Arguably one of the biggest tech events of the year is CES–the Consumer Electronics Show–which takes place in Las Vegas every January. But there's a similar, smaller event focused on mobile tech in Barcelona, called MWC, at the end of February.Here's everything you need to know about MWC 2023, and what you can expect from the show.
What Is Mobile World Congress (MWC)?
MWC is one of the largest trade shows for mobile tech and its accessories. Think of it as a mini-CES, just without the wacky concept devices and other products that are unlikely to ever see the light of day.
Rather, MWC focuses on the devices you slip into your pockets: smartphones. At the event, brands launch their latest flagships and show off upcoming devices. In recent years, MWC has also started to debut some rather nifty smart home tech, as well as mobile accessories.
MWC is also an opportunity for tech businesses to network and exhibit industry trends. There are a few keynotes to this extent, but it's far less exciting than the devices you can actually touch!
When Is MWC 2023 Taking Place?
This year, MWC is officially taking place from Monday, 27 February until Thursday, 2 March. It's held at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via, just outside the center of Barcelona in Spain.
Most of the major announcements from brands will take place during these dates. But, some smartphone-makers are holding events just before MWC officially kicks off. Essentially, if you see any tech announcements from 26 February until 3 March, they're most likely part of MWC.
For the second year since the COVID-19 pandemic, MWC is back as an in-person event. MWC 2023 will be filled with members of the press (including MUO), industry experts, exhibitionists, and members of the public that wish to attend. Anyone can buy a ticket, but these start at €799, so it's probably a better idea to keep up with the latest news from MUO.
Which Brands Are Launching Products at MWC in 2023?
Most major smartphone brands will be in attendance at MWC. OnePlus is headed to the event, where it'll show off a new smartphone concept. Xiaomi already announced it's releasing its 13 Series smartphones just before the show kicks off.
Honor is also holding an event, where the brand is set to unveil the Magic 5 series of smartphones. Also set to exhibit at MWC are Oppo, Huawei, Sony, Realme, and Motorola. Some bigger brands such as Google, Meta, and Nokia will attend the event, though most likely won't release new products.
Samsung will also be there, though don't expect more smartphones from them. The brand only just released the Galaxy S23 line-up, so will most likely be sharing news or accessories at MWC. In the past, we saw laptop and tablet announcements from the brand at MWC, so we'd hedge our bets on the same again this time around.
As you can see, MWC 2023 is set to be a pretty busy event. There'll be plenty of new devices that come out of the show, including flagships from some major Android brands. Some of the best devices at last year's MWC included Honor's Magic 4, Huawei's MateBook E, and the Oppo Find X5 Pro. With all those brands exhibiting again, 2023's event looks rather promising.
Keep Up With the Latest MWC News Thanks to MUO
While it's unclear exactly what will launch at MWC 2023, we can expect a few major smart home announcements. As we mentioned, MUO will be on the ground to bring you the latest news and developments. You can keep up with all of our MWC coverage here.
We also saw a bunch of rather snazzy smart home products unveiled at CES 2023, so keep your eyes peeled for any smart home gadgetry to come from MWC as well.