Cell World Congress 2025 has introduced the tech world to the busy streets of Barcelona to tout its newest, biggest improvements. And we have seen lots in our time right here, from quirky ideas to merchandise you may truly purchase. (After all, we have additionally eaten our weight in tapas and perhaps even tried a couple of native beers.)
Because the present attracts to a detailed, we needed to offer you an outline of the highest merchandise we noticed. Although not all of them are issues you should purchase, they’re all revolutionary in their very own approach, providing one thing that makes them stand out from the gang — a design, an thought and even only a worth.
Right here, then, are CNET’s high picks from Cell World Congress 2025.
Nothing Cellphone 3A and 3A Professional
Right here is the Nothing Cellphone 3A on the left and Nothing Cellphone 3A Professional on the suitable.
London-based tech firm Nothing is finest recognized for its reasonably priced Android telephones that gentle up on the again, and the new Cellphone 3A and 3A Professional comply with that format. The 2 fashions share most of their key specs, together with an honest Snapdragon 7S Gen 3 processor, a vibrant 6.7-inch show and a 5,000-mAh battery.
And whereas each have 50-megapixel major cameras, the 3A Professional has a extra superior autofocus system and a periscope digital camera for better-looking zoom photographs. I put it to the take a look at round Barcelona and received some fairly cool photos.
Watch this: Unboxing the Nothing Cellphone 3a Professional Shot With a 3a Professional’s Digicam
Crucially, each telephones are additionally reasonably priced, with the 3A beginning at $379, and the 3A Professional beginning at $459. Not unhealthy for telephones that embrace Google’s Gemini AI instruments and provide six years of software program and safety assist.
Learn extra: Samsung Show Wowed Us With Its Idea Gadgets at MWC 2025
Samsung Galaxy A26, A36, A56 telephones
The Samsung Galaxy A26, A36 and A56.
We will not speak about reasonably priced telephones with out mentioning Samsung’s new Galaxy A sequence. The corporate took the wraps off the most recent additions to the vary, together with the $300 Galaxy A26, the $400 A36 and the $500 A56. (Why is not there an A46, I ponder.)
All three have the identical 6.7-inch show and 5,000-mAh battery, however spending extra on one of many higher-end fashions will get you a more-powerful processor, extra RAM and a barely stronger digital camera setup. AI options baked into Samsung’s One UI — in addition to Google Gemini and Circle to Search — can be found on all three.
Xiaomi’s modular digital camera idea
The Xiaomi modular digital camera idea.
Xiaomi’s 15 Extremely, with its superior rear cameras, would possibly actually be the finest telephone of the present, but it surely’s not that far faraway from final 12 months’s 14 Extremely, and I had my eye on one thing else from the corporate.
Its “modular optical system” as Xiaomi calls it, is basically a digital camera lens and enormous sensor that attaches to the telephone, providing you with a pro-quality imaging setup that also makes use of your telephone because the mind, to make the most of immediate enhancing and social sharing. It is not dissimilar to Sony’s QX10 from 2013, which was arguably forward of its time, however I actually favored it as an thought.
MWC 2025: Xiaomi’s Pictures-Targeted 15 Extremely Is a Powerhouse
Sadly, Xiaomi’s lens could be very a lot being proven off as an idea. I actually hope this one makes it so far as the store cabinets. As an expert photographer, I really like the concept of getting one thing that lets me get higher-quality photos than my telephone, with out the added bulk of carrying a full-size digital camera and lens setup.
HMD Fusion X1 telephone for teenagers
The HMD Fusion X1 is a stepping stone between an offline childhood and an internet maturity.
Although we usually speak about which smartphones have essentially the most energy or the most effective digital camera or the longest battery life, HMD’s Fusion X1 serves a really completely different objective than most telephones. It is aimed squarely at younger teenagers and permits mother and father to restrict entry — or display screen time — from their very own telephone, to assist their youngsters develop a more healthy relationship with expertise and social media.
“Whereas most telephones with parental controls both depend on an app that may be deleted or bypassed, the Fusion X1 combines app-based controls baked deep into its model of Android OS.” CNET’s Katie Collins explains in her hands-on with the system. “This creates a locked-down protected house the place youngsters can nonetheless have restricted entry to Snapchat, WhatsApp and TikTok — if their mother and father agree.”
The HMD Fusion X1 shall be out there in Might for £229 (about $290 transformed).
Learn extra: RedMagic 10 Professional’s $1,499 Golden Saga Cellphone Involves MWC 2025
Aurzen Zip folding projector
The Aurzen Zip projector.
Projectors are usually cumbersome gadgets you’d often mount to your ceiling and depart in place. The Aurzen Zip is a unique beast altogether. Utilizing a folding mechanism that makes it look a bit like a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Zip can stand on a floor and venture your films as much as 80 inches in dimension, after which fold down into one thing sufficiently small to slot in your pocket.
It really works over Apple AirPlay, permitting you to stream Netflix movies out of your iPhone, although an HDMI adapter can even be out there, if you wish to plug in your laptop computer to stream different content material. Its battery supplies as much as 1.5 hours of use, so watching Dune 2 would require you to plug it in, but it surely options quick charging to get the juice again shortly.
Although its 720-pixel decision will not swimsuit cinephiles, its small dimension makes it nice for taking ‘spherical to your buddy’s place for a film night time, touring, or just utilizing in a space-challenged condo.
Following its profitable Kickstarter launch, the Zip will go on common sale later this month, beginning at $300.
Learn extra: RealMe’s Professional 14 Shade-Altering Cellphone Takes a Tub at MWC 2025
Tecno Spark Slim
The Tecno Spark Slim is thinner than a pencil. It felt tremendous gentle in my hand.
Although rumors recommend Samsung’s teased Galaxy S25 Edge could also be slightly below 6 millimeters thick, Tecno’s Spark Slim idea takes that even additional. At simply 5.75mm, it purports to be the world’s slimmest telephone, and in particular person it actually does look nearly bizarrely skinny.
Typically, slim telephones compromise on battery life, just because there’s much less house to suit all these cells. However in some way Tecno has managed to squeeze in a whopping 5,200-mAh battery, together with 50-megapixel major and ultrawide cameras.
It’s totally a lot nonetheless an idea, so a few of these specs needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. Nonetheless, I would like to see a telephone like this that focuses on being simpler to carry and sliding into the pocket of a pair of thin denims. The corporate says the system could be product of sturdy supplies, however I’m involved about how simply it would bend, particularly if I have been to take a seat down with it in my again pocket. That will be a nasty approach for any telephone to go.
Honorable point out: Lenovo photo voltaic powered laptop computer
It is a laptop computer with photo voltaic cells constructed into its lid.
Lenovo has a host of idea gadgets on the present this 12 months, together with some neat-looking screens you may connect to your laptop computer’s major one to increase your workspace. However our favourite is the solar-powered laptop computer, which options an array of photo voltaic cells on its lid.
Lenovo says these cells are particularly environment friendly and that after simply 20 minutes of direct daylight they will present sufficient juice for an hour of video playback. Nonetheless, as CNET’s Josh Goldman factors out, it is much less about powering the laptop computer completely with photo voltaic, and extra about extending the battery life when you may.
Learn extra: Honor Teases Agentic AI Cellphone That Will ‘Revolutionize’ Our Gadgets
It is actually a neat thought, although I am unable to think about it being particularly sensible for on a regular basis use. For one, who desires to work on their laptop computer in brilliant daylight? And crucially, once you’re working in your laptop computer, the again of the display screen will doubtless be angled down, away from the daylight, so it could solely actually recharge when it is closed and never in use. Nonetheless, we’re all the time tremendous eager to listen to about ways in which tech companies are making use of renewable power, even when it is sticking photo voltaic panels on a poncho.
