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MWC 2024: Anticipating the Coolest Phone Tech, Concepts and Surprises – CNET

Mobile World Congress sees almost all of the world’s biggest tech companies descend on Barcelona every year to show off the latest and greatest in mobile technology. This year will be no different, with many major brands already teasing their launches ahead of the show’s official opening on Monday, Feb. 26. 

We will be there in person this year, armed with laptops, cameras and a thirst for the next big thing. Also we’ll have tapas and beer, because Barcelona.

Read more: Top Phones to Expect in 2024: iPhone 16, Google Pixel 9 and More

So what can we actually expect from the show? Let’s pop our safety hats on and dive into the rumor mill. 

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The Nothing Phone 2 launched in July 2023. Little is known about the 2A, but it’ll launch in March.

” image-credit=”Andrew Lanxon/CNET” image-alt-text=”Image of the Nothing Phone 2″ image-filename=”nothing-phone-2-review-cnet-promo-lanxon-18.jpg” image-date-created=”2023/07/10″ image-width=”3000″ image-height=”2001″ image-do-not-crop=”false” image-do-not-resize=”false” image-watermark=”false” lightbox=”false” edition=”us” class=”c-shortcodeImage u-clearfix c-shortcodeImage-large c-shortcodeImage-hasCaption”>

Watch this: What to Expect from Mobile World Congress 2024

04:02

OnePlus concepts and Watch 2

Speaking of concepts, OnePlus has a good track record of showing off quirky concept versions of its devices at the show. Last year, we were treated to a liquid-cooled version of its OnePlus 11 flagship. The company hasn’t yet teased any kind of new concept for this year’s show, but we remain hopeful for something unusual to be on display. 

We may, however, get an actual product from the company in the form of the OnePlus Watch 2. The company’s first-generation wearable launched back in 2021 and didn’t really impress. We don’t know anything about the watch itself, but some rumors suggest it will be unveiled at the show. Stay tuned, watch fans. 

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The Apple Vision Pro is the company’s first AR/VR headset and the best wearable display I’ve ever put on. Here’s a closer look at the device itself and all the accessories that come with it.

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The Apple Vision Pro is the company’s first AR/VR headset and the best wearable display I’ve ever put on. Here’s a closer look at the device itself and all the accessories that come with it.

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The Apple Vision Pro is the company’s first AR/VR headset and the best wearable display I’ve ever put on. Here’s a closer look at the device itself and all the accessories that come with it.

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The Apple Vision Pro is the company’s first AR/VR headset and the best wearable display I’ve ever put on. Here’s a closer look at the device itself and all the accessories that come with it.

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Here’s a list of what’s in the box:

  • Two differently designed head straps for different fits

  • An extra face cushion (one’s a bit thicker than the other, for those wearing prescription lenses)

  • A proprietary battery with a cable

  • A cushioned front-cover cozy for the headset’s glass front

  • A USB-C 30-watt charging adapter&nbsp;

  • A USB-C cable

  • An Apple polishing cloth (which Apple says should be the only cloth you use to polish the Vision Pro, but microfiber cloths should be fine)

  • An instruction manual

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Here’s a list of what’s in the box:

  • Two differently designed head straps for different fits

  • An extra face cushion (one’s a bit thicker than the other, for those wearing prescription lenses)

  • A proprietary battery with a cable

  • A cushioned front-cover cozy for the headset’s glass front

  • A USB-C 30-watt charging adapter&nbsp;

  • A USB-C cable

  • An Apple polishing cloth (which Apple says should be the only cloth you use to polish the Vision Pro, but microfiber cloths should be fine)

  • An instruction manual

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Here’s a list of what’s in the box:

  • Two differently designed head straps for different fits

  • An extra face cushion (one’s a bit thicker than the other, for those wearing prescription lenses)

  • A proprietary battery with a cable

  • A cushioned front-cover cozy for the headset’s glass front

  • A USB-C 30-watt charging adapter&nbsp;

  • A USB-C cable

  • An Apple polishing cloth (which Apple says should be the only cloth you use to polish the Vision Pro, but microfiber cloths should be fine)

  • An instruction manual

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Here’s a list of what’s in the box:

  • Two differently designed head straps for different fits

  • An extra face cushion (one’s a bit thicker than the other, for those wearing prescription lenses)

  • A proprietary battery with a cable

  • A cushioned front-cover cozy for the headset’s glass front

  • A USB-C 30-watt charging adapter&nbsp;

  • A USB-C cable

  • An Apple polishing cloth (which Apple says should be the only cloth you use to polish the Vision Pro, but microfiber cloths should be fine)

  • An instruction manual

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A carrying case seems like a must for such a potentially delicate product with a curved glass front, but Apple’s nice padded case costs an extra $199. Inside, the Vision Pro is like a very bulbous set of headphones. It’s bigger than my large backpack can hold.

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A carrying case seems like a must for such a potentially delicate product with a curved glass front, but Apple’s nice padded case costs an extra $199. Inside, the Vision Pro is like a very bulbous set of headphones. It’s bigger than my large backpack can hold.

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Check Out Apple’s Vision Pro Headset and Everything in the Box

See all photos

Smart rings and mixed reality headsets

Samsung teased its upcoming wearable, the Galaxy Ring, during its Galaxy Unpacked event in January but we’ve so far seen very little of it. It’s possible that Samsung may show off more of the ring — or at least let us put one on — during the show. Or it might continue to keep its cards close to its chest. 

Either way, big tech announcements like this have a habit of sparking similar ideas from other players and it’s quite likely we’ll see similar wearables at the show from other brands. Whether these take the form of rings, or if we’ll see a sudden influx of smart necklaces or smart nose piercings, remains to be seen.

Read more: Samsung’s Surprise Galaxy Ring: Who’s This Wearable Actually For?

But the same is likely to be true of mixed reality or spatial computing headsets. Apple’s Vision Pro is making big waves in the tech world and even managed to impress our very own Scott Stein, who called it “a mind-blowing look at an unfinished future.” While Apple never attends these shows, it’s highly likely that we’ll see competing devices from brands wanting to get in on the headset computing action. 

Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s new SU7 electric car

Rumors suggest that Xiaomi will be taking the wraps off its latest Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra phones, with the latter featuring titanium in order to keep pace with Apple and Samsung. Exciting stuff, for sure, but the company might have an even bigger product to show off. 

Xiaomi has been clear since 2021 about its plans to get into the automotive market and at the end of last year it announced its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi plans to become one of the top five car manufacturers in the world, so we firmly expect this vehicle to appear in some form as part of the company’s 2024 MWC showcase. 

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