The annual MWC tech conference highlights the best new smartphones and mobile tech from around the world, and we’ve been roaming the show floor at MWC 2025 to find the picks of the bunch.
1
Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi has all the usual features one would expect from a premium pair of earbuds, like adjustable noise cancelation, multiple microphones for voice clarity, touch controls, and water and dust resistance. However, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro have one innovation we’re yet to find anywhere else: Wi-Fi connectivity.
Almost all true wireless earbuds use Bluetooth connectivity. Although the latest versions of Bluetooth offer almost lag-free listening, Wi-Fi is still faster and has more bandwidth. This means that the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi deliver higher-quality audio, allowing you to hear the finer details of your audio and appreciate its dynamic range. With up to 4.2Mbps bandwidth, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi can stream lossless audio at 24-bit/96kHz.
Powering Xiaomi’s new earbuds is Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chip. Qualcomm’s chip lets the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi use Snapdragon Sound and a new feature known as XPAN (eXpanded Personal Area Network). This latter feature is responsible for the use of Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth and the resulting increase in bandwidth.
Because of this, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi will have sound quality that competes against high-fidelity wired earphones.
However, there is a downside. At the time of writing, the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi connectivity is currently only available with the Xiaomi 15 or 15 Ultra. This is due to Qualcomm’s chip in the earbuds requiring specific Qualcomm hardware in the device you’re listening from. The company said that it will support more Xiaomi phones in the future via an update. Still, if you’re using another brand like Samsung or Apple, you’ll just be limited to the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi’s Bluetooth connection.
2
Tecno Camon 40 Pro 5G
At MWC 2025, Tecno launched its Camon 40 Series smartphones, the latest iteration of its photography-focused line. It comes in four flavors: the Camon 40 Premier 5G, the Camon 40 Pro 5G, the Camon 40 Pro, and the base Camon 40.
We loved the Camon 40 Premier 5G for its powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset and premium feel, especially as it’s the top-of-the-line model. However, the cameras and photographic quality piqued my interest in the midrange Camon 40 Pro 5G. The Camon 40 Pro 5G ranked number one in DxOMark’s Global Photography Ranking for devices under $600 (scoring 138), and it’s the first 2025 smartphone to receive DxOMark’s Smart Choice Label. Other devices with similar scores include the Xiaomi 14 ($999), Huawei Mate 40 Pro + ($1,300), and Honor Magic V3 ($1,600).
So, if you want a smartphone that excels in taking amazing photographs but doesn’t destroy your bank account, this is precisely what you need.
Adding to its photography chops, the Camon 40 Pro 5G also boasts AI features to help you get the best snapshots. Its AI FlashSnap mode allows you to take images with one tap (also using the device’s One Tap Button), ensuring you don’t have to fiddle with your smartphone’s buttons or make multiple taps on the screen just to launch the camera. It also has the BestMoment AI algorithm to help you find the best frame when taking multiple shots.
3
Lenovo Yoga Solar PC
Lenovo is pushing the boundaries on laptop innovation with its Yoga Solar PC. Although this device is just a proof of concept, the solar cells that the PC maker added to its lid allow the laptop to recharge its battery with just the power of the sun or even ambient lighting.
The solar cells convert enough direct sunlight in 20 minutes to give enough charge for one hour of 1080p video playback. This is possible with the highly efficient solar cells that convert 24% of solar energy into stored charge—one of the highest conversion rates in the industry.
It also features a Dynamic Solar Tracking system, which monitors the solar charging system’s electrical output and adjusts the laptop’s charger accordingly. This ensures the system gets the most out of the sun and reduces its electrical consumption as needed.
Despite the added solar cells, the 14-inch Yoga Solar PC is just 15mm thin and weighs about 1.22kg—about the same dimensions as a MacBook Pro. It’s also powered by an Intel Lunar Lake CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of Storage, giving you the performance you’d expect from a premium ultraportable laptop. Although this is a concept laptop, the Lenovo Yoga Solar PC is much better than we thought possible and is closer to a real-world launch than expected.
The only information we’d really like to see is how much a theoretical laptop using this concept might cost. It can’t be cheap to produce a laptop with a solar-cell lid!
4
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is easily the best phone Nothing has made. I’ve tried every device Nothing has produced since 2022’s Nothing Phone (1), and I have to say, this one knocks it out of the park.
You’re likely already familiar with Nothing’s transparent design approach. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro continues that aesthetic, using premium materials that look sublime. It features a new circular camera housing, with the LEDs for Nothing’s iconic glyph interface positioned around the frame. This is my favorite version of the glyph interface. The previous versions dotted LED strips around the rear of the device, but having them specifically placed around the circular camera housing adds some definition and style to the (3a) Pro.
Nothing has packed some decent hardware into the Phone (3a) Pro, too. Powering the Nothing Phone (3a) is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with 8GB or 12GB RAM options. It also has a well-sized 5,000mAh battery and supports 50W fast charging, gaining full charge in under an hour. The 6.77-inch, 120Hz screen is lovely, too.
The cameras are also excellent and elevate this smartphone into something special. There is a 50MP main camera (f/1.9, 1/1.57″, dual pixel PDAF, OIS), which is great on its own. However, the particular standout is the periscope telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, which is basically unheard of at this price point. It sets the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro apart from the competition.
5
TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus
We’ve seen some interesting concept screens at MWC 2025, but what about something you can use immediately? The TCL Nxtpaper 11 Plus uses its titular Nxtpaper 4.0 technology to create a screen that reads more like paper than other devices.
Because of this, the Nxtpaper 11 Plus is easy on the eyes, and TCL knows it. It added Smart Eye Comfort Mode and Personalised Eye Comfort Mode, which intelligently changes the display based on your preferences and environment to reduce eye fatigue. It’s a wonderful screen that’s well suited to almost any use but is particularly useful for work, reading, research, and so on.
It’s not just about the display, though. The Nxtpaper 11 Plus includes AI tools such as Text Assist and Writing Assist to help you work faster. Google’s Circle to Search technology lets you analyze anything by drawing a circle around it with your finger or a T-Pen, and Smart Translator makes understanding foreign languages easy.
6
Honor Watch 5 Ultra
If you’re more in the mood for a wearable, we’re giving the Honor Watch 5 Ultra an award at this year’s MWC. It’s easy to see why; with a 1.5-inch AMOLED screen and a 60Hz refresh rate with LTPO tech, it has a premium display for a smart watch. It’s ultra-responsive, too, and it’s super easy to move through the various menus. It also has a 480mAh battery with a 15-day lifespan, so it won’t die on you at the worst moment.
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is also built to last under rough conditions. It uses grade five titanium, which makes it very hardy but lightweight. You can take it diving up to 40 meters, and it comes with over 100 sports modes.
Speaking of health, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra comes with some useful health metrics. Its new Quick Health Scan feature can keep tabs on your heart rate and blood oxygen levels, plus a built-in ECG that keeps tabs on your heart’s electrical signals and warns you if anything seems wrong. We’re also keen on its new Healthy Morning Report mode, that delivers a fresh body health update each morning.
Finally, Honor confirmed that the Watch 5 Ultra doesn’t support Wear OS—but has full support for iOS and Android devices.
7
Realme Ultra Concept
Realme showcased an interesting physical camera mounting system on a device it calls the Realme Ultra. It uses Leica M-Mount lenses to bring actual physical lenses to your smartphone, turning it into, well, a proper camera.
The Ultra concept shown to us at MWC 2025 featured two lenses: a 73mm and a 234mm. Both have manual focuses and aperture rings, making the entire configuration closer to a regular camera than a smartphone. The lenses slot in and out, just as you would change them on a regular camera mount. However, while Realme has used Leica’s M-Mount, the company has nothing to do with developing this concept device. Realme used this system for its versatility and ease of use.
Of course, to support these lenses, the Realm Ultra also comes equipped with suitable sensors. Quite remarkably, the Ultra packs in three one-inch camera sensors, protected behind toughed glass. One sensor is for the interchangeable lenses, while the other two are for regular smartphone photography—this is designed as a day-to-day smartphone first and foremost, but with the bonus that it can become your camera.
It’s not all upsides, though. These lenses are proper camera equipment and as such, feature a huge amount of glass. This means they’re heavy. So the price you pay for incredible images is the weight of carrying the extra lenses around. With this concept, Realme is pushing smartphone photography full circle. It’s hard to know whether a concept device like this would ever really catch on, but we liked the overall idea and focus on further improving photography on the world’s most usable cameras.
8
Huawei Watch D2
If you’re searching for something that can quickly and easily take your blood pressure, you’ll want to look at the Huawei Watch D2. One of its spotlight features is a built-in blood pressure monitor, which requires no additional hardware and takes it directly from your wrist. It’s one of the first of its kind, making it a perfect fit for those who want to keep tabs on their levels. It keeps tabs on your SBP and DBP readings during 24 hours, using an auto-monitoring system to check your blood pressure.
The Huawei Watch D2 also comes with all the health features you’d expect. It can measure heart rate, blood oxygen levels, quality of sleep, skin temperature, and an ECG. It even has an arterial stiffness checker to check for potential cardiovascular issues. Importantly, the Huawei Watch D2 is certified by the EU’s Medical Device Regulation body and China’s National Medical Products Administration.
Besides the health features, the Huawei Watch D2 has a 1.82-inch AMOLED screen, water resistance for up to 30 minutes, and a battery life of five days.
