GadgetMatch went to Barcelona as a media partner for Mobile World Congress 2019. Even though Vivo, Xiaomi, and Samsung took the spotlight beforehand, MWC 2019 still proved to be the bigger stage.

5G everywhere!

Brands including Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, and LG unveiled their 5G phones at MWC 2019. GadgetMatch’s Chief Content Officer Michael Josh was on ground tweeting live updates.

Xiaomi’s taking the smartphone world’s biggest stage to talk about their 5G plans. And to announce their @Qualcomm powered 5G phone. #MWC19 #makeithappen pic.twitter.com/JYID77jtsE

— Michael Josh (@michaeljosh) February 24, 2019

We’ll be seeing more 5G-enabled smartphones this year, thanks to Qualcomm.

At a 5G panel at #MWC19. @Qualcomm President @cristianoamon says the 5G roll out will come in many phases, the first of which is here and now. pic.twitter.com/61Nrivfq0o

— Michael Josh (@michaeljosh) February 26, 2019

It’s raining foldables

After the Galaxy Fold’s grand debut, it was time for Huawei to step in and enjoy the spotlight.

When folded close it has a 6.6 inch display. #MateX #ConnectingTheFuture #MWC19 pic.twitter.com/Hm0T378BCh

— Michael Josh (@michaeljosh) February 24, 2019

The Falcon Wing grip. #MateX pic.twitter.com/mFuHwGTub8

— Michael Josh (@michaeljosh) February 24, 2019

Just when everyone thought Xiaomi would unveil their own foldable phone, we got a hilarious surprise from their keynote.

When you all thought Xiaomi will announce a foldable phone, you get a Mi LED Smart Bulb instead… #MWC19 #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/OF2R6Kwhuv

— The MJ Jucutan (@mj_jucutan) February 24, 2019

Nonetheless, foldable phones are a trend now. Companies like TCL and ZTE are launching their own foldables, while LG refuses to join the bandwagon by creating their own style.

Who has the best camera?

MWC 2019 was also where smartphones with impressive cameras were showcased. For instance, the Xiaomi Mi 9 has reportedly beaten both the iPhone XS and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on DxOMark. Xiaomi may have launched the Mi 9 in China but it still shined in MWC amid all the launches, and it definitely got our Associate Creative Director hooked with its sample photographs.

The #XiaomiMi9 may not be as pretty as the phones that I’ve loved, but it sure as hell can get the details that I need. #ShotOnMi @gadgetmatch

Watch our Hands-on video: https://t.co/zBD3Gh6OzP pic.twitter.com/l0w9bx9RQ8

— The MJ Jucutan (@mj_jucutan) February 20, 2019

OPPO wasn’t giving up the fight, though. It launched its own lossless 10x zoom, and it’s incredible!

Also published this bad boi at 3:30 am. Found clues about OPPO’s next premium smartphone at yesterday’s Innovation Event. https://t.co/44JumsNCh9 pic.twitter.com/g1B14uGVHj

— Chay Lazaro (@chaylazaro) February 24, 2019

On the other hand, Nokia 9 PureView made some noise with its five cameras, and proved that this phone is meant for photographers.

Nokia’s phone with 5 cameras is real! #Nokia9PureView pic.twitter.com/guuYWB7ygS

— GadgetMatch (@gadgetmatch) February 24, 2019

Lots of… innovations?

Sony reimagined their next flagship smartphone by adding a 4K OLED Display to redefine a user’s viewing experience. It also introduced its midrange lineup, and Xperia fans were delighted.

I underestimated Sony Xperia 1 at first because of its unusual 21:9 aspect ratio but it paves way for the 21:9 cinematic 4K HDR video recording + the triple rear cameras make the AV experience a whole lot better. The symmetrical design / lack of notch makes it look clean. #MWC19 pic.twitter.com/OfiE5mvKAJ

— Vincenz (@peanutBITTER_) February 25, 2019

LG wasn’t waving goodbye, as they just showcased a touchless feature with the LG G8 ThinQ. Is this the innovation we’re looking for?

LG wants you to go touchless with the #LGG8ThinQ pic.twitter.com/HrE5BmrMkh

— GadgetMatch (@gadgetmatch) February 24, 2019

Dunno why people are so against #LGG8ThinQ‘s Air Motion gestures when top of my head I can think of so many things I can use it for:

✔️Hands have dog slobber from the lickies
✔️ Wet, sandy,& alty hands from swimming in the ocean
✔️ Hands w/ beauty stuff as I do my skincare

— Isa Rodriguez (@sisasaid) February 25, 2019

MWC was just the beginning. More smartphone innovations will arise throughout the year, and it only gets more exciting from here on.

Gone are the days of jewelry being a mere aesthetic accessory. These days there are color-changing smart rings, smartphone bracelets, and designer smartwatches. At MWC, we scoped out another amazing thing that does more than just accessorize your outfit.

This is the second-generation Nimb ring.

Nimb is the product of experience. Three years ago, Nimb co-founder Katya Kermlin told her harrowing tale: She was attacked in broad daylight by a man whose advances she rebuked. It resulted in nine stab wounds.

Katya survived and she, along with a group of what I could only describe as awesome, awesome people, set up a Kickstarter campaign for what would be the first-generation Nimb ring.

This tiny wearable is a panic button that sends out your location to pre-set contacts or first responders all with a touch of a reachable button. It is, after all, on your finger so you can get to it even when your hands are, God forbid, tied up.

At the end of 2019, the second-generation Nimb rings will be launched and they’re even more feature-packed. What’s special about these new gems is the fact that they’re actually eSIM-enabled. This means even without a phone, it will work. The ring also has a mic so that you can stream audio after a button is pressed.

As of now, though, those are the only definite details we know about this ring. But, I’m certainly excited to see what else the new Nimb ring will be able to do.

Image credit: Joshua Vergara

Mobile World Congress has once again given us the best of the present and a glimpse of the future. It’s been an amazing show and we’ve never been this excited for what the mobile consumer world has in store for us.

To honor the best we’ve seen during the smartphone world’s most important show, we’re awarding the twelve best products that impressed us the most.

This year’s winners for GadgetMatch’s Best of MWC awards are:

Best in Show: Huawei Mate X

At MWC 2019, no product blew us away more than the Mate X. Just as foldable devices are forging a new category of their own, Huawei delivers what is surely the torchbearer. The Mate X is groundbreaking and revolutionary. More importantly, it was the foldable we actually got to touch and use. Whether or not foldable phones are the future, this marks the beginning of a new smartphone era, and we’ll always remember Huawei as the pioneer.

Best smartphone: Xiaomi Mi 9

Leave it to Xiaomi to create a smartphone that offers best in class smartphone experience at an affordable price point. The Mi 9 is the latest in Xiaomi’s excellent line of flagship smartphones, providing the best-possible features, from its chipset and cameras to the under-display fingerprint scanner and wireless charging capabilities. No smartphone currently comes close to its price-to-performance offering.

Best value for money smartphone: Nokia 4.2

Nokia is back with yet another budget-friendly smartphone that punches way above its weight. The Nokia 4.2 easily stands out as the best value for money smartphone of MWC 2019 with its sleek glass design and complete feature set from the inside out. Pick it up, or take it for a spin, and the experience defies its sub-$200 price point. We especially love its Pink Sand color!

Best innovation in smartphone photography: Nokia 9 PureView

The legendary PureView tech is back and it’s better than ever! The Nokia 9 PureView is redefining smartphone photography as we know it, combining five rear cameras, Zeiss lenses, a dedicated Light lux capacitor, a fully maxed out Snapdragon DSP, and computational photography for a completely different smartphone photography experience. The Nokia 9 PureView produces photos at an incredible 12.4 stops of dynamic range for realistic output similar to a professional camera’s. This is easily the best application of smartphone photography from the entire show.

Best smartphone display technology: Sony Xperia 1

Sony brings its expertise in the realm of high-quality displays to its latest flagship smartphone, the Xperia 1. If you’re looking for the most advanced display on a smartphone, its 6.5-inch 4K OLED panel, innovative 21:9 CinemaWide aspect ratio, and HDR capabilities make it the ultimate mobile device for watching movies and cinematic videos on the go. 

Best consumer laptop: Huawei MateBook X Pro (2019)

2018’s best Windows laptop has just gotten better. The 2019 edition of the MateBook X Pro, Huawei’s latest flagship notebook, is now faster and more powerful, but still sleek and solidly built. New features like Huawei Share for quick and easy file transfers from your smartphone bring Huawei’s vision of seamless connectivity alive. Other mainstays include a pop-up web camera and a near-borderless display, solidifying the new MateBook X Pro as the best of its class at MWC 2019.

Best business laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X390 Yoga

If you need a business laptop that’s built to impress, look no further than the ThinkPad X390. With decades of experience under its belt, Lenovo created this machine with the tireless worker in mind. Tough, powerful, and more secure than ever — the ThinkPad X390 Yoga is just as practical as it is attractive, making this a standout product at MWC 2019.

Best mobile accessory: Lenovo ThinkVision M14

No mobile accessory from MWC 2019 comes close to the usefulness of Lenovo’s ThinkVision M14. This sleek and portable USB-C monitor is not only easy to carry around but incredibly handy when used as a secondary display for your laptop, as well. It doesn’t even need to be charged or plugged into an outlet, giving us the peace of mind we always desire out of our gadgets.

Best enterprise innovation: Microsoft HoloLens 2

The original HoloLens was revolutionary for its time; now the HoloLens 2 is set to take mixed reality to the next level. It offers a wider field of vision and greater integration for enterprise applications — all in a package that’s far more affordable than its predecessor. We’ve only yet seen the beginning of a revolution. The possibilities for this MR headset are endless!

Best wearable concept: Nubia Alpha

Is it a foldable phone or is it a next-generation wearable? The Nubia Alpha caught everyone’s attention at MWC 2019 with its unique take on a smartwatch. The watch is both display that wraps around your hand and almost a smartphone with features. They’re calling it a new era of communication.

Most exciting 5G smartphone: Samsung Galaxy S10 5G

5G smartphones are coming out left and right, but none spark more excitement than the Galaxy S10 5G. Not only does it own the next generation of mobile connectivity, but it’s also the most powerful smartphone Samsung has ever made. We love its curvy design, hole punch display, and its amazing cameras. If this is the standard for premium smartphones moving forward, we’re all in!

Powering the 5G revolution award: Qualcomm

Behind every innovative mobile device is a chipset that powers its features. When it comes to the 5G revolution, no other player has made as big an impact as Qualcomm. During MWC 2019, we saw Qualcomm inside the 5G devices of tomorrow, ushering in a new world of possibility that will fuel the next generation of mobility. Qualcomm President Cristiano Amon too was an ever-present figure of the entire event, and evangelist championing the 5G cause. This is only the beginning; 5G is here, and we can’t wait to see what happens next!