MWC 2019: Folding phones and 5G highly anticipated

Only a few hours before the opening of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. If like us you’re eager then here is what’s expected from this years event.

As every year, manufacturers will take advantage of the media coverage at the to unveil their novelties. Samsung, the market leader, opened the doors by announcing its flagship trio, the Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10e 4 days before the MWC 2019 kicks off. In terms of competition, Chinese manufacturers should be particularly active. We can also expect new products from Nokia, Sony or LG. We know what your thinking! And yes, they’re still around.

5G the star of the show

But the other star of the show will undoubtedly be long awaited 5G network. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 and its 5G X50 modem is expected to equip around 30 devices in 2019. Although 5G is not expected in Europe before 2020 (for the general public), it is already starting to spread to other geographical areas. In France, several operators have announced the launch of a first phase of tests. Recall that the 5G should offer a theoretical download speed of 5 Gbgla/s. But in actual use, it should be around 1.4 Gb/s – which is already remarkable.

LG

Two or three devices should be unveiled during the show by LG. The Korean manufacturer has already announced the arrival of the G8 ThinQ. It should have a 3D front camera that offers a level of security similar to that of Apple’s iPhone XS. LG has managed to keep the secret around this device, very little information has leaked yet. A 5G smartphone, the V50 ThinQ, should also be announced, but it would be reserved at first for the US market. A foldable smartphone to compete with the Samsung Galaxy Fold is possible, but it could only be a simple prototype.

Xiaomi: most impressive foldable phone?

Xiaomi will present in Europe its new flagship, the Mi 9, on the occasion of the MWC. This is not much of a surprise since the smartphone has already been announced in China. However, Xiamo might have another card to play, and like LG this will most likely be a foldable phone. The Chinese company had already published a concept video of its foldable phone on Youtube.

Sony smartphone with 52 MP?

The Japanese group is in a delicate position. Despite sharply lower sales, Sony could present a new high-end smartphone. On the program, a huge 6.5 inches display and a triple camera sensor. Some sources mention the presence of a 52 MP rear-facing camera.

On the other hand, it is unlikely to discover a 5G smartphone. Don Mesa, the marketing manager for Sony Mobile said the firm does not want to rush into a niche market.

Huawei

The Chinese manufacturer who intends to dethrone Samsung is preparing a major conference. A foldable smartphone could be unveiled, as well as a 5G device. We can also expect new laptops from the Matebook range.

Nokia: don’t count me out just yet!

To say Nokia is trying to impress at the MWC 2019 would be an understatement. The Finish brand is expected to announce the Nokia 9 PureView, which is expected to be equipped with 5 camera sensors at the back. For the rest of the features, it would have a 5.9-inch OLED screen, a fingerprint sensor under the screen, a Snapdragon 845 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage and a consequent battery of 4150 mAh. Rather interesting features.