MWC Barcelona 2026: All the New Tech, Phones, Wearables and AI We Expect to See

Spring is in the air, and for tech enthusiasts, that means one thing: Mobile World Congress (MWC) is back! As the world’s premier mobile technology event, MWC 2026 in Barcelona is set to be a whirlwind of innovation, excitement, and groundbreaking announcements. With a bigger team on the ground than ever before, CNET is ready to bring you all the action as it unfolds.

This year’s MWC promises to be a tech lover’s dream, with a plethora of new phones, wearables, and even a few robots thrown into the mix. While some of the most intriguing tech we see at MWC may never make it to the mainstream market, we’ve also witnessed the debut of some of our most beloved devices at this very show over the years. So, expect a healthy dose of both the fantastical and the practical.

Two major themes are set to dominate the conversation: AI and 6G. With keynotes from industry heavyweights like SpaceX and Qualcomm, we’ll get an exclusive glimpse into the future of mobile technology. As Gemini becomes ubiquitous and satellite dominance looms on the horizon, it’s an exhilarating time for the industry.

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect from MWC 2026:

Key Dates to Remember
MWC 2026 officially runs from March 2 to 5, but the excitement begins even earlier. Our team will be in Barcelona a couple of days prior to cover some of the major launch events scheduled for the weekend. Don’t miss Xiaomi’s launch event on February 28 and Honor’s event on March 1.

How to Stay Connected
No matter where you are in the world, you won’t miss a beat. The best place to catch all the latest MWC news is on our CNET live blog. With decades of experience attending this show (MWC is celebrating its 20th year in Barcelona), our team of seasoned reporters and reviewers will be on the ground, bringing you the most interesting and important developments.

But we’re not just observing from afar. We’re getting our hands on these new products, tinkering with them, and even trying not to drop them. So, be sure to follow us across Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube for an immersive experience.

Phones to Watch
Chinese phone manufacturers have dominated MWC in recent years, and 2026 looks to be no exception. The first major phone launch event is scheduled for 6 a.m. PT on Saturday, February 28, where we expect Xiaomi to unveil its latest camera-focused flagship. We were impressed by the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the 14 Ultra, so we’re eagerly anticipating what the company has in store for us. A teaser image hints at its partnership with premium camera brand Leica and promises a “new wave of imagery.”

Next up is Honor on Sunday, March 1. The company has announced that it will unveil its Magic V6 phone, along with the MagicPad 4 and MagicBook Pro 14. But perhaps even more exciting is Honor’s promise to give us a first look at a working version of its Robot Phone, as well as a humanoid robot at its event.

For other phone manufacturers, MWC will likely serve as a platform to showcase their existing devices. Samsung, for instance, held its own event in San Francisco earlier this week to unveil the flagship S26 series. Motorola will also be in attendance, likely showing off its Razr, which, like the Samsung Galaxy TriFold, has yet to make a significant impact in Europe.

Overall, MWC 2026 is shaping up to be a major event for foldable phones, which, according to Ben Wood, CMO and chief analyst at CCS Insight, “is now becoming quite a mature category.” Another significant trend in the phone space is the focus on batteries, particularly silicon carbon-based technology. “We’re expecting to see phones with some of the biggest batteries we’ve seen for a long time, [with] fast charging — perhaps 300-watt charging — being introduced,” Wood added.

Beyond Phones: Other Tech to Expect
After the initial flops of the Humane AI Pin and the Rabbit R1, more companies are jumping on the wearable AI bandwagon. We anticipate seeing a variety of devices and demos at MWC, with some potentially trying to beat OpenAI and Jony Ive to the punch.

This will include AI- and AR-based glasses, according to CCS Insight analyst Ben Hatton. “We are expecting to see a huge number of glasses on show this year, not just from Meta, but also from smaller players like TCL and Oppo, looking to take a slice of the pie,” he said. However, the challenge for these companies will be differentiation, as compelling use cases are still somewhat limited.

It’s been two years since Samsung launched the Galaxy Ring at MWC, and smart rings have been relatively scarce since then. While we’re not necessarily expecting to see any new rings this year, there’s always a chance.

More likely to make an appearance are a slew of new laptops and tablets. While they rarely take center stage at MWC, we’ll be keeping an eye out for the most exciting launches. There’s also likely to be some intriguing concepts on display from companies like Lenovo and Samsung Display, which is responsible for the tech behind the new Galaxy S26 Ultra’s scene-stealing Privacy Display.

The Big Themes: AI, 6G, and Beyond
No surprises here: AI will undoubtedly be a major theme at MWC. For the past few years, Google has dominated the AI conversation at the event by showcasing Gemini’s capabilities and its widespread integration. Will this year be any different? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean the AI conversation has stalled.

We expect to see more sophisticated AI agents that are more deeply integrated into wearables, offering live translation, more actionable health insights, and more personalized experiences. Some of the biggest players in the AI game will be present, including Nvidia and Qualcomm, on the hardware side. They’ll likely have some exciting announcements and demos for us to try out.

Looking back a decade, everyone was talking about 5G and how it would revolutionize our lives. Now that 5G is old news, we’re turning our attention to 6G. While most discussions about 6G have focused on its impact on the industry, there’s still plenty to be excited about.

At the Web Summit in November, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told me that 6G will make our phones faster than ever and connect us to an “always-sensing network.” This could include wearables, smart devices, cars, and even robots. No doubt, Amon will expand on this topic further during his MWC keynote, which is all about 6G and AI.

Another theme likely to be prevalent at the show is the role of satellites in enhancing network connectivity. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell will be on stage to talk about Starlink, and all the world’s biggest carriers will have their own booths where they’ll show us what they’re doing to tap into the latest network technologies.

Tags:
MWC 2026, Barcelona, Mobile World Congress, tech event, AI, 6G, smartphones, wearables, robots, Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung, Motorola, foldable phones, batteries, silicon carbon, AI agents, AR glasses, smart rings, laptops, tablets, Lenovo, Samsung Display, Privacy Display, Google, Gemini, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Cristiano Amon, 5G, Starlink, Gwynne Shotwell, network connectivity.

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