7 weird but wonderful devices I noticed at MWC 2026

Cell World Congress in Barcelona is a spot the place you typically see probably the most weird but surprisingly useful gadgets from around the globe.

This 12 months’s MWC 2026 was no totally different. Manufacturers confirmed off every little thing from sensible contact lenses to devices that may scan your hair (and even analyze a receding hairline).

There was just about every little thing on show on the present this 12 months, and listed below are seven of probably the most weird but superior devices I noticed on the present ground.

Tecno’s super-thin modular idea cellphone

Forward of the commerce present, Tecno confirmed it might be showcasing its Camon and POVA 8 smartphones at MWC 2026, however the firm had just a few surprises in retailer, and so they had been genuinely spectacular.

At its sales space, Tecno confirmed off an excellent skinny smartphone that measures simply 4.9mm thick and appears nearly just like the (higher model of) iPhone Air. That alone was fascinating, however the cellphone also turned out to be modular. Tecno demonstrated a number of attachments that magnetically snap onto the again of the machine and add totally different performance.

For instance, there was a big telephoto lens attachment that snaps onto the again of the cellphone and provides as much as 20x optical zoom. There have been additionally different modules, together with an extra battery pack for lengthy days, a microphone attachment for recording, a walkie-talkie module, and extra.

It is the closest factor I’ve seen in actual life to Google’s old Project Ara concept from years in the past. Seeing it immediately made me nostalgic, and I actually hope Tecno ultimately brings a business machine like this to the market sometime.

Huawei MatePad Mini

Huawei all the time has a giant presence at MWC, and this 12 months was no totally different. The model had one of many largest cubicles on the present ground and showcased a number of new and fascinating merchandise. The gadget that basically caught my consideration, nevertheless, was the corporate’s new MatePad Mini.

For years, I’ve wished a pill that I might simply keep it up flights to observe content material with out taking over as a lot area as a laptop computer, and the MatePad Mini may be precisely that. It options an 8.8-inch OLED show with a 120Hz refresh charge in a compact chassis measuring 198.59 x 127.27 x 5.1 mm. For these retaining observe, that’s roughly the footprint of an iPad however noticeably thinner.

It has the identical matte show end discovered on different Huawei MatePad tablets and comes with a stable steel body. The pill packs a 6,400mAh battery with help for 66W quick charging. Nonetheless, it runs Huawei’s HarmonyOS out of the field quite than Android.

I really feel the pill class can typically really feel troublesome to innovate in, however Huawei actually caught my consideration with the MatePad Mini. The machine is impressively skinny, compact, and surprisingly nicely packed for its measurement.

Oukitel’s WP63 ‘hearth’ cellphone

Oukitel is usually identified for making rugged smartphones, however at MWC 2026 the corporate confirmed off one thing… fascinating, to say the least. The machine continues to be a rugged cellphone with a chunky design and a large 20,000mAh battery that may even cost different units.

What makes it stand out is a built-in electrical igniter. Along with functioning as a smartphone, the machine features a pop-out heating ingredient just like the cigarette lighters present in older automobiles. You need to use it to begin a hearth whereas tenting or for different outside makes use of.

Past that, it additionally works as a full survival toolkit. The cellphone features a high-intensity tenting mild and a really loud emergency speaker that may be helpful in outside or emergency conditions.

AGI app is right here to manage your cellphone

Samsung just lately demonstrated with the Galaxy S26 Ultra how Gemini can management on-device actions, similar to inserting an order in your behalf or reserving a cab. Now, a model referred to as AGI Inc. desires to deliver related capabilities to all Android smartphones.

The corporate introduced a partnership with Qualcomm Snapdragon at MWC 2026 that can permit AGI to run its fashions instantly on Snapdragon-powered units with out counting on cloud infrastructure. This method might make AI brokers each sooner and extra personal. As a result of the fashions run domestically on the machine, they’ll carry out duties with out always sending information to exterior servers.

In easy phrases, think about telling your cellphone to discover a reward to your spouse’s birthday, evaluate choices throughout a number of web sites, and place the order for you mechanically. That’s the kind of expertise AGI says it’s working towards with its on-device brokers.

There are nonetheless no particular particulars on when this know-how will truly arrive, however the firm says it’s actively working with Qualcomm to make it attainable. We have requested the model for extra info and can share updates as quickly as we hear again.

Honor Robotic Telephone

Honor caught headlines at MWC 2026 with its Magic V6 foldable smartphone and the ultra-thin MagicPad 4 pill, however that wasn’t all. After teasing the Robotic Telephone for almost six months, Honor lastly showcased a few of its capabilities on the occasion.

As proven in earlier teasers, the Robotic Telephone contains a three-axis gimbal-mounted digital camera on the again that helps seize steady movies even while you’re shifting. Much like a DJI Osmo Pocket, it generates counter actions to maintain the digital camera regular, one thing that could possibly be very helpful for content material creators.

On high of that, there are a number of AI options in-built. The digital camera can observe your motion and mechanically maintain you within the body whereas recording movies or throughout video calls. The machine additionally has some playful components. It could reply to its environment, nod, and even dance to music enjoying close by.

There are nonetheless many issues we do not know in regards to the Honor Robotic Telephone, together with its specs and pricing. Nonetheless, the corporate says it’s supposed to be a business product and plans to launch it someday within the second half of this 12 months.

Vivo X300 Extremely with Smallrig package

Vivo is understood for making a number of the greatest digital camera telephones in the marketplace, however the firm now appears to be shifting a few of that focus towards bettering video capabilities with its next-generation Extremely smartphone.

At MWC 2026, Vivo showcased the upcoming Vivo X300 Extremely, not on show however inside an expert accent package. As for the small print, Vivo confirmed that the X300 Extremely will function a 200MP Sony LYT-901 foremost sensor and help recording 4K 120fps video in each 10-bit Log and Dolby Imaginative and prescient throughout all cameras on the cellphone.

The rig itself is basically an expert digital camera setup for the smartphone. It features a cooling fan to stop overheating, a grip for higher dealing with, an LED mild, and a number of other different equipment.

Vivo hasn’t revealed the total specs of the X300 Extremely but, however the firm did affirm that the machine will launch in world markets later this 12 months. My guess is we’ll study far more in regards to the cellphone within the coming months.

TCL Nxtpaper AMOLED Telephone

TCL is understood for its NXTPAPER show know-how that mimics a paper-like really feel and goals to scale back eye pressure by decreasing blue mild publicity. The draw back has all the time been that the show high quality hasn’t been in a position to match what you see on flagship AMOLED panels.

Which will quickly change, as TCL showcased an NXTPAPER AMOLED show idea at MWC 2026.

This new method combines the attention consolation advantages of NXTPAPER with the vivid visuals of AMOLED. The result’s a show that delivers richer colours and considerably larger brightness whereas nonetheless aiming to scale back eye pressure and likewise retaining anti-glare properties.

For now, TCL has solely demonstrated the know-how as an idea machine, however the firm says it is engaged on a business product utilizing this show and plans to deliver it to the market sooner or later.