Samsung, LG Likely Smartphone News Makers at Mobile World Congress

Mobile World Congress 2017 is sure to draw most of the top names in the mobile technology industry with Samsung and LG among the big smartphone newsmakers at the show.

LG is hard at work on a new device that’s expected to be announced at Mobile World Congress. Dubbed the LG G6, the handset will be designed to take on other high-end devices, like the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8 and Apple’s new 2017 iPhones. Look for the LG G6 to come with new Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and a big display. It’s also possible it’ll keep the always-on screen the company delivered in the LG G5, but it’s rumored to be ditching the removable battery for one that sealed into the case.

Rumors have been swirling over Samsung’s future plans in the smartphone business. Some of the earlier rumors have said Samsung to introduce the Galaxy S8 in April. However, in recent weeks, reports have surfaced, saying Samsung is planning to unveil its next high-end handset at Mobile World Congress and actually ship device in April. Samsung will be at the show, and signs are increasingly pointing to at least a glimpse at the Galaxy S8 at MWC.

The new HTC U Ultra comes with a dual display that lets users place contextual and useful apps and other information in the smaller screen. Now several reports say Android device makers are planning a similar feature in their upcoming devices. Dual displays are a nice way to differentiate a device from the iPhone, and Android device makers are expected to capitalize on that.

Cameras are one of the main areas vendors have focused on in the last year, and that’s not expected to change in 2017. In fact, there’s a good chance that handset makers will introduce smartphones with rear facing cameras with two lenses. Other reports say improved aperture and zoom performance are also coming. Look for a lot of camera talk at MWC 2017.

Samsung and LG might be the MWC highlights, but other vendors are also expected to be at the show. Look for Sony, HTC, and ZTE to be on hand to show off their latest device. In fact, ZTE could be focusing its MWC on the new Hawkeye, a crowdsourced device that will have an adhesive back for so it can be attached to various objects, as well as an eye-tracking technology that will let users scroll through the software with only their eye movements.

Apple won’t be at MWC 2017, which means Android be everywhere. Expect nearly all of the major devices that debut at the show to run on Android, including tablets and wearables. There’s sure to be some Windows notebooks and laptops or even a stray mobile handset at MWC 2017, but Android will hold the spotlight.

It’s hard to believe any midrange-or-better smartphone at MWC 2017 will fail to support fast-charging capabilities this year. With help from USB Type-C ports, smartphones in 2017 will offer the ability to quickly recharge the battery in just minutes of charging. Again, it’s a differentiating feature that Apple doesn’t offer. And companies trying to appeal to shoppers know that.

Two once prominent smartphone makers—Nokia and BlackBerry—will be at MWC 2017. Of course, Nokia and BlackBerry are no longer building new handsets, but their licensees will be showcasing new devices under those brands at the show. BlackBerry will also likely be at MWC 2017 to talk about its efforts in mobile security and enterprise software.

MWC 2017 might be dominated by smartphones, but tablets will also be on hand. According to several reports, companies both large and small are planning to unveil new tablets that appeal to both consumers and enterprise users. However, expect those tablets to either be extremely cheap or offer the ability to work as hybrid notebooks. Low price tablets and hybrids are selling well and vendors are expected to increase investments in those markets to reflect that.

Smartwatches have sputtered a bit, according to industry sales data, but that doesn’t mean they’re all done. Companies that are at MWC to showcase new smartphones will also announce new smartwatches and fitness trackers. And with Android Wear 2.0 finally reaching devices in early February, this might be a good time to introduce new smartwatch models.