The yearly Mobile World Congress gives us a glimpse of what smartphone makers are up to and a glimpse of what new innovations in this segment can we expect later down the line. This year was no different, from the world’s thinnest smartphone to the one with the biggest cameras, we saw some exciting releases. Now, to help sum it all up, here’s a list of the best smartphones we saw at MWC 2025.
1. HMD’s “Designed for Teenagers” Phone
On the first day of MWC 2025, HMD showed off their new Fusion X1 smartphone, which they made in partnership with Xplora. It features OS-level parental controls, allowing guardians to take charge of internet and social media usage of their children.
The Fusion X1 includes real-time location tracking at 20-second intervals and School mode to focus on studies. Parents can manage the device through the Xplora app installed on their smartphone.
2. Samsung’s 2025 A-Series with 6-Year Update Support
Samsung took to MWC to announce their A series of devices. This includes the Galaxy A56, A36 and A26. All the phones come with One UI 7 update running right out of the box with new Galaxy AI features like Best Face, an improved object removal tool, and Circle to Search.
All three devices come with a jumbo-sized 6.7-inch display, 5,000 mAh battery and IP67 rating. The Samsung Galaxy A56 starts at $499, A36 for $399, and A26 for $299.
3. Xiaomi 15 Ultra Lights Up MWC with 200MP Periscope Camera
Xiaomi made a bang at the Mobile World Congress show floors with the release of Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The latter of the two was the biggest highlight, as it featured a 200MP periscope sensor, which is the biggest there is.
Apart from that, it has a pretty remarkable camera setup, that can easily take on the industry best with ease along with the rest of the flagship specifications. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra starts at 1,499 Euros for the 16+512GB variant across Europe.
4. Realme Interchangeable Lens Concept Phone Steals the Show
One smartphone that we were eagerly look out for at MWC 2025, was the Realme interchangeable lens concept. This device blurs the line between a regular phone and a mirrorless camera with its 1-inch CMOS sensor and interchangeable lens system.
This allows you to mount any 73mm or 234mm telephoto lens at the back of this device and shoot photos with incredible details and a natural bokeh effect. However, it’s only a concept device with little to no signs of the phone coming to consumers.
5. Nothing Launches Phone (3a) Series with Camera Upgrades
Nothing has been teasing their devices for a month now, and they finally took the curtains off of them at MWC. The Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro are two of their new midrange devices featuring similar aesthetics as the beloved Phone (2a) but with a larger screen, improved performance, and a new camera setup.
The Nothing Phone (3a) comes with a 50MP 2x telephoto camera, whereas the Phone (3a) Pro adds a 50MP 3x Periscope sensor which is the first in the segment. Staying true to their formula, the new Phone (3a) launches at $379 and the Pro goes for $459.
6. Tecno Slips in with the World’s Slimmest Smartphone
The most surprising announcement came when Tecno came to the MWC with the world’s slimmest smartphone. Yes, their Tecno Spark Slim only measures 5.75mm in thickness and weighs only 146 grams. It has a dual 50MP camera setup at the back with glowing LEDs surrounding the sensors adding a cool TRON-like effect to the device. With this device, the company managed to beat both Samsung and Apple as they are said to come out with their own slim flagships this year.
7. Tecno Showcases their Triple Folding Phone Concept
Along with the concept device, the company also revealed their triple foldable smartphone which was on display at the Mobile World Congress. The Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2 Tri-Fold measures 6.48 inches diagonally when folded which unfolds to a 10.1-inch tablet-sized form factor.
The company has gone with a state-of-the-art hinge design that can withstand more than 300K folds. However, it is unclear whether this concept will actually come to fruition anytime soon.
8. TCL 60 Series Gives the E-Ink Experience on a Budget
Among all these high-end concept smartphones, TCL launched the rest of their 60 series of affordable devices. This included six phones in total, they are: TCL 60 XE NxtPaper 5G, TCL 60 SE NxtPaper 5G, TCL 60 NxtPaper (non-SE), TCL 605, TCL 60 SE, and the TCL 60 5G.
The NxtPaper series of devices have an E-ink-like display with a 120Hz refresh rate and can last up to a week with Max Ink mode. These new devices range from 109 Euros all the way up to 199 Euros.
9. Nubia’s Funky Focus 2 Ultra Has a Rotatable Camera Ring
Nubia also managed to charm us at MWC with their newly launched Focus 2 Ultra smartphone. This device features a unique trick where you can rotate the camera ring around the cameras at the back. This lets you zoom in or out, cycle through presets, and change aperture. The phone also comes with a dedicated shutter button and a shortcut key which you can use to launch the camera, sound modes, recorder, or flashlight.
10. Infinix Teases Solar Charging Phones
Weirdly, this year we saw a lot of tech harnessing the power of the sun to keep them charged. Like Lenovo’s solar charging laptop or the futuristic-looking Anker Solix cloak. Infinix didn’t want to feel left out. That’s why they showed off their solar charging phone and a case with solar panels at the back.
The Phone itself can charge at 2 watts, which is enough to extend the standby time of the device for a prolonged period. As for the case, it uses Solar Energy-Reserving technology according to Infinix. It uses solar cells made from a mineral called Perovskite. The company displayed the case attached to a prototype smartphone with contact points to transfer electricity.
11. Infinix Flexes at MWC with a Tri-Fold Smartphone
Inifnix didn’t want to be left out of all the foldable buzz at MWC, I guess that’s why they showed up with their own bizarre take on the foldable concept. The brand’s Zero Series Mini Tri Fold may be similar to other flip-style foldables when open, except it has two hinges instead of one.
This allows the phone to collapse into a more compact form factor compared to the likes of the Moto Razr or Galaxy Z Flip 6. It is a cool concept to say the least, but how it can prove to be useful requires some guesswork.
12. Tecno POVA 7 Changes Hues with Its E-Ink Back
Tecno for sure bought their A-game to the Barcelona trade show, and while we have already talked about the Spark Slim and the triple folding concept. They also showcased a prototype Tecno POVA 7. The X factor about this phone is its E-ink back panel.
It uses “Display Electronic Slurry Technology,” or DES for short which suspends pigments in plasma instead of air. What does all this jargon mean to you? Well, you can change the design at the back of the phone just like you change your phone’s wallpaper.
13. Oukitel Challenges the Norm with Dual Display Smartphone
If it wasn’t clear already, we are in the weird territory of our list. This Oukitel WP200 Pro is a good example of it. It comes with a smaller display at the back of the device, which isn’t something we have already seen before (Think of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra).
However, you detach the display at the back and then use it as a full-fledged smartwatch. No, this is not an out-of-season April fool’s joke. The phone bundles the smartwatch in its chassis, which has its own apps and functionality like sleep tracking, and step counter.
14. Mudita Kompakt Makes an Appearance at MWC
Poland-based startup Mudita also made its presence in MWC 2025. They showed off their Mudita Kompakt smartphone which is an e-ink display compact phone, which can help you get away from the constant buzzing and doom-scrolling on your regular device. It features a 3,300 mAh battery and supports dual SIM cards. So you can even use this pocket friendly phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot.
15. This 33,000mAh Smartphone Doubles as a Projector
Finally ending this list with the most Frankenstein smartphone we spotted at MWC. This is another phone by Oukitel and this one packs a ridiculous 33,000 mAh battery capacity. That is enough to charge your iPhone about 10 times. It is called Oukitel WP100 Titan and as you might guess, it is a heavy piece of engineering.
What does it do with that massive battery? Well, it comes with a camping light that can be used to send an SOS signal and gets as bright as 1200 lumens. If that isn’t enough, you can enjoy a movie marathon in the wilderness with its built-in projector. And I bet it still might have enough juice to charge your smartphone smartwatch hybrid while at it.
That concludes this list of the best smartphones we spotted at MWC 2025. In case you’re interested, we’ve also prepared comprehensive lists of the best AI announcements and innovations and concepts that we’ve seen during MWC. As always, you can share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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