MWC 2019 proved it’s Time to Say Goodbye iPhone

It was not so long ago that Samsung released its Galaxy Fold. Smartphones seem to be a trend this year.

I just got back from Barcelona. No I was not sunbathing, although there might have been a bit of that going on. I was in Barcelona for Mobile World Congress 2019. For those of you who don’t know what MWC is, let’s say it’s like the Coachella or Tomorrowland of all things mobile. Yes, it’s really that big of a deal. And this year was no exception. Tech companies were pulling out all the stops. The talk of this mobile town? Huawei’s first foldable phone, the Huawei Mate X.

Huawei Mate X

Earlier I predicted that Huawei could beat out Samsung by releasing a foldable phone with a more affordable price. They’re not complying with this prediction. The Huawei Mate X will be available sometime later this year for a jaw-dropping €2,299. So what are we getting for €300 more than the Samsung Galaxy Fold?

Huawei first folding phone, Huawei Matei X - Source: Huawei

The Huawei Mate X is slimmer than the Samsung Galaxy Fold. It flaunts a 5.4mm thickness when opened and a 11mm thickness when closed. The Galaxy Fold comes bulkier with 6.9mm when opened and 17mm when closed. Aside from this the Mate X looks comparable to the Galaxy Fold. You get a multitasking interface with 2 instead of 3 apps, dual battery, 5G compatibility and dual SIM card slots.

We all know Huawei stole the show. But there were also some other exciting releases.

Nokia 9 PureView

Nokia 9 PureView - Source: Nokia

Nokia is trying to keep in the race. At MWC Nokia showed off its newest and most expensive mobile device yet, the Nokia 9 Pureview. This smartphone has 5 12 MP lenses all made with Zeiss Optics. You’ll even be able to shoot and edit RAW DNG photos directly on the phone. Impressive? Definitely. You can get this nokia for $699 and it may be the best camera phone underdog yet.

Xiaomi 9

Xiaomi Mi 9 - Source: Xiaomi

Xiaomi, another Chinese mobile powerhouse, made its first appearance this year at MWC. The Xiaomi Mi 9 is coming to Europe. Sooner rather than later. As of Feb 28 you can get your very own and very affordable Xiaomi Mi 9. It starts at €449 and features the Snapdragon 855 Processor. Meaning you can game 20% faster on your phone. You’ll also be able to take incredible photos with the Xiaomi Mi 9. It has a Sony 48 MP sensor and 3 lenses: wide angle, telephoto and ultra wide.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 - Source: Xiaomi

What’s more exciting is Xiaomi’s 5G phone, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. Expect to see this one in stores in May. You can grab your own for €599. It’s definitely hitting a higher price range than the usual Xiaomi but it still sits in a much more affordable bracket when compared to the newest foldables and iPhones. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 has a full screen display with 2 rear cameras and implements a new sliding feature. Slide the front half of the phone down to complete quick tasks like checking the weather or replying to messages.

Sony Xperia 1

Sony Xperia 1- Source: Sony

We also saw another long time friend. Sony. Sony hasn’t been totally kicked out of this worldwide mobile race. Sony announced its Xperia 1, Xperia 10 and Xperia 10 Plus. This smartphone is bringing a bit of Hollywood, equipped with a cinematic 21:9 tall screen.

LG V50 ThinQ

LG V50 ThinQ - Source: LG

LG chocolate? Anyone remember this one. We’ve come a long way from those indestructible mini blocks. LG presented its 5G phone, the LG V50 ThinQ. It’s furnished with 5 cameras and its almost foldable? You can buy an additional snap on case that functions as a flip cover and additional screen.

Final Thoughts

The rise of smartphone ownership sparked a race in the smartphone industry. Apple’s latest flop opened up a perfect window for Android system phones to get ahead in the race. It’s going to be an interesting fight to witness as no phone currently has the right to take a top spot. Whether it’s price, amount of camera lenses and MP, screen to body ratio or wireless charging speeds each and every smartphone has it pros and cons.

I would love to have your thoughts on this smartphone race and the outrageous prices top smartphones have reached. Leave a comment!

I’ll definitely be back with another article covering other MWC 2019 Barcelona news, including advances in AR technology and what that means for the gaming industry. Stay tuned for that.

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