At MWC 2025, the mobile tech scene proved that while smartphones themselves continue to be reliably excellent, it's the quirky, avant-garde ideas in the margins that really stole the show. Reviewer Allison Johnson, with her 10 years of tech insight and a keen interest in mobile photography, took us on a whirlwind tour through a conference full of both predictably impressive devices and offbeat innovations – from phones sporting back panels that change color or double as an E Ink display to sustainable concepts like Tecno’s coffee grounds-powered prototype. Amid the oddities, standout moments included Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra, which tackled the long-standing issue of poor telephoto cameras with its big 200-megapixel periscope, and Nothing’s 3A and 3A Pro, boasting an AI-powered "Essential Space" for organizing digital memories. As Johnson humorously recalls, “Oh, shit, was that the king of Spain who just walked by?” the show was as unexpected as it was exciting, leaving us hopeful for even more distinctive, innovative tech on the horizon.

Key Points:

• Main Focus on Marginal Oddities: While standard smartphones were impressive, the real stars were the creative, unconventional ideas surrounding them.
• Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s Telephoto Upgrade: A notable highlight was its breakthrough 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, overcoming the limitations of smaller sensors in dim lighting.
• Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro: These models include the AI-powered "Essential Space" feature, amping up the usability and organization of digital content.
• Creative and Sustainable Concepts: Innovative ideas ranged from phones with color-changing and E Ink back panels to sustainable designs using coffee grounds and solar-powered accessories.
• Other Tech Innovations: Beyond phones, there were playful concepts like Samsung Display’s folding handheld gaming device and Lenovo’s multi-fold laptop designs.
• Memorable Moments: The event was filled with unexpected encounters, punctuated by Johnson’s humorous remark, “Oh, shit, was that the king of Spain who just walked by?” which underscored the lively atmosphere of MWC 2025.
  Link to Article