Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 has wrapped up, and as has been the case in previous years, a handful of smartphones stood out from the multitude of announcements. MWC used to be a major launch platform for brands such as Samsung, Sony, and LG, but with brands increasingly opting for less elaborate launches or holding their own launch events, it now serves as a platform for several Chinese brands and those that are showcasing new tech.
This year was no different as most of the notable smartphones came from Chinese brands such as Xiaomi, Tecno, Realme, and Honor. Among this year's MWC highlights are two foldable smartphones from Honor and Tecno, a record-setting fast-charging smartphone from Realme, an easily repairable Nokia smartphone from HMD Global, and a smartphone inspired by the Nothing Phone (1) from a brand called Unihertz.
Honor Magic Vs
The Magic Vs is Honor's second foldable smartphone but the first to get a global release, and it is positioned as a challenger to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 4. Although it lacks water resistance, the Magic Vs' cover and main displays are larger than those on Samsung's fourth-gen foldable smartphone. It is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and features triple rear cameras. Its 5,000mAh battery is not only larger than the Galaxy Z Fold 4's 4,400mAh cell, but also charges significantly faster at 66W. Priced at €1,599 with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, it undercuts the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in Europe.
Tecno Phantom V Fold
Tecno is a brand owned by Transsion Holdings, a Shenzhen-based manufacturer that also owns the Infinix and iTel brands. The Phantom V Fold is its very first foldable smartphone. Like the Honor Magic Vs above, it does have an edge over Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold in some areas. Its cover display is a 6.42-inch LTPO AMOLED with a 1,080 × 2,550 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The inner display is also an LTPO with a 7.85-inch screen size, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a brightness level of up to 1100 nits.
The Phantom V Fold is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+, the same chipset inside the Oppo Find N2 Flip, and it comes with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It packs a 5,000mAh battery, and while it lacks wireless charging, it charges faster at 45W. With a starting price of approximately $1,100 for the base model with 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage, it is significantly cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 4, but is limited by its market availability.
Realme GT3
The OnePlus 10T is one of the fastest-charging smartphones sold in North America, boasting an impressive 125W fast charging. However, in other markets, there are phones that charge much faster, and at the top of the list is the Realme GT3, which charges at a whopping 240W. At that rating, its 4,600mAh battery can be charged from empty to full in nine and a half minutes. The Realme GT3 has another cool feature — a customizable RGB light next to the camera island.
It pulses in different colors while charging and also serves as a notification LED. The rest of its specs are impressive, too. Its AMOLED screen has a 144Hz refresh rate and the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. It will start at $649 when it is available in May but unfortunately, it won't be sold in the U.S.
Nokia G22
The Nokia G22 doesn't have special tricks like superfast charging. However, what makes it stand out is its repairability. HMD Global has designed the phone to be used for quite a long time by making it easy to repair, and it has done this by making the phone easy to dismantle and by partnering with iFixit to provide the tools, parts, and tutorials owners will need to repair the phone. For instance, there is no need for a heat gun to melt the glue holding the screen and a battery replacement takes just five minutes.
The Nokia G22 is already available to buy for €179 (there's no news of a North American release), and for that price, owners get a 6.52-inch 90Hz HD display, 4GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage, a 50MP triple camera setup, and a 5,050mAh battery that charges at 20W. It runs Android 12 out of the box and will receive two OS upgrades and three years of security updates.
Unihertz Luna
Unihertz is known for its eccentric smartphones. A few years ago it launched the “Jelly,” which was touted as the world's smallest 4G smartphone. It also announced the BlackBerry-like Titan, and in late 2021 it crowdfunded a rugged smartphone called the TickTock which had a circular secondary display on the back. At MWC 2023, it announced Luna, which is inspired by the Nothing Phone (1).
Unihertz's new smartphone has strips of LEDs on the back, and unlike the Nothing Phone (1) which has its Glyph illumination is a single color, the Luna can cycle between six different colors. As Unihertz says, “it's not just a light show but a practical way to receive notifications.” Apart from the LEDs, the Luna has a 6.81-inch display, a MediaTek chipset, a 108MP primary camera, a 20MP night vision camera, an IR port, a programmable key, and even a headphone jack. When the smartphone launches in March, it will be priced at about $300.