As we gear up for MWC 2017, we take a look at six of the highly anticipated smartphones expected to be unveiled.
The annual Mobile World Congress (MWC 2017) kicks off today in Barcelona. Undoubtedly, it is one of the biggest events where tech giants will be unveiling their smartphones of 2017. Among the brands that are participating in the event, smartphones from LG, Nokia, BlackBerry, Motorola and Huawei are highly anticipated. We take a quick look at what to expect from smartphones that will be showcased by these brands.
LG G6: Google and Motorola had been working on Project Ara with an aim to bring modular smartphone in the market. While we are yet to see a consumer product, LG went ahead with the concept to launch the G5. However, it’s modular functionality failed to impress the critics and consumers. For this year’s G6, LG has dropped the modular concept and going with a different approach. The LG G6 event is set to take place on Sunday (February 26) at 4:30PM IST, and the event will be live streamed too.
Ahead of the event, LG has teased multiple features of the G6, which include a unique 5.7-inch QHD+ bezel-less display. It will have an aspect ratio of 18:9 with square windows. The smartphone will most likely be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 821 quad-core SoC paired with 6GB of RAM with two storage options – 64GB and 128GB.
LG has also teased that the smartphone will feature dual 13-megapixel rear cameras offering a field of view of 125-degrees. The camera app will come with special shooting modes such as 1:1 mode which is apt for Instagram photos, a food mode and a 360-degree mode. For selfie lovers, a 12-megapixel front-facing snapper is also expected.
The LG G6 is likely to be fuelled with a 3,200mAh battery along with Quick Charge 3.0 technology for fast charging the battery. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, the LG G6 will also sport water and dust resistant features. LG is also adding support for 32-bit Quad DAC for superior audio performance. On the software front, the smartphone is expected to run Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box.
Nokia 8: After Microsoft bought Nokia’s handset division in 2013, the hope of having a Nokia phone running Android was lost. However, three years later, the Finnish company is back with its Nokia 6, which is honestly quite disappointing. At MWC, HMD Global is holding a press conference where it is expected to unveil four new Nokia-branded devices, out of which one could be a high-end flagship. The event takes place on Sunday February 26 at 9PM IST and it will be live streamed too. ALSO READ: Nokia 8 with near bezel-less display listed online: Price, specifications and features
Details of Nokia 8 have already been leaked and it is likely to sport a near bezel-less display. The screen size is expected to be 5.7-inch with Super AMOLED panel, running at QHD resolution. Under the hood, the smartphone could either be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Snapdragon 821 SoC. While there is no word on the amount of RAM, the smartphone is likely to be offered in 64GB and 128GB internal storage options. In the photography department, the Nokia 8 could feature a 24-megapixel rear snapper with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), and a 12-megapixel selfie snapper. While other details such as battery capacity and connectivity options are missing, the smartphone is expected to run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. ALSO READ: Nokia 3310: 10 crazy things people did with the indestructible feature phone from 2000s
Nokia 3310 Refresh: The 3310 has been one of the most iconic phones ever made and HMD Global is all set to relaunch a refreshed version of the phone. The Nokia 3310 has been a sturdy phone that could withstand drops and other torture that people threw at it. It also had a long lasting battery that could run for up to 10 days on a single charge. And then who can forget playing games such as Snake and Space Attack, and composing own ringtones.
From what has been leaked so far, the refreshed Nokia 3310 could feature the same iconic design, and could have a sleek and slim form factor. It is also expected to be a little lighter than the original phone. Rumors claim that the new phone will cost around $60 (which is approximately Rs 4,000). This time around, the new phone could boast a slightly larger color screen display with better resolution. The Nokia 3310 refreshed model could also be offered in different color options – such as yellow, green and red.
BlackBerry Mercury: The press conference is scheduled to take place today at 11:30PM IST and it will be live streamed too. After teasing the BlackBerry Mercury at CES 2017, TCL-Alcatel is finally set to unveil the smartphone. BlackBerry OS may be dead, and the new smartphone will run Android OS, but with a physical QWERTY keyboard, the company will try to appeal the hardcore BlackBerry fanatics.
The BlackBerry Mercury could have most keyboard functions like we saw in the BlackBerry Passport, except a small difference — the space bar could now double up as a fingerprint sensor. Other details of the smartphone such as display size, chipset, RAM, cameras are unknown, but we will learn more when the company makes it official, later tonight. Besides the BlackBerry Mercury, other smartphones and accessories made by TCL-Alcatel could also be unveiled.
Moto G5 Plus: Lenovo-owned Motorola is likely to unveil two new smartphones – the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus. The event is scheduled to take place on February 26 at 9PM IST and it will be live streamed as well. Among the two phones, the Moto G5 Plus is one of the most-anticipated mid-range smartphones to be showcased.
We have already seen the smartphone in leaked photos, showing off the design from all angles. It is expected to boast a 5.2-inch full HD display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 SoC and 4GB of RAM. While there is no word on the storage, the smartphone could feature a 16-megapixel rear snapper and a 5-megapixel selfie unit. Other details such as battery capacity, connectivity options are missing at the moment. Based on the rumors, the smartphone is likely to be priced around $250 (which is Rs 16,800 approximately).
Huawei P10: The Chinese smartphone maker has already confirmed that it will be launching the Huawei P10, which will be the successor to last year’s P9. The event kicks off at 6:30PM IST on February 26 and will be live streamed too. Based on the leaks we have come across so far, the Huawei P10 will look fairly similar to the P9, albeit some minor changes.
Talking about specifications, the Huawei P10 could feature a 5.5-inch flat screen display. Under the hood, the smartphone could be powered by Huawei’s home-brewed Kirin 960 chipset, paired with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage options. Just like its predecessor the Huawei P10 will also sport dual-rear camera setup co-developed with Leica. While Other details about the smartphone are missing, rumors hint that pricing for the P10 could start at RMB 3,488 (which is Rs 34,100 approximately) for the 32GB variant, and will go all the way up to RMB 4,688 (which is Rs 45,900 approximately) for the 128GB variant.
Besides these, OPPO, Meizu, Coolpad, Sony, ZTE and Gionee are also expected to showcase their smartphones. Are you excited for the MWC 2017? Which smartphones are you looking forward to? Do let us know about in the comment section below.
BGR India will be on the ground in Barcelona, so stay tuned for our coverage of MWC 2017.
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