MWC 2025 has arrived once again taking place in Barcelona, and a crack-team of TechRadar journalists are onsite to bring you all the latest consumer news from the big tech showcase.
Where once MWC was very smartphone-focussed, it's evolved into a bigger tech showcase, with home devices, robots, cars and more all popping up across the expansive halls of the Fira.
- For all the B2B news from MWC, check out our live blog on TechRadar Pro
Don't expect to hear any big news from the likes of Samsung or Google, but get ready for a slew of interesting products and developments that'll likely set the scene for the tech world for 2025 and beyond.
So you're in the right place for all the news and view coming out of MWC 2025. Read on.
Hello! Roland Moore-Colyer, Managing Editor of Mobile Computing here to take you on this live blog journey as it kicks off.
I'm not at MWC this year, with fellow but we have a selection of TechRadar-ians over in Barcelona to soak up all that MWC has to offer. So let's get into it.
Honor embraces AI hook, line and sinker
So first up we have a report from Phones Editor Axel Metz on how phone-maker Honor has rebranded itself as an "AI device ecosystem company". That's a bit odd but there's apparently three steps the company plans to take in order to deliver “purpose-built, human-centric AI designed to maximize human potential.”
My read on this is basically Honor will go hard on AI-based tech, and we can expect its new products to contain a host of smart features. For a better and deeper lowdon, I'd suggest reading Mr Metz full report: Honor rebrands as an 'AI device ecosystem company' and commits to developing a 'super intelligent' smartphone.
So here's an odd turn up for the books: actor Drew Barrymore appeared at an HMD showcase to tease Project Wildflower, which is a mission led by the phone-maker to tackle people spending too much time on their smartphones.
Check out our TikTok video below for more.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar
HMD wants to tackle a teenage screen time epidemic
Following on from that TikTok below is a full report from Axel Metz on HMD's aim to help tackle a supposed screen time epidemic, especially among teenagers.
As such, the company revealed the HMD Fusion X1, a phone made in partnership with smartwatch manufacturer Xplora aimed at teenagers, which will enable parents to remotely enable, disable, or limit access to apps of their choosing via an Xplora subscription.
Now I'm not sure many teenagers would welcome relinquishing control of their phone to their parents, but the idea here is to safeguard young people against some of the darker elements of online and always-connected life.
Read Axel's full report: 'The smartphone teens want, with the safety parents desire': HMD’s Fusion X1 is here to save the TikTok generation.
Meet the Honor Earbuds Open
Moving on to something different to smartphones, and let me flag the Honor Earbuds Open wireless earbuds to your attention.
Honor's inaugural open earbuds have been designed to specifically not enter one's ears, sitting on the opening to the ear canal instead.
Audio Editor Becky Scarrott to the Earbuds Open for a spin, so I suggest you go read her thoughts on them: I tried Honor's new Earbuds Open and for me, they jumped straight to the top of the pile.
Here's another TikTok from HMD's event last night, which we visited. Give it a gander... especially if you like football and retro phones.
@techradar ♬ stellar (Sped Up) - .diedlonely & énouement
Watch this!
Honor is having a busy MWC, as it has revealed the Honor Watch 5 Ultra, its newest smartwatch.
There's a good bit to like here, as the smartwatch sports a grade 5 titanium case, a 1.5-inch AMOLED, and a host of health-centric features. The only thing that's missing is Google's Wear OS; instead the Honor Watch Ultra 5 runs Honor's proprietary MagicOS.
Read our full report: Honor's new Android smartwatch has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 15 days of battery life, and works with iPhone and Android.
We have a first look at the Nothing Phone 3a and 3a Pro. Take a look at the video below.
@techradar ♬ Pretty - Coco & Clair Clair
Honor-ing software support
Bouncing back to Honor again, and it's announced it will support its flagship phones with seven years of updates, much like Google and Samsung.
“By guaranteeing long-term software and security updates, Honor provides Magic Series owners with the confidence that their devices will remain up-to-date, secure, and feature-rich – maximizing the value of their investment and extending the lifespan of the devices,” explained Honor.
How useful such support will be in reality given phone batteries can deteriorate after some four years and tech can become outdated rather quickly, remains to be seen, But it's better to have the support and not need it, then need it and not have it.
The full story is here: Honor matches Apple, Samsung, and Google with new update promise for its flagship phones – but how long is 'too long'?
Lenovo has popped up with a new solar-powered laptop concept. I doubt it'll see the light of day in a retail product any time soon, but it's a cool idea. Check out the TikTok video below.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar
A solar-powered laptop? Oh yes
And my colleague Christina Guyton, Computing Editor, has the full lowdown on the Lenovo laptop:
"I can’t believe it took this long for a tech company to strap a solar panel to the back of an ultrabook. We need more of this. It feels like such a straightforward idea; naturally, the Yoga Solar PC can be charged conventionally via a cable, but just being able to close the lid and let it soak in the solar rays is brilliant - and basically ensures that you’ll never be stranded without any charge again (unless it’s the middle of the night, I suppose)."
Read the full story here: Lenovo’s solar-powered Yoga concept laptop is such a good idea, I’m frankly shocked nobody’s done it already.
We have a video of Honor's Watch 5 Ultra, featuring the traditional watch-wearer Axel Metz. I'm in the same boat as Axel, preferring analogue watches over smartwatches, but I have to admit the Watch 5 Ultra does look pretty slick. Check out the TikTok video below.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar
Don't fancy a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 then the Nubia Flip 2 could be the flippable, foldable phone for you. This phone has a neat 3-inch OLED cover screen that can play can host to almost all of the same built-in apps that you’ll find on the Nubia Flip 2's 6.9-inch, 120Hz-capable AMOLED inner display.
There are more specs to get into but I'd suggest you check out the TikTok video below and read Axel Metz's article: The 'affordable' Nubia Flip 2 is here to tempt you away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
@techradar ♬ original sound - TechRadar
Good morning! I"m back to take you through some of the announcements coming out of MWC 2025 today. So let's get into it.
Our Nothing Phone 3a Pro review is here
So while MWC played host to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, we had one back at TechRadar Towers. And my colleague Senior Phones Editor Philip Berne gave it a through going over. So check out his Nothing Phone 3a Pro review.
But in summary it's over to Phil: "The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the best phone Nothing has ever made, with premium materials that make the phone more durable and the best camera setup on any phone at this price. What it misses in performance it makes up in style, with a unique design inside and out that is sure to catch jealous eyes. If you like the look of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, why spend more? This phone is a whole experience."
