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    Best of MWC 2025: 9 most impressive products that stole our attention

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETWe’re on day two of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025, and the news cycle is still churning. Within the first day at the Barcelona trade show, we saw ultra-slim phones, unique laptop form factors, and surprise appearances from Samsung and Nothing.Also: This tri-foldable phone at MWC 2025 is the most bizarre thing I’ve seen yetBut, as is often the case with multi-day events, we’ll likely see and hear more about what’s new in the mobile space. To keep you updated,  here’s our roundup of the best products the ZDNET team has seen at MWC. Stay tuned as we refresh this list, bulleted in no particular order, throughout the week.1. Samsung made a Nintendo Switch that folds More

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    I finally found a smartwatch with a timeless analog look – and the features I need

    <!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Withings Scanwatch Nova is available for pre-order now, starting at $599. It’s an elegant smartwatch with a one-month battery, water resistance up to 10ATM, and various health-tracking metrics. A $10/month subscription is required for some advanced metrics, and the watch is only available in one 42mm diameter. –> Healthy heart […] More

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    I tried the viral magnetic camera lens phone at MWC – it did not disappoint

    Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETAt Mobile World Congress 2025, Xiaomi showcased a Modular Optical System (MOS) that magnetically attaches a lens to a custom Xiaomi 15. It’s like a Moto Mod, but with a full-fledged, working camera lens. I had a brief hands-on session with this concept, and left feeling there might be a future where you can attach your camera lens to your phone — and where Camera Control is finally useful.Also: Samsung teased me with its Galaxy S25 Edge at MWC – and I was ready to give up my UltraThe working prototype of the custom Xiaomi 15 features two small pins and a Qi2-like magnetic mounting system. When you attach the lens, it locks into the pins to draw power from the phone’s battery. The lens is detected by Xiaomi’s LaserLink technology, which connects the device to the camera interface so you can use it on the touchscreen. More

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    Nothing’s new budget Android phones make Samsung and Apple look bad

    Nothing Phone (3a) and (3a) Pro at MWC 2025. Kerry Wan/ZDNETPhone brand Nothing creates some of the most aesthetically striking mobile devices on the market. That pattern will continue into 2025, as the company recently revealed its new Phone (3a) Series. Also: This $399 Samsung Galaxy is the mid-range phone most people should buyThe set consists of the base Phone (3a) and the Phone (3a) Pro. Both models house an optimized Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, ditching the MediaTek hardware present in the previous generation. According to Nothing, the new processor allows the duo to be up to “33% faster than [the] Phone (2a)”. The devices are also better at running video games. Players will enjoy more “stable frame rates” plus 11% better graphical fidelity. More

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    I saw Samsung’s thinnest Galaxy phone ever at MWC – and it made my devices feel outdated

    Kerry Wan/ZDNETThere it was: the unreleased Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge hanging on wires at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) show floor. Going into the morning of the Barcelona trade show, I knew I had to make a beeline to the Samsung booth to avoid yet another crowded photo-op with the upcoming Galaxy phone. So I got my badge, skipped to Hall 3, whipped out the DSLR, and started shooting.Also: Best of MWC 2025: The 7 most impressive products you shouldn’t missWith a phone as thin as the S25 Edge — it’s rumored to measure around 6mm — there’s one golden shot that every photographer tries to capture. It requires a steady hand, a bit of waiting for passersby to leave the frame, and just the right amount of focus on that sliver of side railing. The result? The essence of Samsung’s most innovative hardware update to the S line in years, pictured above. More

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    Are tri-foldable phones the next big thing? I tried one from an upstart brand

    Prakhar Khanna/ZDNETI’ve been rooting for tri-fold phones since I used the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate. I found that device to be more useful than a book-style foldable. Now, here comes the Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2, which is a similar tri-fold foldable. However, unlike the Huawei phone, the Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2 isn’t available to buy. The phone was launched as a concept in August 2024 and Tecno is showcasing a working prototype at Mobile World Congress. While the phone is expected to be launched in the future, I got limited hands-on time with the tri-fold at the event — and was impressed. Also: I tested Huawei’s $3,600 tri-foldable, and it made me question why tablets still existThe Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2 is 11mm thick, slimmer than the Huawei Mate XT’s 12.8mm-thick design. When folded to single-screen mode, Tecno’s device is closer to the Galaxy Z Fold 6 form factor than the Oppo Find N5 or Huawei’s tri-fold design. The Tecno tri-fold concept can go from a folded 6.48-inch outer screen size to a 10-inch display. The device has an LTPO OLED screen with a 1,620 x 2,880 pixel resolution. The hinges felt quite strong and held the screen where I wanted it to be. Tecno expects the device to last for up to 300,000 folds. The company also says it developed a battery as thin as 0.25mm to fit inside the device.  More