Now that the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is over, we take a look at all the devices launched during the event. And if there was one theme that took centre stage during the exhibition, it was putting 5G capability into upcoming smartphones.
When Samsung launched its Galaxy S10 and S10+ this time around, there were two additional devices in the lineup. One of those was the S10 5G. This device is the best (and most expensive) of the S10 lineup, with a 6.7-inch (1440x3040) AMOLED display, and four rear cameras instead of the three on the other devices. It packs a Qualcomm SNapdragon 855 processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB internal storage, that's unfortunately not expandable, and is powered by a massive 4500mAh battery. There's still no price on this device, but you can expect it to cost you over Rs 85,000 at the very least.
The Galaxy Fold was another device from Samsung that completely raised the stakes. It's the company's first foldable smartphone, which can extend out from single-handed mode to become a tablet. It's a 4.6-inch (12:9) display in phone mode, a little narrower than your average screen. But unfolding it makes the external screen fade to black, instead opening up a larger 7.3-inch QXGA+ (4.2:3) tablet-like display inside.
The device packs a Snapdragon 855 processor as well, with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage, and is powered by a 4380mAh battery. It features a triple camera in the form of a 16MP ultra-wide lens, a 12MP wide-angle, and a 12MP telephoto lens. The Galaxy Fold will release this April for $1,980, or likely about Rs 1.5 lakh when it comes to India.
The Huawei Mate X is another foldable 5G phone, slightly different than Samsung's though. It instead features an 8-inch (2200x2480) display in tablet mode, which you can fold backward to give you a phone with a 6.6-inch (2480x1148) screen on the front and a 4.6-inch screen on the rear.
This one instead runs a Kirin 980 processor with 8GB RAM and 512GB internal storage, powered by a 4500mAh battery. Huawei also says we should expect four rear cameras, aside from a fingerprint scanner on the power button. It'll arrive somewhere in mid-2019, starting at about Rs 1,85,000.
This is actually the Korean company's first 5G-capable device. It comes with a 6.4-inch Quad HD+ FullVision OLED display, and packs a Snapdragon 855 processor with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, expandable up to 2TB via microSD card. The V50 ThinQ has a triple rear camera setup with a 12MP primary lens, 12MP telephoto, and 16MP super-wide angle. The front shooter is also a dual camera, with an 8MP standard lens and a 5MP telephoto lens. The device is powered by a 4,000mAh battery.
Additionally though, LG has also built a secondary 6.2-inch display for the V50 ThinQ that you can attach to the phone to give you a second screen, kind of like the Nintendo DS. And best of all, it has a new type of unlock tech called Hand ID that scans the layout of veins in your hands to unlock the phone
Xiaomi made a weird decision, leaving 5G capability out of its flagship Mi 9 and instead giving it to a reboot of the Mi Mix 3. It uses the same specs as its forebearer, except with a Snapdragon 855 for 5G. It features 6GB RAM with 64GB/128GB internal storage options, is powered by a 3800mAh battery, and packs a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 12MP dual camera. The device, launching in May, will be priced at Rs 48,000.
This one isn't a particularly innovative device. There's no foldable display or the like but, other than 5G, it does pack a triple rear camera and a fingerprint scanner embedded in the display. It packs a 6.7-inch 1080p display, with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, as well as a 4000mAh battery. Not much else is know about it however.
Aside from a Snapdragon 855 processor to give it 5G, OnePlus didn't reveal much about its upcoming new device. The company does boast a maximum speed of 500 Mbps, and seems to be aiming to use that to promote game streaming. We'll just have to wait and see how the final device turns out.
Oppo's 5G device probably isn't foldable either, but they make up elsewhere. The company has teased a triple camera on its upcoming device with "10x lossless zoom", for some truly breathtaking demo photos. Let's hope real-life testing turns out just as nice.