The latest in mobile tech is always unveiled at one annually held Mobile World Congress (MWC), conference every year. That event is the where smartphones are the stars of the show. The 2017 edition of the conference, however, has been all about looking back with the re-launch of two iconic brands. While they are not exactly making a comeback, but Blackberry and Nokia are playing strong on their legacy strengths in the coolest of ways. Here are some of the most notable releases this year, all of which will undoubtedly make it to our shores soon.
LG G6
Last year’s revolutionary phone, the LG G5 had a very lukewarm reception despite its ambitious ideas. So naturally, LG decided to keep things simple with the G6. It packs a massive 5.7 inch display which is a lot narrower, making it easy to hold. The screen has neat rounded edges with a nice sense of symmetry. Powered by a Snapdragon 821 processor, the device has 4GB of RAM and a 3300 mAh battery. The camera is a dual 13MP camera with a very wide angle in case you need a wider shot. The best part about the phone though is that the cameras shoot in HDR10 format and the screen supports both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats for better dynamic range.
Nokia 3310
In one of the biggest surprises of the show, Nokia pulled out a new version of the legendary 3310 out of its hat. It’s made by a company called HMD Global that's developing phones in the spirit and name of Nokia. The new 3310 has a 2.4 inch colour display and a 2MP camera out back, with that T7 keypad and user interface that's all too familiar. Plus, the 3310 comes in four attractive colours. The best part is that the phone can let you talk for over 20 hours or keep it on standby for a month on just one charge. Fans will also be happy about the return of beloved Snake game, which you will remember as one of the most addictive games on Nokia's feature phones.
Blackberry KeyOne
Another blast from the past is the TCL produced, Blackberry. The KeyOne brings back the famous QWERTY keypad that made Blackberry a hit amongst professionals. A phone in a suit, the KeyOne is no-nonsense, straight-up Blackberry harking back to a time when the company’s cell phones were at a high point. With a 4.5 inch display, Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB RAM and 4G/LTE support, the KeyOne is a classic suit with a modern heart.
Nokia 5 and 3
Eclipsed by 3310, Nokia's new entry level phones, the 5 and 3 were also launched at MWC 2017. With a design that takes cues from the signature Lumia line, the 5 and 3 look minimal and premium. The 5 sports a 5.2 inch display with a 13 MP camera, while as the 3 has a five-inch screen and an 8MP camera. The dream is finally here, a Nokia phone with an Android operating system. Hopefully, we should see the higher end Nokia 6 launch in India too.
Huawei P10 and P10 Plus
The high-fashion, luxury themed P9 smartphone from Huawei was one of the first to feature Leica cameras. And it’s a trend the P10 and P10 plus is continuing, with a Leica dual camera setup in a very odd 20MP and 12MP configuration. The phones have Leica optics, image stabilisation and tweaks including a bokeh depth of field effect (which blurs the background while keeping the subject crisp). The latter is an effect you see in the new iPhone and on sophisticated DSLRs. The phone comes in a 5.1 inch and a 5.5 inch screen sizes and both sport the latest Kirin processor.
Xperia XZ Premium
While television sets are moving into the 4K territory, Sony had released the first smartphone with a 4K display a while back. Now they're continuing that with the new Xperia XZ, a phone that's bristling with high numbers. The slow motion camera boasts of 960 frames per second while the iPhone goes only up to 240. The camera also has something called Motion Eye, that starts shooting photos a few nanoseconds before you depress the shutter, eliminating missed shots. And it has a 19MP monster that shoots in HDR. The XZ also sports the latest Snapdragon 835 processor, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal space with an SD card slot.
Oppo 5X Zoom
Long zooms have not been possible in smartphones as there's no room for the lens to extend, as seen in traditional cameras and point and shoot. So instead they employ a digital zoom, by enlarging the picture itself. However, Oppo has managed to go up to 5X optical zoom by placing the camera lens sideways along the length of the phone. It uses the same technology a periscope uses – a mirror that reflects the picture inwards.
