Devices, AI, Sovereignty, Networks, Satellite: What to Expect at MWC 2026, Part One

On 2 to 5 March, MWC 2026 takes place in Barcelona. As excitement builds for the event, in this two-part blog, we share our thoughts on the top trends we expect to dominate conversations and exhibits this year. In this part, we focus on connected devices, and in part two we will look at networks and connectivity.

MWC Celebrates 20 Years in Barcelona

As MWC celebrates its 20th anniversary in the city, it’s worth reflecting on how the show has changed over the past two decades.

In 2006, connected devices dominated the show, but the Apple iPhone didn’t exist. Nokia was the market leader in mobile phones, and numerous manufacturers — with a multitude of devices with proprietary operating systems — promoted their wares. Smartphones were characterized by products powered by rudimentary operating systems such as Symbian, BlackBerry OS and Windows Mobile.

From 2006 to 2010, we saw the battle play out for the smartphone as we know it today. The arrival of the iPhone in 2007 signalled a shift in the market, the decline of smartphone operating systems such as Symbian, and the rise of Google’s Android, which went on to become the primary competitor to Apple’s iOS. The era of the app store began, and a “spec race” followed, as phone makers delivered larger displays, more-powerful processors, higher camera megapixel counts and the latest network connectivity with the arrival of 4G.

Since then, MWC’s focus is no longer dominated by connected devices — and mobile phones in particular — and instead embraces the length and breadth of the industry, with a focus on new technologies such as AI, new standards including 5G and 6G, satellite connectivity and adjacent industries such as automotive. However, connected devices still capture attendees’ imagination, even if they account for a much smaller share of the event’s news flow.

Foldable Smartphones in the Spotlight

As MWC 2026 kicks off, Samsung will launch its latest flagship smartphone portfolio, the Galaxy S26 Series, at its own event in San Francisco. We expect these new products to be prominently showcased at MWC. Rumours indicate a largely incremental update, with improvements across the board and an innovative display technology with a privacy mode that lets users hide its contents from people around them.

We also expect Samsung to showcase its Galaxy Z TriFold which, although already available in several markets including the US and South Korea, will be new to most attendees at MWC. This foldable device features a 10-inch main screen that folds twice to become the size of a standard smartphone, albeit slightly thicker.

In addition to Samsung’s TriFold, we expect an array of other foldable devices from numerous manufacturers, many focusing on the bi-fold design rather than the smaller flip design. We expect Chinese phone-maker Honor, which has been a trailblazer in offering premium-tier, ultrathin foldables, to launch a new flagship device, the Magic V6. Motorola will showcase its recently launched Razr Fold. Manufacturers such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Tecno and others, will also have foldable devices on show. We also expect a further step in the journey to offering “crease-less” folding displays, ahead of potential launches by Apple and Samsung later in 2026.

The most unusual smartphone at the show is expected to be Honor’s Robot Phone. This was originally unveiled as a concept in October 2025 and non-functional models were on display at CES in January. The device features a built-in motorized robotic arm and gimbal-mounted camera that flips out to capture video and photos, and its movement echoes Disney’s Wall-E robot. Although we don’t expect the phone to be officially launched at MWC, it is likely to feature prominently on Honor’s stand.

Other smartphone-related trends will centre on advances in battery technology, most notably the growing use of silicon-carbon batteries to reduce size, increase capacity and enable faster charging. Support for up to 300 watts is expected to be announced at the show by at least one phone-maker. We expect updates from all the leading silicon vendors about processors powering smartphones, most notably to enhance on-device AI capabilities.

Another hot topic will be the current shortage of smartphone memory chips. Lower-value RAM chips have been deprioritized in favour of high-bandwidth memory for AI data centres, resulting in significant price hikes, particularly for low- and mid-range smartphones.

Traction in AI-Infused Wearables

The momentum in the extended reality space has noticeably shifted away from virtual reality (VR) headsets toward augmented reality (AR) and AI glasses over the past six to 12 months. We expect to see a continuation of this trend at the show. VR showcases will be few and far between, with a huge range of AI glasses on show as players pile into the market on the wave of momentum forged by Meta. The major challenge for smaller players without the fashion heft of an eyewear brand to help them stand out will be differentiation. Camera resolution, battery life and integrated AI agents will be the primary ways for players to differentiate as, on looks alone, they’re largely indistinguishable.

AI has been a key feature and story for smartphones over the past few events, but we expect a development of the agentic or personal AI experience in smart glasses this year. Meta will be taking to the stage to discuss its ambitions for “personal superintelligence”, having positioned glasses as the next-generation shape of personal computing.

In AR we expect to see developments in waveguide technology, as improvements are still needed for AR to become a genuinely mass-market product.

At CES in January, the emergence — or re-emergence — of wearable AI pendants and pins was a top theme. We expect further glimpses of products from Motorola and Samsung at MWC. These products remain very much conceptual and there is, as yet, no commitment to release them. We believe products like these are designed to pre-empt the rumoured release of a product from a collaboration between Open AI and Jony Ive that seeks to redefine how we “wear” intelligence.

This type of product targets the “no phone” philosophy, aimed at reducing screen fatigue and encouraging users to interact with AI in a more conversational manner. We remain doubtful about the mass-market opportunity of these devices, especially as they ultimately compete with smart glasses, which are proving very popular and resemble an accessory that people already use. Furthermore, we see them primarily as smartphone companions, rather than replacements.

Privacy concerns for these products, as well as for smart glasses, remain a potential banana skin. People aren’t yet fully ingratiated to the always-on, always-listening nature of these devices. Integrating cameras into these products adds another challenge to generating widespread acceptance. A single, highly publicized case of privacy invasion could be enough to trip up AI-infused wearables.

We expect to see plenty of in-ear and over-ear headphones at MWC. In-ear headphones have been showcased regularly over the past few years, with features such as live translation among the most innovative new uses. Over-ear headphones present a slightly different opportunity for integrating generative AI — something we also saw at CES. An example from Razer showed the effective combination of both generative AI and a dual-camera system, with one camera mounted on each earcup. By using visual input, the on-board assistant can interpret a first-person view of what’s on a gaming monitor, with a host of other uses also marketed. Many of these overlap with AR glasses, but we believe headphones could be more practical. Headsets are less visually intrusive, offer more physical space for sensors and more computing power, and are already a widely adopted product rather than a new device category.

As usual at the show — and a drum we beat regularly at CCS Insight — the intersection of health and tech continues to be an important area of development. Oura will be on stage highlighting its market-leading developments in this area, and we expect to see plenty of rings and watches promoting various measurements and metrics for health and physical performance.

Circularity and Sustainability Return to the Agenda

Device manufacturers have been increasingly highlighting features of new devices focused on longevity, durability and reliability. This is delivered largely through hard casings, screens and resistance to increasingly strenuous environments, as well as repairability and, in some instances, modularity. We expect this trend to continue at MWC in all areas of hardware. With replacement cycles still lengthening — and price increases, generated by the memory chip shortage, likely to lengthen them further — there’s a growing need to maintain longer product lifespans. Beyond the primary lifecycle, we’re starting to see more traction from leading manufacturers for the secondary market, with the likes of Samsung and Lenovo taking significant and active roles in the space.

During the show, the GSMA will be leading sessions on driving consumer confidence to purchase second-hand devices, as well as a closed-door session on device labelling. The secondary market is recovering some of the momentum it had at the show a few years ago, and we expect to see a much wider range of interested parties from across the electronics ecosystem, particularly telcos and manufacturers, discussing and highlighting the roles they play in driving the secondary market forward.

For our expectations on operators, networks and connectivity trends at this year’s MWC, see Devices, AI, Sovereignty, Networks, Satellite: What to Expect at MWC 2026, Part Two.

Stay tuned for our insights from the event, which takes place from 2 to 5 March 2026.