MWC 2026 preview: What Google, Samsung, Xiaomi, and NVIDIA have planned
As March gets close, I can’t help but think about one of the biggest tech events of the year—Mobile World Congress (MWC). If you’ve never followed MWC before, think of it as a global tech trade show like CES. The key difference? You swap Las Vegas for the Mediterranean coast in Catalonia.
MWC 2025 gave us a clear look at how AI spreads across everything—from RAN and routers to robots. Machine learning, generative AI, and agentic systems showed up in every corner. In my MWC 2026 preview, I’ll walk you through what brands plan to unveil when the show kicks off from March 2 to 5 in Barcelona.
Google Pixel 10a
Google Pixel 10a
Last year at MWC, Google’s Pixel 9 Pro won “Smartphone of the Year,” and Gemini took home the “Breakthrough Device Innovation” award. Google always has a big presence at the show. Still, the company saves its biggest software announcements for Google I/O, which will take place on May 19, 2026.
The Pixel 10a launched a few days ago, so we may see it showcased on the show floor. I also expect fresh AI and Android updates from Google during MWC, even if the company holds back its biggest reveals for I/O.
Related: Pixel 10a review—Should you buy Google’s entry-level phone or wait for the iPhone 17e?
Xiaomi 17 series
Xiaomi has confirmed the global launch date for the Xiaomi 17 series. The brand will unveil the phones on February 28 in Barcelona, just before MWC 2026 kicks off.
The Xiaomi 17 and 17 Ultra will feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip from Qualcomm. That marks an upgrade from the Snapdragon 8 Elite inside last year’s Xiaomi 15 series. If you care about raw performance, this launch will matter.
Samsung Galaxy S26 series
Samsung Galaxy S26
Samsung ran the Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 in San Francisco. Although the Galaxy S26 series is already available for preorder, MWC could give media and enthusiasts their first chance to try the lineup in person.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 series
Samsung Galaxy Buds4
Samsung also took the stage at Galaxy Unpacked to reveal new earbuds. The company introduced both the entry Galaxy Buds4 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro flagship model. I see how Samsung mirrors Apple in design, ecosystem tie-ins, and price tiers.
Samsung, along with Sony, may also showcase progress in glasses-free 3D and holographic displays. The company introduced glasses-free 3D digital signage at ISE 2026 earlier in February. That technology could hint at what comes after foldables.
HONOR Magic V6
HONOR is preparing the teaser campaign for its next flagship foldable, the Magic V6. Actor Nicholas Tse has already been spotted using the device, which gives us our first real look at its design.
The Magic V6 appears in a red color option and keeps the octagon-shaped camera module with red and gold accents. HONOR has confirmed that it will launch the device worldwide on March 1, just before MWC. The event will take place at the Palau de Congressos de Barcelona at 1 PM CET, and the phone will remain on display throughout MWC 2026.
HONOR ROBOT PHONE
HONOR will also share more about the ROBOT PHONE, a concept device with a robot arm and gimbal that can shift the rear camera. The company says the phone runs on a “super brain of AI.”
HONOR humanoid robot
In a 39-second YouTube clip, HONOR signals its move into physical AI hardware beyond phones. The video shows a matte black robot with a camera on top and a blue light strip across its chest and left arm. HONOR has not shared specs, name, or price. However, we’ll get more information during MWC.
Nothing Phone 4(a)
I expect Nothing to reveal more about the Phone 4(a) at MWC ahead of its March 5 launch. The London brand has already given us a sneak peek. It will ship in pink alongside the brand’s light gray tone, and the new Glyph Bar on this midrange model shines 40% brighter than the Phone 3A light strip. Beyond that, Nothing has not shared much else about the Phone (4a) line, except confirming it will run a Snapdragon chip.
Lenovo ThinkPad Detachable lineup
Lenovo may return to the ThinkPad Detachable lineup. A major leak points to a new model powered by a Core Ultra 3 “Panther Lake-H” processor.
When Lenovo launched the ThinkPad X12 Detachable Gen 2 in 2024, it used Core Ultra 100U “Meteor Lake” processors. Many users considered those chips underpowered, even with the Core Ultra 7 164U vPro option. I expect Lenovo to address that criticism and introduce a stronger successor at MWC.
Taara Beam
Alphabet’s Taara Beam can send fiber-class internet speeds through the air to reach remote areas. Teams can set it up in hours, far faster than securing radio spectrum or digging trenches. That move places it against services like Starlink. Taara claims ultralow latency under 100 microseconds, which beats any space-based network.
Qualcomm Wi-Fi 8 platform portfolio
Qualcomm plans to unveil a full Wi-Fi 8 platform portfolio at MWC 2026. Wi-Fi 8 aims to overcome the limitations of previous generations and deliver more reliable connections in demanding scenarios.
Unlike Ethernet, which supports full-duplex communication and can send and receive data at the same time, wireless networks still face constraints. Qualcomm wants Wi-Fi 8 to narrow that gap and improve overall performance.
NVIDIA
Telecom companies around the world are partnering with NVIDIA to deploy AI agents for customer care and network operations. They are also scaling sovereign AI factories and bringing AI-RAN into live wireless networks.
In Barcelona, NVIDIA will explain how AI and accelerated computing can help telecom companies position themselves at the center of the AI era. Expect detailed demonstrations and strategic updates.
Key themes
Counterpoint Research highlights key themes for MWC 2026: agentic AI, automation, and semiconductors.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that go beyond generating content and instead pursue goals with minimal human input.
Related: CES 2026: 3 AI gadget trends that are making waves
In the semiconductor space, NVIDIA is close to finalizing a $30 billion investment in OpenAI, which would replace a previously agreed $100 billion long-term commitment from last year. Reports suggest the deal could close around the time of MWC. If that happens, we may see a major announcement during the event.
Before you go
As I look at everything on deck for MWC 2026, I feel that familiar mix of hype and curiosity. From phones and foldables to Wi-Fi 8 and AI-RAN, every brand wants to show you what the next phase looks like.
I expect big hardware moments from Xiaomi, HONOR, and Samsung. At the same time, Google, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA will push AI deeper into the stack, shaping the tools you use long after the booths come down. Some launches will dominate headlines. Others will spark shifts that take months to unfold.
If you plan to follow MWC 2026, pay attention to the themes, not just the product names. Watch how companies talk about agentic AI, automation, and new silicon. That’s where the real shift happens.
