Mobile World Congress (or MWC) is an annual mobile event presented by the GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications). The event gathers industry professionals from the technology areas of mobility and connectivity, otherwise known as the world’s biggest phone and mobile tech trade show.
If it’s a mobile device (such as a smartphone or some other type of device that can be taken and used on the go) or related to mobile or cellular connectivity, it’s fair game for MWC.
What Are the Dates for the Next MWC?
2023’s MWC Barcelona will take place from February 27 to March 2, 2023.
MWC Barcelona 2022 took place from February 28 to March 3, 2022. In 2021, the GSMA postponed it to late June. Shanghai held an MWC event from February 23 to 25, 2021, and Los Angeles hosted a show from October 26 to 28, 2021.
The Shanghai event focuses solely on Asian and other regional mobility topics. The event in Los Angeles focused on the future of artificial intelligence, 5G, and IoT topics.
MWC 2022 Recap
MWC 2022 focused on tablets and laptops while smartphones took a smaller stage. Huawei was a significant presence at the show unveiling a MateBook laptop, all-in-one PC, laser printer, speakers, and a tablet. The MatePad Paper tablet looks like an eReader, with an e-ink screen. It’s compatible with Huawei’s stylus, the M-Pencil.
Samsung showcased a line of laptops called the Galaxy Book 2 series, and Lenovo unveiled about 20 new laptops and tablets, including a few Chromebooks.
Oppo was one of a few companies to announce a phone, the Find X5 Pro.
Highlights from MWC 2021
Samsung unveiled a new smartwatch platform, offering a first look at its upcoming One UI Watch experience. The electronics manufacturer announced the first Galaxy Watch running the new OS would appear on shelves later in the year.
According to a press release, the platform, later named Wear OS Powered by Samsung, will provide “performance enhancements, a more seamless experience between the Watch and Android smartphones, and access to an even greater number of applications.”
2021 also saw a lot of enthusiasm for the then-fledgling 5G market. Qualcomm announced support from more than 30 cellular carriers and telecoms providers to drive support for 5G technologies and speeds.
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G Mobile Platform, the successor to Snapdragon 888. The new high-end chip launched in new mobile devices later that year
Lenovo also unveiled the Android-based Lenovo Tab P11 Plus, Yoga Tab 11, and Yoga Tab 13.
The Latest News About MWC
While you can always read the latest mobile tech news on Lifewire, here are some pieces of interest about MWC in particular.
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