10 iconic MWC launches that still have us swooning

Mobile World Congress (MWC) has been one of the most awaited shows of the year for tech enthusiasts. Every year, we get to see some unique and cutting-edge products at event, and this year as well, we are expecting to see some innovative devices.

But as we get ready for MWC 2025, it’s also a great time to look back at some of the iconic launches from the previous editions. Feeling nostalgic, already? Here’s a curated list of 10 iconic products showcased at MWC.

Lenovo ThinkBook Transparent Display

Lenovo showcased the industry’s very first transparent laptop concept at last year’s MWC. The Lenovo ThinkBook Transparent Display featured a 17.3-inch bezel-less see-through screen with a 55 per cent transparency. What powered the transparent screen was the micro-LED technology, allowing users to see through the screen while simultaneously watching content on it.

Motorola Bendy

Another star at last year’s MWC was the Motorola Bendy. As the name suggests, it’s a phone that bends around your wrist, allowing you to conveniently carry it around and use it as a normal phone.

The phone utilised the flexible screen technology in the most useful way, letting you use it as both a smartphone as well as a smartwatch or a wrist accessory.

Xiaomi SU7

Xiaomi’s SU7 took the centerstage last year, as it marked the brand’s foray into the automobile segment. The SU7 is Xiaomi’s feature-packed electric car packed with ecosystem features.

Like Tesla, Xiaomi’s SU7 can be controlled from any Xiaomi phone, and it runs the same operating system as your Xiaomi phone, i.e., the HyperOS. With its sleek and stylish design, it was a head-turner.

Moto Rizr

The Moto Rizr was a concept phone with a rollable screen. Showcased at MWC 2023, it featured a 5-inch display that rolls out to a 6.5-inch panel. For the rolling mechanism, Motorola used motorised components. It also featured dual cameras and a small battery. While the device is yet to be commercial, it was still an interesting concept.

Lenovo's rollable laptop

Lenovo’s rollable laptop was clearly a showstopper. The concept featured a rollable screen, allowing users to get a bigger screen when unfolded.

What’s interesting is that this concept finally made it to reality, as Lenovo announced the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 laptop, which uses the same mechanism, and it can actually be purchased later this year.

Motorola Defy Satellite Link

Another Motorola product that made headlines at MWC was the Defy Satellite Link. An accessory, built in collaboration with Bullitt, enabled two-way satellite connectivity on any phone.

For this to work, you had to pair your smartphone with the Defy Satellite Link. This was an interesting device which we could actually purchase. However, it has yet to make it to India.

TCL Fold 'n Roll

We have seen foldable as well as rollable phones, but TCL’s Fold ‘n Roll was exactly what it sounds like – a smartphone with a foldable and a rollable screen.

The device first unfolds and continues to expand by unrolling, turning into a 10-inch tablet. The concept phone had a slim design and camera sensors on the back.

Oppo's SuperVOOC 240W

While 100W fast charging is now the new norm for Chinese flagships, Oppo did reveal a ridiculously faster 240W technology at MWC 2022. The 240W SuperVOOC flash charging was advertised to charge a 4,500mAh battery to 100 per cent in about nine minutes.

This tech was later available in the Realme GT 5, but it was only available in China. As of now, there are no commercially available phones with support for 240W or similar fast charging speeds globally.

TCL NXTWear G

A pair of smart glasses that display a 140-inch screen? That was TCL’s NXTWear G glasses at MWC in 2021.

The smart glasses offered a crisp and clear cinema-like experience anywhere and anytime. The smart glasses also had built-in stereo speakers for ultra-rich sound.

Oppo 10x optical zoom

Lastly, Oppo showcased the first 10x optical zoom camera at MWC back in 2019. This was possible due to a periscope camera sensor, which was a new type of sensor in phones back in the day.

ALSO READ: Oppo Find X8 Pro’s zoom camera tested

What’s great was that it supported optical image stabilisation (OIS), allowing you to take stable videos and clear, lossless images.

That’s all. Which of these products made you nostalgic? And what are you expecting at this year’s MWC? Do let us know in the comments below.