MWC 2021 kicked off on June 28, and there are a lot of product and software announcements in store for us. From new cameras, tablets, phones, smart home tech, and wearables, we're going to catch you up on every announcement from the event.

This article will be updated regularly with new announcements as they emerge...

What Is MWC 2021?

MWC (Mobile World Congress) is an annual tech trade show for mobile technology, and one of the biggest of its kind. Every year, some of the biggest companies announce many of the new smartphones, tablets, and wearables.

MWC 2021 is no different, and it ran from June 28 to July 1, 2021. Thankfully, MWC 2021 has been able to take place live–one of the first events to do so since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Even though MWC is a little smaller than usual, there's still plenty to get excited about.

Lenovo, Sony, Huawei, and Nokia all have their usual spots at MWC. Samsung has its usual keynote event scheduled. And there are loads of other startups showcasing their tech at the event, from 5G technology to AI-powered charging tech.

So, here's everything announced at MWC 2021...

Lenovo Announces New Android Tablets

Lenovo announced five new Android tablets as part of its announcement on the first day of MWC 2021.

The newly announced Android tablets range from budget devices to ones aimed for more professional use. Lenovo's new tablets include the Yoga Tab 13, Yoga Tab 11, Yoga Tab P11 Plus, Yoga Tab M7 (Gen 3), and Yoga Tab M8 (Gen 3).

Lenovo Announces the Smart Clock 2

Lenovo has revealed its new Smart Clock 2, which comes as a refresh to the original Smart Clock launched back in 2019. The new device looks more-or-less identical to the first iteration, and has many of the same features as well.

Lenovo's second Smart Clock comes with the same 4-inch touchscreen display and buttons as the first device, but offers a new wireless charging dock and update auto-brightness settings.

Read More: Lenovo Announces the Smart Clock 2 at MWC 2021

Qualcomm Announces the Snapdragon 888+

Qualcomm revealed its Snapdragon 888+ mobile processor, the successor to the already powerful Snapdragon 888.

The new chip looks set to take mobile processing to a whole new level, with advanced computational prowess. Qualcomm's 888+ scores a speed boost of up to 3.0 GHz courtesy of the Kryo 680, and is capable of running through 32 TOPS (trillion operations per second).

Samsung Teases Its New One UI Watch Software

Samsung didn't announce much in its keynote event, but did give us a sneak peek of its upcoming smartwatch OS called One UI Watch.

As explained in a press release, One UI Watch will be based on Google's Wear OS as part of the companies' new collaboration announced at Google I/O. The collaboration is an effort from both companies to continue and improve on Google-powered smartwatches.

The new smartwatch OS will integrate more deeply with Android than the current Tizen; apps and clocks will sync between a phone and watch for example. Samsung confirmed that One UI Watch will debut on the Galaxy Watch 4 later this summer at the Unpacked event.

TCL Shows Off Its NXTWEAR G Smart Glasses

TCL has shown off its new smart glasses called the NXTWEAR G. The smart glasses will offer users a new viewing experience with a screen that doesn't take up your entire vision.

In a press release, TCL explained that the NXTWEAR G will feature the equivalent of a 140-inch 1080p screen inside. The screen doesn’t take up the user’s entire vision, as it will appear to be four meters away. The smart glasses connect to either your phone or computer via a USB-C cable, and can be used instead of a display for watching a film or playing a game.

Many everyday consumers may not have heard of TCL before, but they're the company behind may budget Android devices and home appliances. The NXTWEAR G will certainly put TCL in the headlines.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G Wins Best Smartphone Award

At an awards ceremony at MWC, Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G flagship smartphone was awarded the title of the "Best Smartphone" from the past year. In a press release, Samsung explained that the award's judges called the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G "the best Android smartphone Samsung has ever made".

The judges acknowledged the device's "great range of features, stunning AMOLED display, and best-in-class cameras," naming the smartphone a worthy winner of Best Smartphones in 2021”. Unsurprisingly, the long name of the phone wasn't a category in the judging. Samsung's win at MWC only further cements the company's position as the most popular Android brand.

A close-up of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G that just won the best smartphone award at MWC.
Image Credit: Samsung

For those that aren't familiar with the smartphone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G is the most premium of Samsung's three flagships in 2020. The device features a professional grade camera system, and Samsung's own Intelligent Display. The S21 Ultra 5G also the first device in the S Series to support the S Pen.

TCL Releases Two New Smartphones, and Teases Future 5G Devices

TCL announced two new affordable smartphones in its Alcatel range. The two new Android smartphones are named the 1L Pro and Alcatel 1 (2021). Alongside the new devices, TCL also released a smartwatch aimed at children called the MOVETIME Family Watch 2.

Images of both of TCL's new budget Android smartphones in its Alcatel range.
Image Credit: TCL

After the new product releases, TCL also teased an affordable 5G phone. The new device wasn't officially announced at MWC, but as teased to be releasing later as part of the company's 20-series. TCL also hinted an affordable 5G tablet coming soon alongside the budget 5G smartphone.

TCL isn't too well-known itself, rather its budget brands such as Alcatel offer consumers a cheaper option for an Android smartphone. It's good to see TCL continue their commitment to its budget devices.

The Tech Companies Turned Out for MWC 2021

As usual, MWC has been packed full of announcements. We've seen new products from some of the biggest names, small start-ups showcasing their new tech, and some much anticipated software announcements.

With IFA 2021 cancelled, MWC is the last major tech trade show for the year, with nothing then until CES kicks off 2022 in January.

Don't let this dishearten you though, 2021 will still have many more events, such as Apple's iPhone launch, Google's annual Pixel launch, and EA Live, to name just a few.