a lot nonetheless an idea, so a few of these specs must be taken with a pinch of salt. Nonetheless, I might like to see a cellphone like this that focuses on being simpler to carry and sliding into the pocket of a pair of thin denims. The corporate says the gadget could be made from sturdy supplies, however I’m involved about how simply it’d bend, particularly if I had been to take a seat down with it in my again pocket. That might be a nasty manner for any cellphone to go.
Honorable point out: Lenovo photo voltaic powered laptop computer
It is a laptop computer with photo voltaic cells constructed into its lid.
Lenovo has a host of concept devices on the present this yr, together with some neat-looking screens you may connect to your laptop computer’s principal one to increase your workspace. However our favourite is the solar-powered laptop computer, which options an array of photo voltaic cells on its lid.
Lenovo says these cells are particularly environment friendly and that after simply 20 minutes of direct daylight they’ll present sufficient juice for an hour of video playback. Nonetheless, as CNET’s Josh Goldman points out, it is much less about powering the laptop computer fully with photo voltaic, and extra about extending the battery life when you may.
Learn extra: Honor Teases Agentic AI Phone That Will ‘Revolutionize’ Our Devices
It is definitely a neat concept, although I am unable to think about it being particularly sensible for on a regular basis use. For one, who desires to work on their laptop computer in vivid daylight? And crucially, once you’re working in your laptop computer, the again of the display screen will seemingly be angled down, away from the daylight, so it could actually solely actually recharge when it is closed and never in use. Nonetheless, we’re all the time tremendous eager to listen to about ways in which tech corporations are making use of renewable power, even when it is sticking solar panels on a poncho.
