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Best of MWC 2019 Awards: Android Authority's favorite products from the show
Android Authority has spent the last week scouring the streets of Barcelona, looking for the biggest and best announcements from MWC 2019. Undoubtedly, foldable phones and 5G were the inescapable themes at the trade show, but that wasn’t all — concept products, mixed reality headsets, and even phones with gigantic batteries made an appearance.
We’ve come up with a list of our top ten favorite products from the show, from 5G to super-fast charging accessories. In no particular order, here are Android Authority’s picks for the Best of MWC 2019.
Nokia 9 PureView
HMD Global doesn’t often launch phones that can rival the best, but when it does, it seems to impress us every time. The Nokia 9 PureView is the latest such device, offering a stellar design and a total of six cameras. Seriously, check out the full list of Nokia 9 specs right here.
Read and watch: Nokia 9 PureView hands-on: Five cameras aim for mobile magic
It’s not winning one of our Best of MWC 2019 awards just because of its six cameras, though. One of the best aspects of this phone is the price. You’ll be able to purchase the Nokia 9 in March for roughly 599 euros, which quite frankly seems like a steal.
HUAWEI Mate X
Foldable phones are all the rage at MWC 2019, and the HUAWEI Mate X is one of the best — not just according to us, but according to you, our dear readers!
Read and watch: HUAWEI Mate X first look: 5G flexibility in a foldable form factor
The HUAWEI Mate X was designed a little differently than other foldables. Instead of featuring the larger, folding display on the inside, the Mate X’s folding 8-inch OLED display is on the outside. That means when you fold it into a traditional phone shape, you’ll have a display on the front and back. We think that makes for an overall sleeker design, though that may be at the expense of durability.
It’s pricey, but it’s so cool. That’s why the HUAWEI Mate X is winning one of our Best of MWC 2019 awards.
OPPO 10x optical zoom
A couple days before MWC 2019 official started, OPPO showed off its 10x lossless zoom camera system.
This 10x zoom tech is achieved thanks to OPPO’s new triple-camera system, which includes a 48MP main sensor, a 16MP ultra-wide sensor, and the 10x zoom telephoto lens. Check out how it works in this video.
The fact that OPPO was able to pack this tech into a smartphone without making it extremely bulky is impressive. We can expect to see it in OPPO’s next smartphone, expected to come out in Q2 2019.
Samsung Galaxy Fold
Samsung unveiled its foldable smartphone a few days before MWC 2019, but we’re still including it on our list.
Since foldable smartphones are still a new product category, every company seems to have a different take on just how the device should fold. Samsung’s device folds open like a book and features a Dynamic OLED display on the inside. When closed, there’s a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED panel on the front.
Even though plenty of companies are announcing foldable phones this year, Samsung’s is definitely one of — if not the most — polished. You can read more about the Galaxy Fold right here.
Microsoft HoloLens 2
Microsoft recently announced a follow-up to its futuristic HoloLens headset from 2015, and it’s making the second version smaller and more affordable. Well, we wouldn’t call $3,500 ‘affordable’, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Constructed of carbon fiber, the Microsoft HoloLens 2 was made to be worn for hours without the need to take it off from discomfort. It can track users’ eyes and hands, allowing them to “touch” virtual objects and interact more easily with menus. Plus, Microsoft more than doubled the HoloLens’ field-of-view this time around — a welcome change for people who used the first HoloLens.
The best part? The HoloLens 2 will have plenty of practical applications. Real-time collaboration with virtual avatars has improved, making it easier for, say, someone in the medical industry to virtually examine patients.
Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus
We’ve been anticipating the launch of the tenth-anniversary Galaxy S phone for awhile. It’s finally here, and the Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus may be two of the best smartphones to launch this year.
Read and watch: Samsung Galaxy S10 hands-on: Samsung’s latest flagships set a new bar
Again, these launched a few days ahead of MWC, but we couldn’t not include them. They have some of the most top-tier specs on any smartphone, triple-rear cameras that sound like an improvement over last year’s models, as well as Samsung’s wonderful One UI software with Android Pie. Finally, those screens. Samsung makes the best OLEDs in the business, and the displays on the Galaxy S10 line are fantastic.
Overall, we’ve enjoyed using the Galaxy S10 Plus so far and can’t wait to bring you our full review.
Sony Xperia 1
It wasn’t until last MWC that Sony started changing up its smartphone design philosophy. Now that it’s experimenting with new form factors and designs, we couldn’t be happier.
The new Sony Xperia 1 is here, bringing a 4K 21:9 OLED display and an all-around great specs sheet. We’re still waiting on pricing and availability info, though we do know the device will land in late Spring.
Read and watch: Sony Xperia 1 hands-on: Embracing the super tall display
To be transparent, we debated whether or not to include the Xperia 1 on our list. Our experience with the software is very limited, so we’re not able to vouch for anything relating to the phone’s software. However, we were impressed with what we saw of the device, which is why we included it on our list.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G
We were already impressed with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, but the company announced a 5G variant at MWC 2019.
We know, a lot of companies announced 5G phones in Barcelona this year. The thing is, most of them are way too expensive, but they don’t have to be. Xiaomi knows this, and has priced the Mi Mix 3 5G at a sensible 599 euros (~$681).
Read and watch: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 review: What’s old is new again
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G comes with all the features the vanilla Mi Mix 3 has, and then some. It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 this time around, as well as a larger 3,800mAh battery.
HUAWEI Matebook X Pro
Last year, HUAWEI wowed the tech world with the MateBook X Pro, a premium ultraportable clearly positioned to take on Apple’s MacBook. At MWC 2019 the company introduced a worthy successor. The new HUAWEI MateBook X Pro isn’t a massive departure from last year’s model aesthetically, but the internals have received a pretty solid upgrade.
Read and watch: Hands-on with HUAWEI’s sleek MateBook X Pro (2019)
The MateBook X Pro is now powered by an Intel Core i7 8565U, a NVIDIA MX250 GPU, and several other upgrades — most significant is a Thunderbolt 3-enabled USB-C port that’s capable of 40Gbps output. This should allow much better performance from external video cards.
The new model is award-worthy simply because it takes an already great formula and kicks it up a notch, giving consumers essentially a Windows version of the Macbook Pro at a slightly more accessible price point.
Xiaomi 20W wireless charging pad
Wireless charging has long been a time-consuming convenience. Dropping your phone on a charging pad without having to fiddle with cables is nice, but the extra time you have to wait for your phone to charge is not. Fast wireless charging has thankfully been a thing for a while now, but most fast wireless chargers will cost you in the vicinity of $100.
Xiaomi’s promise of five percent profit margins mean the company won’t overcharge you for its products, something that can occasionally throw into stark relief just how much other manufacturers are marking up their products. At just over $25, the 20W Xiaomi wireless charger is right on the money.
Read and watch: Xiaomi Mi 9 review: The latest flagship tech at a reasonable price
Unfortunately you’ll only get a standard 18W charger in the Xiaomi Mi 9 box. If you do spring for the 20W wireless charger, you’ll also get a wall plug that, when plugged directly into the phone, delivers the maximum 27W charge. The best of both worlds for $25? We’ll take it.