3 phones from MWC 2017 you’ve probably never heard of

MWC 2017 review

If you’re a die-hard Samsung fan, then the bad news is that they’re going to keep you waiting for a little longer. Koh Dong-jin, Samsung’s head of mobile business has suggested that, while the Korean tech giant has traditionally used the Mobile World Congress (MWC) to launch their flagship phones, it’ll still be some time before the Galaxy 8 is released. The good news is that there’s life after the likes of Samsung and Apple at the Mobile World Congress 2017. There are plenty of lesser known, upstart mobile manufacturers out there that are forging a name for themselves and giving the major players something to think about. From OnePlus to WileyFox, here are the three best independent alternative phones that are turning heads at this year’s MWC.

OnePlus 3

With rumors around the release of OnePlus 5 already circling, some may think that mentioning this phone at all is a little backward. But we think that this device is cool enough to talk about before its bigger, better-looking brother hogs all the attention. The OnePlus 3 is a pretty incredible phone. It’s a device that certainly throws some heat the way of the Samsungs, HTCs, and Apples of the world.

And, OnePlus seem to have dealt with a lot of their demons. Previous OnePlus phones offered an experience that was slightly lacking and couldn’t convince anyone that they were genuine flagship beaters. Their latest device confirms that this is no longer the case.

While the original OnePlus device was an all-plastic affair, the latest installment is all chic metal and glass. A 5.5-inch screen and 7’4 millimeter aluminum frame gives the handset a polished finish and makes it a device to both look at and hold. Yes, we know that a 5.5-inch phone isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but this little bombshell wears it well. Other high-end features on the phone include a fingerprint sensor, 16-megapixel camera, and 4K video-recording capabilities. It’s a masterpiece.

WileyFox Swift 2 X

WileyFox was something of an enigma when it joined the smartphone race in 2015. But the company has proven all of its detractors wrong, consistently impressing with a range of affordable handsets that pack specs and designs well above their entry-level asking prices. The same is true of their latest offering.

On looks alone, this is a phone that you’d expect to be in the same ring as the latest iPhone or Samsung. Sure, it’s not as easy on the eye, but still comfortably holds its own. And costs a third of the price.

With 3GB of RAM, there’s power to get the job done and the screen size is big and bright without making the phone feel cumbersome. And, at the price that WileyFox is setting, with all of this plus its 16-megapixel camera, the device is hard to fault.

Xiaomi Mi 5

So, it’s a Chinese manufacturer. Therefore, its build-quality is going to be substandard. Right? Well, nothing could be further from the truth. The Mi5 is completely solid in every way and nothing about it gives any reason to believe that it isn’t a high-end device.

The metal frame looks like something out of a Samsung design studio, while its screen stretches so close to the edges of the phone, it’s a wonder how Xiaomi even managed to get it produced.

The display is equally impressive. And the 1080 x 1920 pixels doesn’t detract in the least from the clarity and brightness of the screen. This phone looks great, feels great, and has the spec list to deliver. Plus, at an almost unbelievable price, it’s hard to look past.

With all this hype around smartphones, it’s easy to get lost in new technologies. Have a look at a few more of the coolest phones to hit the mobile market announced earlier this year at CES 2017.