Round-up of the coolest mobile tech released at MWC 2018

The coolest phones

2018 has brought with it an influx of interesting and unique technology that was released and announced at the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2018. There were some which were unexpected, like Nokia’s banana phone and the Selfieccino (for those who enjoy looking at themselves while drinking a cappuccino). Below is some of the coolest mobile tech that was released at MWC 2018, including new apps, technology, and other industry highlights.

The phones at MWC 2018

Asus Zenfone 5 and 5Z

At this year’s CES (International Consumer Electronics Show), the rage was the Zenbook but at the MWC 2018, the focus was on the Zenfone 5 and 5Z. These handsets are equipped with an impressive 6.2-inch, FHD+ displays, with the Zenfone 5 running the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 with 6GB of RAM and built-in storage of 64GB. The 5Z runs the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and offers up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage.

The cameras are both front and back, with the back providing 12MP and the front offering 8MP. Not as high as some of the other phones on the market today, but the photographs will be crisp and clear. Due to the Snapdragon processor, these phones will run faster, without lags and delays in loading apps or web pages.

Nokia’s smartphones and a Matrix throwback

Ahead of the pack is the Nokia 8 Sirocco, a sleek looking handset with 6GB RAM and 128GB of storage. It does, however, use last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, which is no slowpoke but was the processor of choice a year ago. The Zeiss lens on the camera makes for stunning photographs.

The next exciting model is the Nokia 7 Plus, an updated version of the Nokia 6 and the Nokia 1. It runs Android Go and is aimed at emerging markets. It offers a 6-inch 18:9 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and 64GB of onboard memory. One of the more unique offerings that Nokia announced was the release of the Nokia 8110, a throwback to the phone used on The Matrix, only this time it is in bright yellow, dubbed ‘The Banana Phone’. It offers 4G capabilities and the ridiculously popular nostalgic mobile game, Snake.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

It was no surprise that Samsung was planning to follow up their wildly successful S8 model, and so the announcement of the S9 at the MWC this year was highly anticipated. The S9 looks very similar to the S8 but is offered in a chic purple. It is equipped with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, making this chic piece a veritable powerhouse of operating speed.

The S9 camera is excellent, offering a sharp, crystal clear 12 megapixels with two apertures and OIS (optical image stabilization). The S9 offers a 5.8-inch, 18.5:9 QHD+ display while the S9 Plus provides a larger 6.2-inch display. For those who have been despairing about the demise of listening to music through your smartphone, the S9 and S9 Plus both still have headphone jacks.

Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 compact

Sony is a major player in the mobile tech world, and at the MWC 2018, they announced the release of their XZ2 and XZ2 Compact smartphones. The larger of the two offers an impressive array of features, such as a 5.7-inch screen with an 18:9 2,160 x 1,080 display, a Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB RAM, and a brilliant 19-megapixel camera for those who love the quality of Sony’s phone cameras.

The XZ2 compact shares these features but is a smaller, 5-inch device. The real star of the phones is the camera, which can shoot 4K HDR video and HD slow motion of a spectacular 960fps. The phones are available in modern colors like teal and rose gold, which will appeal to Sony’s fashion-forward target audience. The phones are due for release in April 2018.

The tech at MWC 2018

McAfee’s enabling of Amazon Alexa voice commands

This is a unique offering from McAfee and could be setting a trend for other antivirus software manufacturers. With the right router, and if you have McAfee antivirus software installed, you will be able to issue voice commands to Alexa, such as “Alexa, ask McAfee to scan my network” or “Alexa, ask McAfee how many devices are online right now”.

You will no longer have to manually check the security of your computer but can simply issue voice commands, which saves time and effort. The voice commands are not yet available but once they are, you can access them through Amazon’s Skills page and then download them to your Amazon speaker of choice.

Lenovo Yoga 730

Lenovo’s laptop-tablet hybrid, the Yoga 730, was also released this year. It is an amazingly versatile machine and has Amazon Alexa on board to make your device completely personalized and the user experience more enjoyable. You can choose from the options of 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch, Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) or 4K (3840 x 2160) IPS touch display and Intel HD Graphics 620 or Nvidia GTX 1050 graphics.

The dual-hinge mechanism works smoothly and the aluminum chassis is modern and stylish. You can easily fold the laptop into a tablet or angle it into a sturdy stand for the touchscreen. There are two USB 3 ports, three Thunderbolt-powered USB Type-C, and an HDMI connector. The inclusion of Amazon’s Alexa makes this machine a solid competitor in the 2-in-1 market.

Sailfish Operating System

Jolla’s Sailfish OS could become a rival to Android. Jolla released its first smartphone in November 2013 and since then in the following years presented a tablet and the developer-oriented Jolla C Phone. At MWC 2018, Jolla introduced an updated version of their Sailfish operating system.

This operating system does not have graphic novelties as Android does, and the menu accessible from above is altered to the Ambiance change (a name given to one of the themes available). A unique gesture allows you to switch between the two last opened apps without going through the home screen and there is an updated version of their software that allows Sailfish OS phones to run Android applications.

Huawei Matebook X Pro

Huawei announced the release of their exciting Matebook X Pro at this year’s MWC 2018. The laptop is unique in that it has a trim-bezel screen, the smallest in the business, a webcam that pops out of the keyboard rather than being placed at the top of the screen and an Intel Core i7-8550U or Core i5-8250U processor.

The other features that caught the eye of many at the conference include the 14-inch LTPS display with a resolution of 3,000 x 2,000 pixels (260ppi), a wide viewing angle and a practical 3:2 aspect ratio. The fingerprint-reader-cum-power-button has been improved, and now turns the machine on and unlocks with one touch.

In conclusion

The technology released at MWC 2018 is exciting and allows us a glimpse into the future for mobile technology advancements. Many players have announced smartphones that take into account our love of selfies, and the new laptops and hybrid devices provide unique user experiences. 1990s nostalgia was also showcased, but the focus has remained on newer, innovative tech. Read more from us to compare the latest mobile technology with last year’s offerings.