These are the smartphones we want to see, expect to see, or have
been told we will see, at MWC 2020. They include foldables, premium
smartphones, and budget devices too.
While in many cases we’ve highlighted specific phones, in other
cases we’ve covered a whole manufacturer under a single heading, as we’re not
sure in all cases exactly what devices will be unveiled.
Something unclear from
Samsung
This is the big talking point at the moment, and it looks almost
certain we’ll see the Samsung Galaxy S11 before MWC 2020.
Samsung always unveils its new Galaxy S range near the beginning
of the year and while it sometimes uses MWC as the venue, it won’t be doing
that in 2020 for the S11.
Instead,
Samsung is hosting its own event in San Francisco a couple of weeks before
on Tuesday, February 11 when we’re likely to see new handsets from the company
and rumors suggest there will be more than one.
It currently
looks likely we’ll see the Samsung Galaxy S11, Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus, Samsung
Galaxy S11e and even the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 at this show. But Samsung
may save a few announcements for MWC 2020, however…
Samsung Galaxy A series
While
the Galaxy S11 might land at MWC 2020, what we’re probably more likely to see
are one or more new entries in the Galaxy A range, similar to the Samsung
Galaxy A50 and Samsung Galaxy A30 that were launched at MWC 2019.
These phones are shown off with a little less pomp than the
bigger flagship devices, but they often prove just as popular in the end, with
some top-end features sold in mid-range phones.
Which
models and what they might be capable of is unknown for now, but some entries
in the range have proved impressive, with the Galaxy A80 for example
sporting a rotatable rear-to-front camera, and the Galaxy A90 5G packing
near flagship specs – including 5G.
All of
this said, Samsung has already introduced its Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 to
western markets at CES 2020. That may mean Samsung focuses on products like the
Galaxy Tab S6 5G or a new wearable at Mobile World Congress.
Huawei P40
Huawei
often announces major handsets at MWC, with the foldableHuawei Mate being
unveiled at MWC 2019 and the flagship Huawei P10 landing at the show a couple
of years earlier, for example.
What it
doesn’t always do is use the venue to launch phones in its main flagship range,
so it’s far from guaranteed that we’ll see the Huawei P40 there. It’s
always possible, and we’d certainly like to see the next edition of the
photography-focused line get a new edition teased early in the year.
Unless
things change, the Huawei P40 will land without access to Google services,
which is sure to hurt it, but the core specs and other hardware are likely to
impress. In particular, we’d expect a very good camera with lots of lenses,
given Huawei’s past form, but beyond that we’re not yet sure what the P40 will
offer.
Sony Xperia 2
Sony has
revealed that it is holding a press conference at MWC on February 24.
While it hasn’t said what will be announced, the Sony Xperia 2 (or Sony
Xperia 5 Plus as it might be called) is the most obvious candidate, as the
company often announces flagship phones at MWC, including the Sony Xperia 1 at
MWC 2019.
Expect
high-end specs and likely a 21:9 display. One of the more recent rumors suggests
that the phone will come packing the top-end Snapdragon 865 processor. We’ve
also heard that it might have a quad-lens camera, 12GB of RAM and a 6.6-inch
screen.
Huawei Mate Xs
Huawei’s
foldable phone, the Mae X, launched at MWC 2019.
This is
set to be the Huawei Mate Xs, and it doesn’t change much about the original in
terms of form factor, but the internal specs are expected to be upgraded. The
original Mate X had similar camera specs to the Mate 20 and the processor
of the later P30, and the newer Mate Xs apparently has the P30 Pro’s camera
array and the same processor as the Mate 30.
Basically, the new Mate Xs specs are upgraded to reflect newer
technology. We’ve heard this will be the only Huawei foldable phone to launch
in the west, with the ‘older’ Mate X only available in China.
Nokia 9.2 PureView
The
Nokia 9 PureView was unveiled at MWC 2019 and we’re hoping to see its
successor at MWC 2020. There is some question over what the next phone will
actually be called though.
We’ve heard rumors of the Nokia 9.2 PureView rather than Nokia
9.1, so it may be the company is skipping a generation with its next device.
Rumors include 5G support and some more photography improvements, but it’s also
uncertain if it will land at MWC 2020.
The
latest story on the Nokia 9.1 PureView suggests the phone has been delayed
to ensure it can include the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chipset. That may
mean HMD Global will skip MWC and instead introduce the phone at a later date.
LG G9
LG
announced not one but two flagships at MWC 2019, so we’re expecting at least
one to drop at MWC 2020, and it could be the LG-9G.
We don’t know too much about the LG G9 yet and LG likes to put
unusual features in its phones, so this one might have some surprises.
It may
also inherit some features from other recent LG flagships, such as a second
screen attachment like the LG G8X ThinO, and a hole-less vibrating speaker like
the LG G8.
LG V60
The other LG flagship that we might get as well as or instead of
the LG G9 is a new V-series entry, likely to be called the LG V60.
This is
another phone that we don’t know much about, but it’s likely to offer 5G, given
that the LG V50 ThinO 5G does, and will probably have an even more premium
assortment of specs and features than the LG G9.
We’re hoping the phonemaker introduces new features this time
around: the V40 was the first mainstream handset to sport three rear cameras,
ushering in the era of the ultrawide lens, but the V50 was a bare upgrade sped
along to be one of the first 5G phones.
Xiaomi Mi 10
Xiaomi
has recently started making more of a push into western markets and that’s a
good thing, as its phones are often brilliant value, even at the top end. The
phone maker has already confirmed that it’ll be launching no fewer than 10
handsets fitted with 5G during 2020.
So at
MWC 2020 we’re hoping to see the Xiaomi Mi 10, which wouldn’t be out of the
question given the company has suggested this’ll happen. The timing would make
sense for it to be there and it could end up quietly being one of the most
exciting phones on show if the Xiaomi Mi 9 is anything to go by.
That
phone wasn’t exactly innovative, but it did include a top-end chipset, good
cameras and little in the way of actual weak points, all for around half the
price of big-name flagships, so the Xiaomi Mi 10 is likely to pull off a
similar trick. With the Mi Note 10, though, it’s clear Xiaomi is making moves
at the top end market, so there could be more phones too, or at least premium
features in the Mi 10.
Moto G8
We’re
expecting the Moto G8 in early 2020 so that might land at MWC 2020, though the
Moto G7 was announced just before MWC 2019, so we’re far from certain.
Well,
we’re not expecting the Moto G8 Plus, which was released early, but the rest of
the series could debut in early 2020.
We hope to see something from Motorola though, whether it’s the
Moto G8 Power and Play, a new entry in the varied Motorola One range, or
something else entirely. The company is expanding its lineup below the
Z-series, and we’re eager to see it try new things now that it’s introducing
new phones that aren’t reliant on Moto Mods.
Leaks suggest the Moto G8 might have a pop-up selfie camera, and
it’s sure to be a great value affordable handset, making for one of the more
exciting non-flagships at the show.
Oppo Find X2
Oppo
typically takes MWC as a time to show off some tech for its future phones, with
MWC 2019 bringing us its 10x hybrid zoom tech that later made its way to the
Oppo Reno 10x Zoom.
An actual phone launch would be a change, then, but as Oppo is
getting bigger in the west, it’s understandable too. We could also see the Oppo
Reno 3 launch in the west at the event, but that would make it four months
after the initial China launch, which would be rather late, so we’re not
certain.
