As usual, mobile technology vendors have launched a flood of new products at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Here’s a quick rundown of the top announcements so far:
From Alcatel:
- The IDOL 4 and 4S smartphones, successors to the company’s IDOL 3 family with snappier processors and augmented multimedia functionality.
- The PLUS 10, a Windows-powered 10″ 2-in-1 with built-in LTE connectivity.
From Fujitsu:
- The STYLISTIC R726 and Q736. The former is a 12.5″ 2-in-1 with an optional magnetic keyboard and tablet stand. The latter is a 13.3″ 2-in-1 with multiple onboard security protections, including “palm vein biometric technology.”
- The LIFEBOOK T726, a 12.5″ 2-in-1 with a bi-directional hinge that lets you flip the display around, and LIFEBOOK T936, a 13.3″ 2-in-1 with an ultra-high-resolution display that accepts touch and pen input.
From HP:
- The HP Elite x3, a Windows 10 smartphone that can also be used like a desktop or notebook with the help of Microsoft’s Continuum technology and a laptop-like “Mobile Extender.”
From HTC:
- The HTC One X9, a premium Android-powered smartphone designed to mimic “the look and feel of high end silk, creating a softer, warmer and more luxurious finish.”
- The HTC Desire 530, 630, and 825, which seek to turn mere smartphones into high-fashion urban streetwear.
- An updated edition of the HTC Vive virtual reality system that lets users receive and respond to phone calls and text messages without exiting the virtual world they’re experiencing.
From Lenovo:
- The TAB3 10, a 10″ Android business tablet, plus the family-friendly TAB3 7 and TAB3 8.
- The ideapad MIIX 310, a lightweight business 2-in-1 with Windows 10 and optional 4G LTE connectivity, as well as the consumer-oriented YOGA 510 and 710 2-in-1s.
From LG:
- The G5 smartphone, which boasts a slide-out battery tray, 360-degree camera, and always-on notification display.
- The Stylus 2, a 5.7″ smartphone that flashes a popup message if the phone is moving without its built-in stylus in place, to prevent you from accidentally leaving it behind.
- The X cam and X screen, specialty smartphones for shutterbugs in the first case and multitaskers in the second.
From Panasonic:
- The Toughpad FZ-F1 and FZ-N1, which Panasonic calls ruggedized tablets but sure look more like 4.7″ smartphones.
From Samsung:
- The eagerly awaiting Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which come with enhanced battery capacity, a curved-glass back, and a microSD card slot, something Galaxy fans missed in last year’s S6.
From SanDisk:
