MWC 2018: What to expect – including Samsung Galaxy S9
The largest event dedicated to smartphones, tablets and smart watches kicks off on Monday, February 26 in Barcelona, and we can’t wait! In the meantime here’s what to expect from the key players at the MWC 2018.
Samsung will be the star of the show with the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus
Contrary to last year, Samsung has decided that it will be announcing it’s latest smartphones, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus during the Mobile World Congress. A presence that could explain the strategic approach by Huawei and LG, who prefer to not announce their latest flagship phones during the MWC 2018 in fears that Samsung might steal all the limelight.
We’ll get the opportunity to look at the Galaxy pair even before the show kicks off, as Samsung has a press conference scheduled on Sunday, February 25th, one day before the the event starts.
The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus have been the subject of many leaks for several months, so what do we know so far?well for one, the appearance of the S9 is pretty much identical to last years model; therefore we can expect most of the improvements to be performance related, with a Snapdragon 845 processor rumoured, and based on the trailer (above) we can count on some major enhancements to the camera.
Sony to come back stronger?
In recent years, Sony has had quite the rollercoaster ride. Year after year, the Japanese manufacturer loses ground on its competitors and is locked in a design that many want to see evolve. Xperia smartphone enthusiasts, rejoice, because the MWC 2018 could be the revival of Sony in the smartphone market.
According to the information that has filtered so far, Sony should have 3 smartphones in its suitcases in Barcelona. The Xperia XZ Pro which is set replace the XZ Premium, Sony’s premium line. If rumours are true we can expect a 5.7-inch 4K OLED display and like Samsung a shiny new processor – the Snapdragon 845. We can also expect two other smartphones from Sony, the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact.
The Sony conference will take place on Monday, February 26 at 7:30 am GMT.
LG and Huawei: just passing by
Last year, Huawei and LG shared the top spot at the MWC. For the 2018 edition, the two manufacturers will be present, but do not necessarily intend to steal the show from Samsung and Sony. Huawei are expected to present several products – a touch pad in particular, but no smartphone; the P20 and P20 Plus will instead be unveiled in March in Paris.
LG will also be present in Barcelona, but only with some minor announcements, we can expect an updated version of last year’s V30, rumoured as V30S. The successor to the G6 is not expected until the second quarter of 2018.
Main image © GSM Association
Article image © Sony