Best of Mobile World Conference 2017

Mobile World Conference 2017 (MWC) was full of awesome new releases and teasers for the latest in mobile tech. Now it is time to look back and try to pick out the best. With so much cool consumer tech coming out, it will be hard to choose.

Samsung Gear VR

Samsung has jumped in bed with Oculus to offer their first ever VR headset, complete with a controller. This is a serious move in the virtual reality world, putting one of the biggest names in mobile innovation directly into the realm of gaming.

According to the demo, the Gear VR is set to have a smoother, more adaptive design, with a sensitive touch screen. Everything has been made to keep gamers in the moment, making it more immersive than many of the others on the market right now. Everything you need is easily accessible on the controller, rather than through a menu on the display.

Perhaps best of all, it is lightweight. Sure, it is still the visor design we have come to know. But at only 64.3 grams it is less pressure on the neck, allowing for longer gameplay without the discomfort. All in all, it looks like a great marriage between two powerhouses in the tech world.

Motorola Moto G5

The Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus are some new options for those who want an affordable Android smartphone that still pulls out a good number of stops. The Moto G5 comes with a Snapdragon 430 1.4GHz octa-core CPU, and an Adreno 505 GPU combo. The 5″ screen has a respectable, if not impressive, 1920 x 1080 with 441 ppi. You can choose between a 16 GB or 32 GB, which is expandable up to 128 GB with a microsSD.

As for the Moto G5 Plus, it comes with a little more power with a Snapdragon 625 2GHz octa-core CPU, and an Adreno 506 GPU. The slightly larger screen is 5.2″, holding the same resolution, but with a 424 ppi. It comes in 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB, but is also expandable to 128 GB.

Both models will run Android Nougat. All in all, this isn’t a bad option for starting in the $210 range.

Huawei Watch 2

There isn’t the much to say about the Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic. But for those who are fans of the wearables (and the original was certainly popular), it provides a few new features alongside a new design.

Both watches come with NFC chips, so you can actually use Google’s pay service. It also includes Google Voice Assistant for a more integrated experience. They are both pretty water resistant, as well as resistant to dust and dirt.

The main difference between them is the Watch 2 has a sportier style for more athletic folks, and the Classic has a more formal style similar to the original.

Huawei P10

Also from Huawei is the new addition to their flagship line, the P10. Following the same iPhone inspired “Plus” line that so many brands are copying (like the Moto G5 above), it is more or less a better version of the already solid P9. Only it has a few advances that keep it alongside other manufacturers in features.

The standard comes with a Kirin 960 chipset, octa-core CPU, and Mali G71 MP8 GPU. Given the 4x’s 2.4GHz + 4x 1.8GHz, that is a fail amount of computing power for what is largely considered a budget smartphone. The 5.1″ 1080 x 1920 screen looks pretty good. It also comes with 4GB RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage.

For the Plus, many of the specs are the same. But it comes with 6GB RAM, and 128 GB onboard storage, also expandable.

Both are set for fast charging.

Sony Xperia XZ Premium

Maybe the biggest deal in smartphones comes from Sony, of all places. The brand has really been lagging in that department, but it seems that the wait has seriously paid off. They have introduced the Xperia Premium XZ, the first ever 4K HDR smartphone. The display comes in a staggering 2,160 x 3,840. You read that right…it is crazy high for a handheld.

The 5.5″ display will be put to good use. Sony has brokered a deal with Amazon to offer that content through streaming. You will be able to watch 4k movies and TV, many of them Amazon originals, on a screen meant to show it off.

It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU and 4 GB RAM. The 64 GB storage is expandable, which is definitely a plus given it being a media heavy smartphone.

You can also enjoy a great camera, with 13 MP for front, and 19 MP back.

The Verdict

MWC 2017 was great this year. Tons of awesome new devices were shown off, and the increase in VR tech is always something to celebrate.