Mobile World Congress 2019

​What's old is new. While companies like Samsung and Huawei race to bring modern folding phones to market, UK-based F(x)tec is focusing its efforts on another blast from the past – the slide-out keyboard. The startup's Pro1 smartphone has been launched at Mobile World Congress 2019.​

At Mobile World Congress this week, Energizer unveiled the P18K Pop, which is basically more battery than phone. Packing a ridiculous 18,000 mAh capacity, it apparently lasts weeks on a charge – but on the flip side, it brings new meaning to the old phrase “brick phone.”

Automaker Seat has chosen MWC 2019 to offer a glimpse into the company's micromobility future. The Minimó electric urban runabout is said to combine the comfort and safety of a car with the maneuverability and ease of use of a motorcycle. And yes, it looks a lot like a Renault Twizy.

The Mobile World Congress isn't just about flagship smartphones: HTC has launched a new 5G smart hub, putting the next-gen cellular connectivity right inside your home – provided you've got any 5G infrastructure near where you live, of course.

​Smartphones are getting ever more capable, now coming with 4K screens and multiple cameras. Happily, there are still some mobile devices that allow storage expansion via a microSD slot, making the announcement of the world's fastest 1 TB UHS-1 card very welcome indeed.​

Sony announcing new phones at MWC 2019 is no surprise – it usually does the same every year – but the shape and style of its latest Xperia handsets are something out of the ordinary. Leading the way is the Xperia 1, the first phone with a 4K OLED display.

The current trend for smartphones seems to be all about cramming more and more cameras in. At Mobile World Congress this week, the crown was stolen by the Nokia 9 PureView, which has no less than six cameras – five on the back and one on the front.

At a Mobile World Congress where foldable phones are grabbing most of the headlines, the new LG G8 ThinQ and LG V50 ThinQ can look unspectacular by comparison – but LG's new flagships for 2019 come with a number of useful upgrades, without deviating too much from last year's models.

Microsoft first introduced HoloLens all the way back in 2015. The mixed reality headset went on sale in 2016, but has remained distinctly business-focused. Now, a sequel has arrived: the HoloLens 2 brings with it better ergonomics, greater immersion, and improved technology across the board.

We knew foldable phones would be one of the smartphone trends of 2019, but we're now starting to see the actual devices appear: days after Samsung took the wrappers off its Galaxy Fold phone, Huawei has been showing off its own foldable Mate X handset at Mobile World Congress 2019.

A new Mobile World Congress is almost upon us. The biggest names in the phone industry will descend on Barcelona between February 25-28, with press events scheduled the day before. Here's everything we think is going to make an appearance at MWC 2019.