Skip to main content

Best phones and tablets from MWC 2016

best phones tablets mwc 2016 sony xperia xa front
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Every year, all the best smartphones and tablets hit Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. This year, we saw an incredible lineup of premium smartphones and one pretty stellar tablet. Here are our favorites from the show: the Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, Xiaomi Mi 5, Huawei MateBook, and the Sony Xperia X lineup.

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Galaxy-S7-and-S7-Edge-together-in-hand
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Samsung improved upon the S6 and S6 Edge in nearly every way with the S7 and S7 Edge. Not only are the phones are curvier and more comfortable to hold — especially the S7 Edge — but they’re also water resistant. Quick charging and wireless charging are both supported, and the phones even come with a free Gear VR. Add to that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, sharp Quad HD screens, improved Edge functionality, and an outstanding 16-megapixel camera for low-light pics; and you’ve got a nearly irresistible smartphone.

Read our hands on:

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge hands-on impressions

LG G5

LG-G5-front-angle
Image used with permission by copyright holder

LG took a bold step into the future with its modular G5 smartphone. The bottom of the all-metal phone pops out so you can swap the battery pack or pop in another module. LG made a camera one that includes camera enhancements, a zoom wheel, and an extra battery for your phone. Another module made with Bang & Olufsen provides high-res audio. In all other regards, the G5 is also a high-spec phone with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chip, a Quad HD screen, fingerprint sensor, and a dual camera. It’s a true innovative marvel.

Read our hands on:

LG G5 hands-on impressions

Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro

Xiaomi-Mi5-0022
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Xiaomi is a real up and comer in the mobile space, and it’s Mi 5 Pro is a very impressive phone. It looks like a mix of the OnePlus X and the Galaxy S7 with its metal frame and curved glass or ceramic back. It’s remarkably light and looks sleek and sexy. Aside from its 1080p screen the Mi 5 Pro has all the high-end specs that Samsung and LG pack in their phones, from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 to the 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage onboard. It’s a real steal at $413, but you can only get it in China for now.

Read our hands on:

Hands on: Xiaomi Mi 5 Pro

Huawei MateBook

Huawei-Matebook-30
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Huawei made its first-ever 2-in-1 tablet PC with full Windows 10 onboard. It’s called the MateBook, and it’s a really sleek, mobile-first tablet with a 12-inch screen. It’s powered by Intel’s 6th-generation Core M processors, 4 or 8GB of RAM, and comes with an SSD up to 512GB in size, too, so you shouldn’t run out of space. The keyboard folio folds right up effortlessly and the stylus is quite cool. It has a laser pointer on one end and two dedicated buttons for controls. Huawei also made a dock for the MateBook with several ports for added connections.

Read our hands on:

Huawei MateBook hands-on impressions

Sony Xperia X Series

Sony-Xperia-X-front-home
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sony’s three new Xperia X phones look sharp with aluminum bodies in metallic finishes. The X Performance is the most high-end one with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor and 3GB of RAM, 5-inch 1080p screen, and 32GB of storage. The X has a Snapdragon 615 chip instead, but that’s the only difference. The XA is more low-end with a 720p screen, MediaTek Helio MT6755 processor, and 2GB of RAM. All three will be available worldwide, including the U.S. We don’t know pricing yet, however.

Read our hands on:

Sony Xperia X Series hands-on impressions

Malarie Gokey
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Mobile Editor, Malarie runs the Mobile and Wearables sections, which cover smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and…
The Vivo X200 Pro mini is the small phone of my dreams
Vivo X200 Pro Mini in pink.

There was once a time when the Sony Xperia Z Compact carried the bastion of pocketable powerhouses. But as consumer priorities shifted, especially here in the East, smaller phones quickly ran out of favor. Remember how quickly the iPhone “mini” vanished to pave the way for the Plus?

One might argue functional limitations are to blame. You need a large battery. The next-gen camera stack needs space. Yet, every so often, some brand pulls a rabbit out of the proverbial hat. This time, it’s the Chinese smartphone powerhouse Vivo.

Read more
Nothing’s Android 15 beta is live, but only for one of its phones
A person holding the Nothing Phone 2a Plus.

If you've been patiently awaiting the launch of Nothing 3.0, it's closer than ever. It's expected to be released in December of this year, but the Nothing 3.0 beta is now available for the Nothing Phone 2a.

Interestingly enough, only the Nothing Phone 2a can download the update right now. The Nothing Phone 2 will get access in November, while the Nothing Phone 1, Nothing Phone 2a Plus, and Nothing CMF Phone 1 will have to wait until December.

Read more
The Samsung Galaxy A16 sets a new record for budget Android phones
Galaxy A16 banner Samsung

We've known that Samsung's next lineup of budget phones was on the way, especially after all of the information that leaked last week. Now, we have confirmation on several elements of the phone, but the most important of them all is the incredible (and unheard of) six years of security patches the Galaxy A16 5G will receive from launch. That means it will be fully up to date until October 31, 2030.

We reported on this possibility a couple of weeks ago, but now it's confirmed — and that's a big deal. Many budget phones only receive two years of security patches post-launch. The Galaxy A16 5G's six years of support puts it only one year behind Samsung's flagship models in the Galaxy S24 series. For a phone as cheap as the Galaxy A16, that's incredible.

Read more