With ever higher quality cameras and with folding cameras gaining ground, the 2023 Mobile World Congress (MWC) warns us that Mobile phones with sliding screens arrive and confirms that the umpteenth battle in the sector will be fought in the field of fast charging.
In a congress in which mobile phones are increasingly giving way to other types of technology, and just a few days after half a century since the first call from a mobile device -the work of engineer Martin Cooper, who used a phone that weighed more one kilo-, ‘smartphones’ continue to be one of the main attractions of the fair.
Not in vain in Barcelona these days almost none of the main companies in the sector are missing -with the exception of Apple-, despite the fact that the market shows signs of exhaustion for the first time: global handset sales fell 11.3% in 2022 in relation to 2021, according to the International Data Corporation.
Folding screens… and sliding
The 2023 MWC warns us that mobile phones with folding screens are here to stay: they are still expensive and still a clear minority, but more and more manufacturers are opting for this type of device.
At Samsung’s stand, its Flip model can be seen again, which allows phones to fold in two; and the Chinese Oppo exhibits a similar device, albeit with a larger external screen. These models are a priori as easy to carry around as the rest, but they allow you to double their surface area while in use.
The manufacturer Motorola moves along the same lines, now in the hands of the Chinese Lenovo, which even goes a step further: in its new devices Rollable, the screen slides up, making the surface go from 4 inches to 6.5.
Cameras with higher definition
The Chinese Xiaomi bets on its new high-end series Xiaomi 13 to give prominence to the cameras, not in vain has been allied for the task with the German photography company Leica. Already launched in China, this new Xiaomi range has now arrived in Spain: the Xiaomi 13, the flagship of the collection, has a triple camera designed with a 50-megapixel (MP) main lens.
In the same way, the Honor Magic5 Pro incorporates three cameras, the main one with 50 megapixels (MP). It also adds a 6.87-inch screen.
Another of the leading companies in terms of the cameras of their devices is the Korean Samsung, which in its Galaxy S23 series enhances portrait and night modes. This is, according to analysts, one of the best models to play video games from the phone.
Fast charging and increased durability
Oppo was one of the first to glimpse that a section in which there was room for improvement was charging: in the last edition already presented a 250 MW charger capable of fully recharging a battery in just 9 minutes. At the 2023 congress, Realme presents its new GT3 model, which incorporates 240 MW fast charging: in 80 seconds it charges 20%, in 4 minutes 50% and in less than ten minutes 100%.
With the aim of achieving greater efficiency of the device, Nokia, which has just changed its logo, has launched its G22 model, with a three-day battery life and capable of completing 800 charge cycles. This device, designed to be more durable than its competitors, is also easily repairable, since the Finland-based group has signed a contract with iFixit.
Mobile commerce and second-hand market
Another of the trends that manufacturers are facing is adapting their devices to online purchasing processes. The pandemic triggered the use of mobile phones for this type of purchase, a habit that seems to have been definitively established among users.
Insider Intelligence calculates that in 2024, 42% of electronic commerce will be carried out in this medium, reaching the 620,000 million dollars.
The second-hand market is also booming, and it has a long way to go, as it registers double-digit growth in many cases. Apple’s commitment to this segment goes back years and now it will be necessary to see if any competitor is willing to dispute this terrain.
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