5G continues to make a splash this year, while virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are twin pillars of what could very well be the next big thing.
Here are more highlights from MWC 2022.
1. Holoride
Holoride unveiled its in-car entertainment VR platform that proudly claims to reduce motion sickness while offering an immersive entertainment solution.
The platform prefers to remain open to everyone and is untied to a particular brand, although the demonstration headset saw the HTC Vive Flow in action.
2. Honor
Honor continued to flex its muscles with the announcement of the Honor Magic 4. Selling points include its 100W fast-charging capability and unique camera arrangement at the back.
Offering flagship performance with the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, the Magic 4 is mated to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
It is by no means a small handset, featuring a 6.81-inch (17.3cm) LTPO Quad-Curved Display 2 and ultra-thin bezels, so make sure you have a protective case to keep this bad boy safe against knocks and drops.
With a flagship-level processor in tow, Honor steps up in delivering lenses that matter for its cameras. You get a 50MP wide-angle lens as the primary camera, accompanied by a 50MP ultra wide-angle camera with a 64MP periscope telephoto lens.
Thankfully, Honor has not included the rudimentary macro or depth camera that plagues many mid-range devices. It would be interesting to see how the Magic 4 fares against other flagships from more established brands.
3. Nokia
How the mighty hath fallen! Nokia used to be the world’s most popular mobile phone manufacturer, but it is no longer on anybody’s must-buy lists.
Revived by HMD Global, Nokia soldiers on by announcing its C21, C21 Plus, and C2 2nd Edition entry-level smartphones.
All three offer the bare requirements and are powered by Android, making them useful for those who just need a smartphone without all the bells and whistles.
4. Oppo
Oppo continues to push the proverbial envelope by showcasing its 240W flash-charging technology at MWC 2022.
This is an interesting development that would certainly carve a smile on the faces of road warriors, as it is capable of recharging a 4,500mAh battery from flat to full in just nine minutes.
As overnight charging is a habit many would love to leave behind, this is a much-anticipated step in the right direction.
5. Quick charging and more
And it looks like Oppo is not alone. With the latter, OnePlus, and Realme all under the BBK group, it makes sense that each of these features some form of fast charging.
OnePlus announced it will be offering 150W charging speeds on a new handset later this year, while Realme’s 150W fast-charging technology was also revealed carrying the UltraDart moniker.
Software is another area where improvements can be anticipated. Android smartphone manufacturers continue to look ahead by offering longer software support for their devices, with three major Android updates and four years of security updates for flagship handsets as the new norm.
Samsung continues to lead the pack with five major Android updates and five years of security updates.
6. Extended reality the reality
A decade ago, VR headsets began popping up in the market, while AR applications were still in their infancy. Today, tech capability and mobile advancements have made it possible for VR and AR to be a part of everyday life.
HTC’s Vive Flow might make you look like a human fly but it offers a relatively comprehensive VR experience, complete with front-facing cameras to facilitate the “Passthrough” mode, allowing you to walk around and be aware of your surroundings even while you are wearing it.
Initial hands-on experiences point to software kinks that need to be ironed out, but the hardware itself looks ready for prime time action.
HTC has, however, excluded a significant user base due as the Vive Flow is not compatible with iPhones.
Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.