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MWC 2025: catch up on all the innovative, smart and strange consumer tech we saw
TechRadar was at MWC 2025, and I have a blow-by-blow account of the most interesting consumer tech we saw at the conference.
MWC 2025 has been and gone, and so that marks the end of this live blog. But we got to see a bevy of consumer tech, from phones to more esoteric devices that give us a hit of the tech to expect in the near future.
So read on for a blow-by-blow account of all the tech our crack-team of TechRadar journalists saw at MWC.
- For all the B2B news from MWC, check out our live blog on TechRadar Pro
Hello! Roland Moore-Colyer, Managing Editor of Mobile Computing here to take you on this live blog journey as it kicks off.
I'm not at MWC this year, with fellow but we have a selection of TechRadar-ians over in Barcelona to soak up all that MWC has to offer. So let's get into it.
Honor embraces AI hook, line and sinker
So first up we have a report from Phones Editor Axel Metz on how phone-maker Honor has rebranded itself as an "AI device ecosystem company". That's a bit odd but there's apparently three steps the company plans to take in order to deliver “purpose-built, human-centric AI designed to maximize human potential.”
My read on this is basically Honor will go hard on AI-based tech, and we can expect its new products to contain a host of smart features. For a better and deeper lowdon, I'd suggest reading Mr Metz full report: Honor rebrands as an 'AI device ecosystem company' and commits to developing a 'super intelligent' smartphone.
So here's an odd turn up for the books: actor Drew Barrymore appeared at an HMD showcase to tease Project Wildflower, which is a mission led by the phone-maker to tackle people spending too much time on their smartphones.
Check out our TikTok video below for more.
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HMD wants to tackle a teenage screen time epidemic
Following on from that TikTok below is a full report from Axel Metz on HMD's aim to help tackle a supposed screen time epidemic, especially among teenagers.
As such, the company revealed the HMD Fusion X1, a phone made in partnership with smartwatch manufacturer Xplora aimed at teenagers, which will enable parents to remotely enable, disable, or limit access to apps of their choosing via an Xplora subscription.
Now I'm not sure many teenagers would welcome relinquishing control of their phone to their parents, but the idea here is to safeguard young people against some of the darker elements of online and always-connected life.
Read Axel's full report: 'The smartphone teens want, with the safety parents desire': HMD’s Fusion X1 is here to save the TikTok generation.
Meet the Honor Earbuds Open
Moving on to something different to smartphones, and let me flag the Honor Earbuds Open wireless earbuds to your attention.
Honor's inaugural open earbuds have been designed to specifically not enter one's ears, sitting on the opening to the ear canal instead.
Audio Editor Becky Scarrott to the Earbuds Open for a spin, so I suggest you go read her thoughts on them: I tried Honor's new Earbuds Open and for me, they jumped straight to the top of the pile.
Here's another TikTok from HMD's event last night, which we visited. Give it a gander... especially if you like football and retro phones.
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Watch this!
Honor is having a busy MWC, as it has revealed the Honor Watch 5 Ultra, its newest smartwatch.
There's a good bit to like here, as the smartwatch sports a grade 5 titanium case, a 1.5-inch AMOLED, and a host of health-centric features. The only thing that's missing is Google's Wear OS; instead the Honor Watch Ultra 5 runs Honor's proprietary MagicOS.
Read our full report: Honor's new Android smartwatch has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 15 days of battery life, and works with iPhone and Android.
We have a first look at the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro. Take a look at the video below.
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Honor-ing software support
Bouncing back to Honor again, and it's announced it will support its flagship phones with seven years of updates, much like Google and Samsung.
“By guaranteeing long-term software and security updates, Honor provides Magic Series owners with the confidence that their devices will remain up-to-date, secure, and feature-rich – maximizing the value of their investment and extending the lifespan of the devices,” explained Honor.
How useful such support will be in reality given phone batteries can deteriorate after some four years and tech can become outdated rather quickly, remains to be seen, But it's better to have the support and not need it, then need it and not have it.
The full story is here: Honor matches Apple, Samsung, and Google with new update promise for its flagship phones – but how long is 'too long'?
Lenovo has popped up with a new solar-powered laptop concept. I doubt it'll see the light of day in a retail product any time soon, but it's a cool idea. Check out the TikTok video below.
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A solar-powered laptop? Oh yes
And my colleague Christina Guyton, Computing Editor, has the full lowdown on the Lenovo laptop:
"I can’t believe it took this long for a tech company to strap a solar panel to the back of an ultrabook. We need more of this. It feels like such a straightforward idea; naturally, the Yoga Solar PC can be charged conventionally via a cable, but just being able to close the lid and let it soak in the solar rays is brilliant - and basically ensures that you’ll never be stranded without any charge again (unless it’s the middle of the night, I suppose)."
Read the full story here: Lenovo’s solar-powered Yoga concept laptop is such a good idea, I’m frankly shocked nobody’s done it already.
We have a video of Honor's Watch 5 Ultra, featuring the traditional watch-wearer Axel Metz. I'm in the same boat as Axel, preferring analogue watches over smartwatches, but I have to admit the Watch 5 Ultra does look pretty slick. Check out the TikTok video below.
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Don't fancy a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 then the Nubia Flip 2 could be the flippable, foldable phone for you. This phone has a neat 3-inch OLED cover screen that can play can host to almost all of the same built-in apps that you’ll find on the Nubia Flip 2's 6.9-inch, 120Hz-capable AMOLED inner display.
There are more specs to get into but I'd suggest you check out the TikTok video below and read Axel Metz's article: The 'affordable' Nubia Flip 2 is here to tempt you away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
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Good morning! I"m back to take you through some of the announcements coming out of MWC 2025 today. So let's get into it.
Our Nothing Phone 3a Pro review is here
So while MWC played host to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, we had one back at TechRadar Towers. And my colleague Senior Phones Editor Philip Berne gave it a through going over. So check out his Nothing Phone 3a Pro review.
But in summary it's over to Phil: "The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the best phone Nothing has ever made, with premium materials that make the phone more durable and the best camera setup on any phone at this price. What it misses in performance it makes up in style, with a unique design inside and out that is sure to catch jealous eyes. If you like the look of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, why spend more? This phone is a whole experience."
Smart glasses for cyclists
Ever wanted an AI to keep you in the loop when cycling? Well say hello to BleeqUp's new 4-in-1 cycling glasses.
These smart glasses-meet-cycling-shades come with an AI-powered camera, headphones and a walkie-talkie feature, along with a big dose of UV protection.
Now I'm not sure who these smart glasses are for, but I'd assume they will tickle the fancy of adventurous cyclists out on the open road or on challenging trail, rather than the cadre of red-light-running cyclists I see nearly every day in London.
Fitness & Wearables writer Stephen Warwick has more details: BleeqUp's new 4-in-1 cycling glasses come with an AI-powered camera, one-tap video editing and a walkie-talkie feature.
Meet the best of MWC 2025
Our picks of the best of MWC 2025 are now live.
There's a whole slew of tech that's got our attention, from new phones with some innovative features to slick laptops and tech-based contact lenses.
Check out all the awards here: Best of MWC 2025: the 10 top tech launches we tried on the show floor.
Taking it to the Edge
Axel Metz got a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. and it look pretty slick. Check the video out below.
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Look and listen
Here's Josie Watson with a video look at the Honor Earbuds Open. Check it out below.
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A stupidly thin phone
You can forget about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge for a moment as Chinese phone maker Tecno revealed the Spark Slim that measures just 5.75mm thick. So that makes it the thinnest phone in the world.
However, a rumor has the so-called iPhone 17 Air tipped to be thinner still...
Check out Phones Writer Jamie Richard's full report: The world’s thinnest phone was just revealed, but a new iPhone 17 Air leak suggests it could be even slimmer.
A finer folding display
A little up date from Samsung Display: the screen-making arm of Samsung showed off a creaseless foldable display. which could hint at a big design upgrade for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7; that is if it does indeed embrace such tech.
News writer Hamish Hector has the full lowdown: Samsung shows off a creaseless folding phone display – and it improves on the Galaxy Z Fold 6 design in 3 key ways.
The best in health and fitness tech
Want a roundup of the three best health and fitness products unveiled at MWC 2025? Stephen Warwick has you covered.
The best in earbuds tech
And Becky Scarrott has you covered on the top 3 ground-breaking earbuds innovations we saw at MWC 2025.
We've got a Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge exclusive!
Our Phones Editor extraordinaire Axel Metz just got an exclusive story about the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Metz got a chance to talk to Samsung’s UK Marketing Director Annika Bizon who gave us some insight into the design philosophy of the super-slim phone, and poured fuel on rumors of its ceramic real panel.
“I can’t say too much, but what I will say is that [the Edge] is about beautiful form factor. And there are two points I want to make,” Bizon explained. “One is that it’s absolutely stunning. And if you think about the technology that’s going into that size of space, it’s pretty impressive. The second thing I’ll say concerns durability. With anything slim, durability [has to come as part of the package]. Those are the two features [of the Edge] that are exciting [for us]. Well, I know durability isn't exciting – but it’s really important. So watch this space, because there are some exciting things to come regarding this phone.”
Read the full story here: Exclusive: the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will have durability to match its ‘sexy’ form.
Is AI on phones really a big deal?
Another original report from Axel Metz, this time digging into AI use on Galaxy phones. Despite a recent survey noting that Apple and Samsung phone users appear to be nonplussed by AI tool, Samsung claimed that million of people are making use of Galaxy AI.
“Last year we launched Galaxy AI into the market, and we've now got over 5.8 million people using it on a regular basis in the UK. It took the internet eight years to get to that figure," Annika Bizon, Marketing and Omnichannel Director at Samsung UK told Metz at MWC. "Once you start using something, it becomes behavior, and our job is to change behavior, so people can see the benefits."
Read the full report here: Samsung says ‘millions’ are using Galaxy AI regularly, despite surprising survey results.
MWC 2025 is a wrap
Ok TechRadar is about done with. our MWC coverage for this year. Do keep an eye out for other interview articles that we'll have over the weekend.
But for now I'll leave you with a few photos of some of the tech we saw at the showcase and encourage you to check out article on the best of MWC 2025.
