Mobile World Congress 2025 brings the technology community to Barcelona’s busy streets touting its latest, greatest innovations. From quirky concepts to the products you actually buy, we've seen a lot here. (Of course, we also ate the weight from the snacks and even tried several local beers.)
As the show ends, we want to outline the top products you see. While not all are things you can buy, they are all innovative in their own way, offering something that makes them stand out from the crowd – design, ideas, and even price.
Well, here is CNET's first choice for Mobile World Congress 2025.
No phone 3a and 3a Pro
This is the Nothing Phone 3a on the left and there is no phone 3A Pro on the right.
There is nothing best known for its affordable Android phones that light up on the back, and the new Phone 3A and 3A Pro follow this format. Both models share most of its key specs, including a nice Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 processor, a vibrant 6.7-inch display, and a 5,000-MAH battery.
Although both have a 50-megapixel main camera, the 3A Pro has a more advanced autofocus system and a periscope camera for a zoom lens that looks better. I tested the tests around Barcelona and got some cool images.
Watch the following: Use the 3A Pro camera to disassemble Nothing Phone 3A Pro Shot
Crucially, both phones are affordable, with the 3A starting at $379 and the 3A Pro starting at $459. Not bad for phones that include Google's Gemini AI tools and offer six years of software and security support.
Read more: Samsung showcased at MWC 2025 with its concept device
Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, A56 phone
Samsung Galaxy A26, A36 and A56.
We can't talk about affordable phones without mentioning Samsung's new Galaxy A series. The company removed the latest additions to the product lineup, including the $300 Galaxy A26, the $400 A36 and the $500 A56. (I wonder why there is no A46.)
All three have the same 6.7-inch display and a 5,000-MAH battery, but the spending on one of the high-end models will give you a larger processor, more RAM and a more efficient camera setup. AI features can be baked into all three in one Samsung UI as well as in Google Gemini and Circle searches.
Xiaomi's modular camera concept
Xiaomi modular camera concept.
Xiaomi's 15 Ultra has awesome rear cameras and may indeed be the best phone on the show, but not far from last year's 14 Ultras, I've followed other things from the company.
Xiaomi calls it a “modular optics system” that is essentially a camera lens and large sensor that connects to your phone, giving you a quality-enabled imaging setup that still uses the phone as the brain to take advantage of instant editing and social sharing and social sharing. It's not the same as the 2013 Sony QX10, which is arguably ahead of the times, but I really like it.
MWC 2025: Xiaomi’s photography-centric 15 Ultra is a strong country
View all photos
Sadly, Xiaomi’s lenses are largely seen as a concept. I really hope this will get to the store shelves. As a professional photographer, I like the idea of having something that can get higher quality images than my phone, without most things that carry full-size cameras and lens settings.
HMD Fusion X1 Teen Phone
The HMD Fusion X1 is a stepping stone between offline childhood and online adulthood.
Although we usually talk about which smartphone has the most power, the best camera, or the longest battery life, the purpose of the HMD's Fusion X1 is very different from the purpose of most phones. It is targeted at young teenagers and allows parents to restrict access or screen time from their phones to help children build healthier relationships with technology and social media.
“While most phones with parental controls either rely on applications that can be removed or bypassed, the Fusion X1 combines application-based controls that are deeply embedded in its Android OS version.” CNET's Katie Collins explained in a hands-on practice with the device. “This creates a locked safe space where kids still have limited access to Snapchat, WhatsApp and Tiktok if their parents agree.”
The HMD Fusion X1 will be available in May for £229 (a conversion of about $290).
Read more: $1,499 Golden Saga Phone Access to MWC 2025 for Redmagic 10 Pro
Aurzen Zip folding projector
Aurzen ZIP projector.
Projectors are often bulky items you will usually install on the ceiling and stay in place. The Aurzen zipper is another beast altogether. Use the folding mechanism to make it look a bit like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, which can stand on the surface and scale your movie up to 80 inches and then fold it into something small enough to fit your pocket.
It works on Apple Airplay, allowing you to stream Netflix videos from your iPhone, although you can also use an HDMI adapter if you want to plug in your laptop to stream other content. Its battery provides up to 1.5 hours of use, so watching the Dune 2 requires you to plug it in, but it has a quick charge to get the juice back up quickly.
Although its 720-pixel resolution isn't suitable for movie chips, it's small in size and is perfect for “movie nights at your friend's location, traveling or just in a space challenge apartment.
Following the successful launch of Kickstarter, the postal code will be available for general sale later this month, starting at $300.
Read more: Realme Pro 14 Color Change Phones in MWC 2025 Bath
Tecno Spark Slim
Tecno Spark Slim is thinner than a pencil. My hands feel super light.
While rumors suggest that the Galaxy S25 that Samsung mocked may be less than 6mm thick at the edge, Tecno's Spark Slim concept took it a step further. It's only 5.75mm, and it claims to be the slimmer phone in the world, and it does look almost weird in person.
Often, a slim phone can damage battery life simply because there is less space for all of these units. But Tecno somehow managed to squeeze the 5200 mAh battery, as well as the 50-megapixel host and super camera.
This is still a concept, so some of these specifications should be used with a little salt. Still, I would love to see a phone like this, which focuses on easier holding and sliding into the pocket of a pair of skinny jeans. The company said the device will be made of solid material, but I was concerned about how much it might bend, especially if I sit it in my back pocket. That would be a nasty way for any phone.
Honorary nomination: Lenovo Solar Laptop
This is a laptop with a built-in solar cell on the cover.
Lenovo has a number of concept devices at this year's show, including some screens that look neat and look, which you can attach to the main screen of your laptop to expand your workspace. But our favorite is the solar-powered laptop, which has a range of solar cells on its cover.
Lenovo says these cells are particularly effective, and after just 20 minutes of direct sunlight, they can provide enough juice for an hour of video playback. Still, as CNET's Josh Goldman pointed out, this is not about powering laptops entirely with solar energy, but more about extending battery life where possible.
Read more: Honor teasing agent AI phones will “change” our devices
This is definitely a neat idea, although I can't imagine it's especially useful for everyday use. A person wants to work on a laptop in the bright sunshine? It is crucial that when you work on your laptop, the back of the screen may tilt downward away from the sun, so it will only be truly charged when it is turned off and not in use. Nevertheless, even if the technology companies paste solar panels on their poncho, we are always very keen to hear how technology companies use renewable energy.
