Launch

The Phantom V Fold has finally been made official as a new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold-series rival from the OEM Tecno. The company has confirmed that it will be released with dual 120Hz screens developed in partnership with TCL CSOT. The new foldable is also slated to ship with a potentially high-end main rear camera.

Samsung has made the 4G/LTE-only version of its Galaxy A14, a new affordable Android smartphone, official today in Malaysia. Its hardware compromises go even beyond its last-gen connectivity to keep its budget appeal flying; then again, it has launched with the upgraded design of its 5G counterpart.

The Dell XPS 17 9730 has been announced with a 17-inch 4K 16:10 screen, an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070, Intel Core i9-13900H, 32 GB of 4,800 MT/s RAM, and a 1 TB NVMe SSD, with prices starting at US$3,749/CA$5,049. Other configurations with lower-end hardware will be available later this year.

The Dell XPS Desktop 8960 can now be configured with Intel Raptor Lake processors, up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory, Nvidia Turing/Ampere/Ada Lovelace and AMD RDNA 2/RDNA 3 graphics cards, up to a 1,000 Watt power supply and liquid cooling.

Dell has refreshed its XPS 15 offering this year with the new XPS 15 9530. The XPS 15 9530 continues to feature the same chassis that was first offered by the XPS 15 9500. The upgrades this year are mainly with respect to the Intel 13th gen processor options up to the Core i9-13900H and new Nvidia RTX 40 GPUs up to a 40 W RTX 4070. An Arc A370M option is available as well.

Qualcomm asserts that drivers and passengers will be just as connected and entertained as they would be at home in a oneday car powered by its second-gen Snapdragon Auto 5G modem. It integrates a multi-core CPU as well as potentially enhanced bandwidth so that it can run apps independently for applications such as gaming or streaming. The new modem also boasts satellite connectivity and C-V2X for greater assurance in terms of positioning and safety.

AGM Mobile asserts that its latest 5G smartphone can handle applications beyond most devices of its rugged class - possibly even those of a search-and-rescue nature - thanks to its new and apparently ground-breakingly long-range thermal camera. The G2 Guardian also boasts relatively premium features such as a 120Hz display, Wi-Fi 6 and up to 12GB of RAM.

Xiaomi is now offering the Watch S1 Pro globally, six months after releasing the smartwatch in China. The Watch S1 Pro comes in two finishes, as well as a round AMOLED display, long battery life and Xiaomi's proprietary operating system.

Xiaomi has released the Xiaomi 13 Pro outside China. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is a force to be reckoned with thanks to its flagship hardware and the Sony IMX989 from the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. The Xiaomi 13 Pro is not far off the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in terms of pricing, though.

The Honor Magic Vs has been launched globally with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, SoC, 7.9-inch OLED screen, 512 GB storage, 50 MP triple rear cameras and a 5,000 mAh battery. It will be available for purchase sometime in Q2, 2023, for €1,599.

At MWC, Lenovo is introducing the second generation of its ThinkPad Z series. ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 and Z16 Gen 2 both look a lot like their predecessors, but they receive a new haptic trackpad made by Sensel. This marks the first time that Sensel provides their complete technology stack for a laptop trackpad.

The Xiaomi 13 Lite is the global version of the Xiaomi CIVI 2. As such, the Xiaomi 13 Lite has a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset and a 6.55-inch AMOLED display. However, it also means that the Xiaomi 13 Lite launches with Android 12, not Android 13. Xiaomi has downgraded the Xiaomi 13 Lite in one area compared to the CIVI 2 too.

Qualcomm has announced partnerships with some of the best-known OEMs in the Android smartphone world to bring Snapdragon Satellite connectivity to next-gen consumer-grade handsets. The new "two-way capable messaging solution" will be compatible with SoCs for multiple tiers of the smartphone market, and may be used for purposes besides emergency texts.

Lenovo is introducing a refreshed ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 along with a new 16-inch ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 at MWC 2023. The new ThinkPad E Series now offer Intel 13th gen and AMD Ryzen 7030 options along with new 16:10 displays, an improved keyboard, a larger touchpad, and up to a 57 WHr battery.

Lenovo launched the ThinkPad L13 Gen 4 and ThinkPad L13 Yoga Gen 4 at MWC 2023 today. The L13 and L13 Yoga now feature upgraded internals to Intel 13th gen Raptor Lake and AMD Ryzen 7000 along with a few added display options including ones with low blue light emissions. Memory comes soldered on both Intel and AMD variants.

Lenovo asserts that it offers a range of generationally improved Chromebook functions with this new IdeaPad Slim 3 variant. It boasts a potentially color-accurate FHD display, front-firing speakers and up to 13.5 hours of battery life. The new PC supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, and starts under the equivalent of US$380.

Lenovo asserts that its new IdeaPad Duet 3i is an ideal student 2-in-1 PC, with its light chassis that packs a generationally-upgraded display and a battery rated for up to 8.5 hours of battery life with fast USB type-C charging. It boasts the latest Intel platforms for its form-factor, with support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Lenovo's fourth-gen range of larger ThinkPad L-series laptops have made their MWC debut with up-to-date processors in both Intel and AMD flavors. Either option comes in relatively lightweight, cost-effective packages - although the new L14 and L15 have made some potential compromises to attain their attractive starting prices.

Lenovo has announced the ThinkPad Z13 Gen 2 and ThinkPad Z16 Gen 2 at MWC 2023. Both laptops feature 16:10 IPS/OLED screens, AMD Ryzen 7000 processors, two USB 4.0 ports and LPDDR5x memory. The Z16 Gen 2 goes on sale in August, and the Z13 Gen 2 in July.

At MWC, Lenovo is announcing most models of the new ThinkPad lineup. One of the main highlights are the classic models of the ThinkPad T series. T14s Gen 4, T14 Gen 4 and T16 Gen 2 are updates of last years models, but they still bring a few new features.

The ThinkPads of the X series are the smallest, most mobile ThinkPad laptops for the enterprise market. In 2023, Lenovo is completely redesigning the X13 and its convertible counterpart ThinkPad X13 Yoga.

Nitecore has officially revealed the successor of its tactical SRT6 flashlight, which is fittingly called the SRT6i. While some of the most important specs of the new model have been massively improved, its size and build remains largely the same.

The Xiaomi Buds 4 are now available to purchase globally. They cost €249.99 and support multiple Active Noise Cancellation modes, Intelligent Fit Monitoring, head tracking and nine hours of battery life.

Nokia touts the G22 as the first Android smartphone of its series to launch with QuickFix technology, in that it is designed to make teardowns and battery replacements easier for the user compared to its predecessor. Whether this new focus on sustainability helps distract from the similarity between the new device and its predecessor in other potentially crucial areas remains to be seen.

Colorful's latest gaming laptop has debuted with 13th-gen Intel Core processors and up to RTX 4070 graphics. The EVOL X16 PRO also boasts 240Hz display options, as well as a "multi-zone cooling system" that can be adjusted in a number of ways, simple keyboard shortcuts included. The new 16-inch PC also offers the option of user-upgradable storage and a Thunderbolt 4 port.

NIO has rolled a new feature to some of its electric vehicles that allows them to use certain smartphones as their keys. The feature is available on a certain number of devices from the brands OnePlus, OPPO and Vivo only, some high-end models such as the Find N2 foldable flagship included.

The latest CAT-branded rugged smartphone will be on display during MWC 2023 with MediaTek's new NTN chip for satellite connectivity as well as the same OEM's Dimensity 930 SoC. The S75 augments its new spec with a 120Hz display, triple rear cameras and what should be decent battery life. Then again, a user may have to add an extra monthly plan to unlock all the new comms the device can support.

MediaTek and Motorola have teamed up in a bid to shoulder Apple, Qualcomm and SpaceX aside in terms of consumer-grade mobile devices with satellite-phone features. The 2023 Defy Series' new solution promises potentially critical advantages over existing services, running in the foreground and improved connectivity included.

Sony has finally brought the WH-CH520 to market after numerous leaks. The Sony WH-CH520 comes in three colours with up to 50 hours of battery life and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, among other features.

The WH-CH720N has arrived, Sony's lightest pair of over-ear headphones released to date. The headphones also feature the same Integrated Processor V1 that handles active noise cancellation, as well as up to 35 hours of battery life with ANC enabled or 50 hours with ANC disabled.

Razer has launched the Blade 15 (2023), an updated version of its popular laptop line and a less powerful alternative to the Blade 16. Starting at US$2,499.99, the Blade 15 (2023) features a 1440p and 240 Hz display, as well as an Intel Raptor Lake-H series processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs.

ASUS has showcased the ROG Strix XG27AQMR, a 27-inch gaming monitor that succeeds the ROG Strix XG27AQM. Based around a 1440p panel, the ROG Strix XG27AQMR offers VESA DisplayHDR certification and a 300 Hz refresh rate, among other features.

POCO has introduced the C55 in India, where it will be available from INR 9,499 (~US$115) on February 28. The POCO C55 comes with a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, up to 6 GB of RAM and a 50 MP primary camera, among other features.

Ulefone has announced that it has a new 10.1-inch FHD+ tablet for sale. The Tab A8 aims for a high-end appearance with support for 4G/LTE as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a slim metallic unibody and an unavoidably Xiaomi 13-esque camera hump - however, its internal specs knocks it down to a more affordable tier of the mobile device market. Then again, it has a headphone jack - just not normally where you'd expect to find one.

MINISFORUM has started selling the UM773 Lite globally. Equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, a Zen 3+ APU, the UM773 Lite also supports DDR5 SO-DIMM, PCIe 4.0 SSDs and plenty of ports. Prices start at US$409 as a barebones unit and rise to US$789 with 64 GB RAM and a 2 TB SSD.

Volkswagen has hinted at the possibility of a new class of electric vehicle to be at least part-assembled alongside the existing ID.3 at the marque's major Wolfsburg plant in Europe. 22,000 of the facility's production crew will receive the training necessary to do in the course of a one-day session that incorporates in-house, escape room-based techniques.

Android 13 for the Nothing phone (1) has been "officially" released to all users of the OEM's inaugural device. The Carl Pei-led OEM asserts that it offers "our smoothest, most secure user experience" thus far, with updated apps, system tweaks and features. They include more customizations for the Glyph interface, potentially improved privacy controls and general system stability upgrades.

Philips has brought the Evnia 34M2C8600 to market, four months after presenting the curved monitor. The Evnia 34M2C8600 has a QD-OLED panel that operates at 1440p and 175 Hz, among other features.

Philips has started selling the Evnia 42M2N8900, its flagship gaming monitor. Equipped with a large OLED panel, the Evnia 42M2N8900 has a 4K resolution, a 138 Hz refresh rate and excellent colour accuracy. Philips has equipped the monitor with modern I/O too, including HDMI 2.1 and USB Type-C ports.

The Ultralite OEM Platform is something of an all-in-one reference design for next-gen smart glasses from Vuzix. The manufacturer asserts that the new, lightweight form-factor for wireless, smartphone-linked spectacles can leverage the "fast-growing capabilities" of Visual GPT or OpenAI for consumer-grade augmented reality (AR) or heads-up display applications.

Heybike's "most advanced" new e-bike has a fairly standard 750W motor, foldable form-factor, augmented with hydraulic front-fork suspension and disc brakes with "excellent stopping power." Then again, it also has the in-built connectivity rated to track its location if necessary via its own app. The Tyson is currently available to pre-order online.

The 45B1U6900C and 45B1U6900CH are two new ultra-wide monitors. Fundamentally identical, the monitors have 44.5-inch panels with 1500R curvature and 1440p resolutions. The latter throws a Windows Hello-certified webcam and a noise-cancelling microphone into the mix though, making it a better candidate for professional use.

Telefónica has just launched services based on its recently-secured mmWave 5G spectrum, and that it has made it consumer-ready with the help of technology from Ericsson and Qualcomm. The partners will demonstrate their achievement at MWC 2023. They assert that mmWave is the ideal solution for high-performance connectivity for densely populated areas.

Chatreey has introduced the AMR5 and AM08, a pair of mini-PCs based on AMD Ryzen 5000 APUs. Available as barebones units or with pre-installed memory, the pair feature identical chassis and have similar I/O. Both machines have physical dials for changing performance levels on the fly, too.

iQOO asserts that the Android smartphone it has just launched in India brings up-to-date 4 nanometer (nm) processing to that market. It also offers a 120Hz display, nearly top-end RAM and fast 120W charging. Nevertheless, the new device may not be all some consumers may have hoped for.

MediaTek touts its latest Dimensity 7200 mobile processor as a platform in which power savings meet "peak power". Like its 9200 flagship sibling, it is a 4 nanometer (nm) chipset, and is also rated to bring specs from current top-end smartphones to more mid-tier devices. They include support for potentially faster 5G, up-to-144Hz displays and 200MP camera sensors.

Qualcomm has introduced the Snapdragon X75 5G modem-RF system with support for 5G Advanced, which aims maximize 5G's potential into extended reality, accurate GPS, enhanced mobility, improved coverage, and more. The Snapdragon X75 5G modem now includes an AI processor that is 2.5x more powerful than the one in the Snapdragon X70. Qualcomm also introduced the Fixed Wireless Access Platform Gen 3 that combines the X75 with Wi-Fi 7 and extended range mmWave and sub-6 GHz for indoor use.

Samsung has now released its new top-end, Dynamic AMOLED 2X-equipped Galaxy Book3 Ultra laptop to pre-order in the US. The new 6-inch PC has landed alongside its Book3 360, Pro and Pro 360 siblings, with special offers such as complimentary storage upgrades and trade-in offers. It allows 1TB SKUs series to debut for just under US$1,100 in their new market.

Mobvoi has potentially enhanced its place in the health-tracking industry with its new online informatics platform. It is billed as a one-stop solution to help analyze one's health- and fitness-related progress over up to seven days via a desktop browser interface. The new Sports and Health Data Platform also offers downloadable reports and compatibility with other services such as Strava.

The flagship Magic5 series is tipped to debut in Barcelona during MWC 2023 - however, Honor has just revealed that their new Lite variant will be there to usher them into the same region ahead of time. It has a 120Hz AMOLED display and the OEM's latest rear camera hump for mid-rangers - however, it contains lenses that one might not hope to see in its premium siblings.