MWC 2014 is the show where the mobile magic happens.
It's the show where most of the hottest mobile devices of the year are seen first. And it's the show that TechRadar loves over all others!
Apple never shows at MWC of course, but this year we've got all the other big brands launching exciting phones, tablets, smartwatches and more.
We've even got the promise of the Samsung Galaxy S5 - a headline launch from Samsung at MWC for the first time in a few years.
You can catch up on every single story from MWC at techradar.comhttp://techradar.com/mwc but why not stick around here for a while and browse our brand-by-brand guide to everything that's happened in Barcelona so far...
Samsung at MWC 2014:
Samsung Galaxy S5 launch: The live blog!
Samsung's getting ready to unpack the Galaxy S5 over at MWC 2014, and we'll be live at its press shindig to bring you all the juicy details as they break. It's not getting its own all-singing all-dancing launch away from the bright lights of MWC, but does that mean we're in for a disappointing S5? Will we see that long-rumoured fingerprint scanner? Has Samsung done away with the plastic casing and gone all-metal for the first time?
Read: Samsung Galaxy S5 - live blog
Samsung Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo revealed
Gearing up for another rack at smartwatches
Samsung has decided that even though the first Galaxy Gear launched just a few months ago, it's time for a new version - and on top of that, a cut down option as well. Surprisingly, Samsung has actually removed the 'Galaxy' part of the new smartwatches' moniker, presumably as it's running Tizen rather than Android. At least it's made our headlines look a little cleaner. They've arrived in the shape of the Samsung Gear 2 and the Samsung Gear 2 Neo - and come with some nifty technology that actually looks like it might give them a chance of being more impressive at launch.
Read: Samsung's wrist reboot: Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo unveiled
Samsung Gear 2 vs Gear 2 Neo vs Galaxy Gear
Key features and differences between the three smart watches
Samsung's had another stab at owning the wrist – but what's the difference between the two? We all expected Samsung to launch a new Galaxy Gear at MWC 2014, but to have two come along at the same time is a little odd. If there was a vast difference between the spec sheets, we'd understand the logic, but there are many similarities between the two watches, which will make it hard for the prospective buyer.
Read: Samsung Gear 2 vs Gear 2 Neo vs Galaxy Gear
Samsung Gear 2 release date, news and features
Everything to know about the second wave of Samsung smartwatches
If you just want to get the latest on all things Samsung smartwatches, this is the page for you. The Samsung Gear 2 is a surprising addition to the MWC 2014 party, not just because it's predecessor has been on sale for such a short amount of time but because it's been joined by a little brother: the Gear 2 Neo. The Gear 2's got the same 512MB of RAM as the first iteration, but with a dual-core 1GHz processor, which is much needed over the original.
Read: Samsung Gear 2 release date, news and features
HTC at MWC 2014:
HTC Desire 816 revealed
1080p recording and built-in amplifiers as standard
Among the glut of phones at MWC 2014, HTC revealed what it is calling its 'flagship mid-range' device, the HTC Desire 816. We knew that HTC wouldn't be offering up information on its successor to the HTC One - you have to wait until 25 March for that - but what we did get from HTC was a decent mid-range device that comes equipped with some rather impressive specs.
Read: HTC Desire 816 hoeps to tempt you before the One 2 is released
- The All New HTC One: what you need to know
Nokia at MWC 2014:
Nokia X and Nokia X+ Android phones revealed
Nokia has revealed at MWC 2014 that it is no longer a pure Windows Phone handset manufacturer but an Android one too, with the launch of the Nokia X and the Nokia X+. In a move that will surprise no one – there has been leak after leak about Nokia jumping into bed with Android – Nokia revealed the Nokia X on stage, with CEO Stephen Elop saying that: "The Nokia X is built on Android open source software. We have differentiated and added our own experience."
Read: Nokia reveals Nokia and Nokia X+ Android handsets
Nokia goes big on Android with 5-inch Nokia XL
Goes big, then goes home
If you thought Nokia was going to stop at two Android phones, you were wrong: enter the Nokia XL, a 5-inch Android-based almost-phablet. Specs are a bit sparse at the moment, but we do know there's a 5MP camera with flash and auto-focus, and a 2MP front-facing camera. That 5-inch screen is a WVGA affair, too. Like all the Android-based Nokia X range, the XL comes without Google's Cloud services - instead, it focuses on Nokia and Microsoft's services like Skype (as you'd expect from a company in the process of being bought by the Windows-maker).
Read: Nokia goes big on Android with 5-inch Nokia XL
Hands on: Nokia X review
Nokia's first Android phone under the microscope
The Nokia X is a hard phone to work out – on the one hand, it's a super cheap handset and as such has the budget specs you'd expect. On the other, it seems to be not much better than the Lumia 520, which is a Windows Phone handset and supposed to sit above it in the product line – on current prices, it's also cheaper. There are some worries here even for the developing nations: that 4GB of storage could get eaten up quickly, and while Nokia is touting the ability to add third party apps through other stores, new phones can live and die by app availability and that could kill the Nokia Android project. The Nokia X is constructed well enough, has a interesting new UI and is breaking new ground – but as a new phone, it seems a bit expensive for what's on offer.
Read: Hands on: Nokia X review
Hands on: Nokia XL review
The super-sized Nokia Android handset
The Nokia XL is aimed at a narrow area of the market and it's a smartphone which will likely have big appeal in emerging markets, but less of a presence in more developed areas. A look at the price point and the spec sheet confirms this, but the fact Nokia has done a big screen device which has its roots in Android could be a sign of things to come from the Finnish firm.
Read: Hands on: Nokia XL review
Sony at MWC 2014:
Sony launches Xperia Z2
It's the flagship 4K handset we've been waiting for
The Sony Xperia Z2 just got official as the company unveiled the new 5.2-inch flagship smartphone over at MWC 2014. The phone's headline feature is Sony's 20.7MP camera - it's an Exmor RS for mobile image sensor featuring the award-winning G Lens - basically, it's pretty good and your photos should look sweet. Videos shot on the Z2 shouldn't be too shabby either, as the handset can capture in 4K resolution. Those photography smarts are backed up by Android KitKat, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor - a 2.3GHz quad-core Krait CPU - as well as 4G LTE connectivity, NFC, 3GB of RAM and a 3200mAh battery.
Read: Sony Xperia Z2 is the waterproof 4K handset we were hoping it would be
Hands on: Sony Xperia Z2 review
Sony's super-powered phone is in our hands
The Sony Xperia Z2 is a phone that can be viewed in two ways. On the one hand, it's an excellent upgrade over the Xperia Z, and features all the top end technology you could want in a very premium-feeling chassis. On the other, it's too much like the Xperia Z1, which is only a few months old – albeit a much better version. I'm still not a fan of all that bezel above and below the screen, nor am I confident the camera will be excellent in low light. But for a flagship phone, Sony has made a very well thought out device that ticks nearly every box you can think of, and then some.
Read: Hands on: Sony Xperia Z2 review
Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet is the world's lightest and slimmest
Powerful and waterproof - much like David Hasselhoff
Sony is pushing out its waterproof technology once more with the arrival of the Sony Xperia Z2 tablet. Announced at, surprise surprise, MWC 2014 the Sony Xperia Z2 is a slim and lightweight tablet that is also waterproof. But just how light and thin is it we hear you cry? Well, it measures 6.4mm and weighs in at 426g. If you want a bit of LTE and 3G functionality then the weight is upped to 439g. Sony is also saying that its tablet is the world's most powerful too. This is because it is packing a Snapdragon 801 processor with 2.3GHz quad-core Krait CPU and to round it off an Adreno 330GPU.
Read: Sony announces the Xperia Z2 tablet
Hands on: Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet review
Great power and a lovely screen promise a high asking price
Apple didn't need to add much to the iPad Air, and proved the case with a slightly improved processor and an overhaul on the design front. Sony had already overachieved on that front in 2013, so the sequel was never going to scale the same heights. However, it's still a really great tablet, shaving weight off to make it feel nicer in the hand and giving the upgraded CPU that will keep the spec-heads happy. Is it worth the higher price that it will command when the prequel is going to be much cheaper? It's hard to say yes from a purely fiscal standpoint - but there's enough in terms of design, technology and power here to say it will probably be the most impressive tablet on show at MWC 2014.
Read: Hands on: Sony Xperia Z2 Tablet review
Affordable Sony Xperia M2 lands with 4.8-inch qHD screen
The "slimmest and lightest" handset in its class
Sony's new Xperia M2 comes boasting hardcore processing power in a slim, impressive-looking package. It's not up there with its twin, the Xperia Z2, but the M2 comes with a 4.8-inch qHD screen and 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor under the hood, at a price point that Sony describes as 'mid-range'. Not to be sniffed at either is the 8MP camera - not exactly the 20.7MP sensor of its bigger brother, but it does come with Sony's Exmor RS for mobile and bespoke Xperia camera apps so you should still be able to eke some pretty decent shots out of it.
Read: Sony launches Xperia M2 budget handset
Hands on: Sony Xperia M2 review
A first look at Sony's mid-range handset
It's very difficult to rate mid-range handsets, because on one hand they seem very poorly-built compared to their high-end brethren, and it's really tricky to work out if the money you'll save is worth the drop in build quality. On the other hand, the likes of the M2 still have a quad-core processor, some nifty technology on board and have more than a modicum of thought gone into the design, so it's hard to lambast them too hard either. In summary: the Sony Xperia M2 is a solid, if unspectacular, phone that ticks the boxes and brings enough of the Japanese brand's tech to make it feel wanted. However, it's unlikely to be number one on any prospective buyer's wishlist.
Read: Hands on: Sony Xperia M2 review
LG at MWC 2014:
Hands on: LG G2 Mini review
The LG G2 Mini is a decent smartphone, but it may have arrived a bit too late to really make the same sort of impact as the S4 Mini or One Mini. If the G2 Mini does rock a similar price tag to its rivals then perhaps its larger screen and big battery will help it get some grounding in the market - but we're just going to have to wait and see.
Read: Hands on: LG G2 Mini review
Hands on: LG G Pro 2 review
LG's new phablet to take on the Galaxy Note
The LG G Pro 2 is a decent supersized smartphone and if it does manage to make it out of Asia then it will give the current crop of phablets a real run for their money. The various camera enhancements will attract a certain crowd, while we could see the innovative Mini View crop up on rival devices as manufacturers look to squeeze every last bit of usability from their smartphones. The LG G Pro 2 is definitely one to watch, and one to hope for.
Read: Hands on: LG G Pro 2 review
Huawei at MWC 2014:
Huawei makes 4G affordable with new tablets and smartphone
Huawei is back in the tablet game after an absence of over a year, and it's bringing CAT 4 4G connectivity to the masses with its two news slates. The 8-inch MediPad M1 sports a 1280 x 800 display, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 768MB of RAM, 8/16GB of internal storage, 4800mAh battery and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean - and of course 4G connectivity. The more interesting of the two tablets is the MediaPad X1, which sports the same resolution, full HD display as theNexus 7, 1.6GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera, 4G support and a huge 5000mAh battery.
Read: Huawei's superfast new devices
Huawei TalkBand is a smartwatch with a Bluetooth headset built-in
It's a wristy business
Huawei has unveiled the TalkBand B1 over at MWC 2014 - a wristband with a 1.4-inch flexible OLED display. Its main focus is fitness, and it promises to track sleep patterns as well as steps taken, calories burned and so on. As well as the wrist-based business, the TalkBand B1 comes with a detachable Bluetooth earpiece that you can use for taking calls.
Read: Huawei's new TalkBand smartwatch
Hands on: Huawei Ascend G6 review
The affordable alternative to the P6
Last year Huawei launched its flagship Ascend P6 smartphone, and now at MWC 2014 the Chinese firm has added to the range with the Huawei Ascend G6. As you may have guessed the G6 isn't a replacement to the P6, rather it's a more affordable option which shares the same design ethos as its bigger brother. The key facts about the Ascend G6 are its price and connectivity. While Huawei was unable to give me a firm price, I was told that it will come in at under £200. Not bad for a handset which is sporting the latest version of 4G technology - CAT 4 - giving you a super speedy internet connection.
Read: Hands on: Huawei Ascend G6 review
Hands on: Huawei Media Pad X1 review
This is the Huawei tablet to watch
If Huawei can sort out the lag in the interface and improve the image quality from the camera the MediaPad X1 is set up to be a serious contender in the 7-inch tablet market. Its Achilles heel however could be its time to market, as by the time it's managed to get into stores the competition may have introduced their next-generation tablets - putting the Media Pad X1 out of contention before it's even started.
Read: Hands on: Huawei MediaPad X1 review
Hands on: Huawei MediaPad M1 review
The slightly less exciting Chinese tablet
The Huawei MediaPad M1 is a solid 8-inch tablet, but it doesn't exactly excel at anything - if you want a cheap tablet the feature packed Nexus 7 would be a better option, although it does sport a smaller screen. Of course if you fancy a bit more screen real estate check out the G Pad 8.3, iPad Mini 2 and Galaxy Note 8.0. If those are out of your price range the Huawei MediaPad M1 is shaping up to be a decent affordable alternative - plus the option of 4G is a nice one to have.
Read: Hands on: Huawei MediaPad M1 review
ZTE at MWC 2014:
ZTE Grand Memo II is another 6-inch Android beast
On show at this week's MWC 2014 in Barcelona is the 'ultra-slim' 6-inch Grand Memo II LTE handset, a successor to the original device launched at the event in 2013. The phone features a new version of the MiFavor UI it uses to paint over Android, with KitKat being the flavour of the day. It also comes with a Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage. There's LTE nous, as well as a 13MP rear-mounted camera and a 5MP front-facing one. The 6-inch HD display comes in a 7.2mm frame, backed up with a 3200mAh battery that ZTE reckons should last you for 16 hours playing HD video. The Grand Memo II should hit China in April before setting out for Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. No word on pricing yet though.
Read: ZTE Grand Memo II is an Android beast
Lenovo at MWC 2014:
Lenovo launches three new Android smartphones
Just because Lenovo recently acquired Motorola, doesn't mean it plans to stop pushing its in-house smartphones, something evidenced by the launch of three new handsets at MWC 2014. The company has unveiled the S860, the S850 and S660 Android handsets, promising a little bit of something for all sectors of the market. The S860 is the flagship device, with a 5.3-inch, as-yet-unspecified 'HD' screen, 2GB RAM and a MediaTek quad-core processor, but the real kicker is the promise of all true all day battery life.
Read: Lenovo launches smartphones for everyone
Lenovo announces Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ Android tablet
No KitKat just yet, though
Lenovo's latest tablet continues its flexible approach with the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ bringing a Full HD screen to the repositionable slate. Landing today at MWC 2014, the tablet comes with a 10.1-inch display that rocks Full HD 1920 x 1200 resolution, and the cylindrical battery means you'll be able to use it in the same 'hold', 'tilt' and 'stand' modes as its predecessor, the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10. Under the hood we're looking at a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor backed up by 2GB of memory and 32GB of storage.
Read: Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ bends and twists but doesn't come with KitKat
Google at MWC 2014:
Google is on the list of MWC 2014 exhibitors, although it's likely to spend most of its time and square footage pushing the general Android ethos and giving away stickers than actually revealing any new Nexus hardware.
That said, we're expecting a new Nexus 10 to appear any day now, so if that one doesn't pop before Christmas, perhaps it could be saved as an MWC headline-stealer to detract from the stacks of enhanced tablets that Samsung is bound to show up with.
There's also some suggestions of an 8-inch Nexus 8 tablet sneaking out at MWC, with an Intel chip inside.
The best of the rest at MWC 2014:
WhatsApp to offer free phone call feature
WhatsApp is adding voice calling to its popular instant messaging app, with iOS and Android the first two OSes to get the new features. At WhatsApp's MWC press conference, CEO Jan Koum said that some BlackBerry and Nokia phones will be next in line for the voice messaging update.
Read: Soon you'll be able to call people using WhatsApp
RealPlayer Cloud takes private video-sharing global
Taking a leaf from Dropbox's book
RealPlayer Cloud just went global, with the software for moving, watching and sharing videos now available around the world. With apps on iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 8, Kindle Fire, Roku and Chromecast, RealPlayer Cloud describes itself as the "Dropbox for video" while ignoring the fact that Dropbox is already pretty much Dropbox for video.
Read: More about RealPlayer Cloud
HP launches Pavilion x360 convertible PC
Slate VoiceTab is making its way to Europe
HP has announced a new convertible laptop PC at MWC 2014, and it's been taking a few style cues from Lenovo's Yoga range by the looks of things. Called the HP Pavilion x360, it takes the form of a touchscreen-equipped convertible that totes a 360-degree hinge, allowing you to use it as a laptop or a tablet. It features an 11.6-inch HD display with 10-point capacitive multi-touch and also includes built-in Beats Audio with dual speakers and HP Connected Music.
Read: HP Pavilion x360 is a Yoga-inspired convertible PC
Emporia handsets aim to push the right buttons
Aimed at older generations
Emporia Telecom has announced four new mobile handsets at MWC 2014 that get physical by bringing tactile buttons back from the wilderness. The company, which services and sells phones for the 60-plus generation, aims for orientation and simplicity over features with its new emporiaEUPHORIA, emporiaGLAM and emporiaPURE handsets. The news may be also welcome to those in business fed up with fumbling to call contacts and type out longer messages and emails, as an accompanying survey found.
Read: Emporia handsets launch for older people
SanDisk Ultra microSDXC 128GB proves less is more
Memory card's bark is as big as its bytes
SanDisk has built the world's smallest 128GB microSDXC card using proprietary technology, making the stress of mobile back-up a thing of the past. Being shown off at MWC 2014, the SanDisk Ultra microSDXC UHS-I is being billed as the world's smallest microSDXC card with the largest capacity.
Read: SanDisk's new microSDXC cards
Source : techradar[dot]com
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