The Bizarre and Wacky Devices We Noticed at MWC 2025

Overlook the incremental annual telephone upgrades—it is the bizarre devices and wacky ideas that basically make Mobile World Congress enjoyable. Fortunately, MWC 2025 didn’t disappoint. After testing all of the biggest announcements this yr, we acquired to pacing the halls of the Fira Gran By way of in Barcelona to dig out the present’s coolest, quirkiest, and downright strangest stuff. This is what we discovered.

WIRED’s MWC 2025 Protection

• All the Top New Gadgets at MWC 2025
• Review: Nothing Phone (3a) Series
• Xiaomi’s Modular Plan to Kill the Camera Bump
• Lenovo’s Wacky Laptop Concepts Include a Laptop That Flips
• Honor’s New AI Agent Can Read and Understand Your Screen
• Review: Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra
• Samsung’s Galaxy A-Series for 2025 Will Get 6 Years of Updates

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Xiaomi’s Digital camera Mod Might Improve Cellphone Pictures

Other than its important bulletins, Xiaomi granted us a sneak peek at a brand new modular idea digital camera telephone. Dubbed the Xiaomi Modular Optical System, this setup combines a modified Xiaomi 15 with a removable Xiaomi 35mm f/1.4 lens, which packs a 100-megapixel Gentle Fusion X Kind 4/3 sensor—a far larger and extra highly effective lens than you’ll discover in any telephone at present. There’s even a bodily focus ring.

The module attaches magnetically to the again of the telephone, seamlessly attracts energy, and sends knowledge at speeds of as much as 10 Gbps. It’s a plug-and-play design that works within the common digital camera app, similar to the built-in digital camera (you may change between them by merely tapping an icon), and saves images to the gallery app simply the identical too.

Whereas it’s solely an idea proper now, it’s a elegant prototype that might pave the way in which for a number of add-on lenses and probably even different equipment, like chargers, energy banks, and recreation controllers, or connections to different Xiaomi units from the good residence to its EV. There’s no phrase on any official launch plan or value, however the choice to modify from an enormous digital camera bump to a removable lens and get cutting-edge pictures is an attractive prospect. —Simon Hill

Realme’s DSLR Lens Smartphone Idea

At first look, Realme’s digital camera telephone idea is just like Xiaomi’s above, however there are some essential variations. This idea options a big digital camera module and a collection of various lens attachments can then be slotted into place on prime of it to create one thing that really rivals a DSLR. The proprietary attachment on this Realme telephone allows you to connect a full-frame mirrorless lens, so you may probably connect precise DSLR lenses you have already got, moderately than shopping for all-new gear. However it’s only a idea, so there’s no value or launch date and it could by no means grow to be a buyable telephone. —Simon Hill

The SunBooster Blasts Gentle at Your Face

Sitting cooped up in an workplace or residence is not good in your well being—you want daylight! However what in case you might carry the daylight indoors? That is the objective for SunLED Life Science with its SunBooster, a tiny webcam-like USB gadget that clamps onto your laptop computer or pc and blasts near-infrared mild at your face.

Whoa, is not that harmful? you may ask. Truly, a 2022 study found that daily exposure of near-infrared light at a sure dose had constant optimistic advantages on well-being and well being, enhancing temper, decreasing drowsiness, and resting coronary heart charge—although solely in winter when there is not a lot solar publicity.

The SunBooster is capitalizing on that and has three 850 nanometer near-infrared LEDs, with narrow-beam optics to direct the sunshine to your pores and skin and auto-activation in order that it will not preserve capturing out mild after you allow the desk. You will not want to make use of all of it day because it supposedly delivers a “scientifically calibrated dose” inside simply two to a few hours. The Amsterdam-based firm says it would add Bluetooth sooner or later for extra performance. Whereas you can purchase the {hardware} later this yr, the SunLED needs to work with different producers to combine the underlying expertise into on a regular basis merchandise, like laptop computer screens and screens for a extra seamless design. —Julian Chokkattu

Oukitel Has a Massive Battery Projector Cellphone

This absolute unit of a smartphone has a whopping 33,000 mAh battery inside it, making it decidedly brick-sized and heavy. However the battery isn’t nearly operating the telephone for days as a result of it has a 100-lumen projector constructed into the highest. It may additionally function a camplight and is constructed to face up to punishment with drop safety and an IP68/IP69 score. There’s additionally an evening imaginative and prescient digital camera and assist for reverse wi-fi charging. It even works as a telephone, albeit an infinite fugly one. All this may be yours for simply $899. Oukitel additionally confirmed us one other rugged telephone with a pop-out Bluetooth headset constructed into the digital camera module. —Simon Hill

This Case Wirelessly Fees a Cellphone With Gentle

Cellphone model Infinix confirmed off a case for its telephone made with what it calls “SolarEnergy-Reserving Expertise.” This permits the case to seize mild and makes use of it to cost the telephone wirelessly—type of just like the Powerfoyle technology in some Urbanista products. The corporate confirmed off demos of it working by flashing a brilliant mild in the back of the telephone, which in flip started charging. It could not cost merely with the ambient mild within the room although, because it was too weak.

Infinix says the case shops as much as 2 watts of this power and transfers it to the telephone when wanted. The corporate additionally claims the case employs its “Sunflower” wi-fi charging expertise, impressed by crops that orient themselves towards mild. This allows the system within the case to “dynamically modify the transmission path” to verify it is getting probably the most mild potential inside a 3-meter (roughly 10-foot) vary. None of that is designed to maintain your telephone charged when you’re utilizing it, however Infinix thinks it will probably assist enhance standby time if you’re off doing one thing else. —Julian Chokkattu

Huawei’s Tri-Fold Cellphone Unfurls a Massive Display

The best folding phones are all about supplying you with extra display screen actual property, however can you may have an excessive amount of of a very good factor? Huawei’s Mate XT is just like the Honor Magic V3 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) however with an additional display screen and fold. In fact, tri-fold is a misnomer since there are solely two folds, however the three screens type a intelligent design that unfurls to a full 10.2 inches. It can be used as a double display screen at 7.9 inches, or a single display screen in a standard sweet bar telephone form at 6.4 inches.

Absolutely unfolded, the Mate XT is simply 3.6 mm thick, however you may have two creases to take care of. Fold it up utterly, and it’s 12.8 mm thick, and in addition kinda heavy. The hinges are slick, and it feels surprisingly sturdy, with a satisfying folding motion. It has an IPX8 score for mud resistance.

The Huawei Mate XT Final depends upon Huawei’s personal Kirin chipset and Concord OS. The remainder of the specs are strong and near flagship, with a triple lens digital camera (50-megapixel important, 12-megapixel ultrawide, and 12-megapixel periscope telephoto), pretty massive 5,600 mAh battery, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of storage. However then you definitely’d anticipate them to be contemplating the €3,500 price ticket. If double the folds equaled double the display screen measurement, it might be extra tempting, nevertheless it does not really feel far-off from a book-style foldable and also you’re paying a premium for the novelty proper now. It is solely out there in particular markets, just like the Center East, for the time being, nevertheless it needs to be touchdown in Europe quickly. —Simon Hill

When Biking Glasses Meet Motion Digital camera

Cameras on our faces appear to be an inevitable future. So why put on an motion digital camera in your physique when you may have it baked into your biking glasses? That is the pitch of BleeqUp Ranger. Proper within the heart of the glasses—UV400 and IP54-rated, by the way in which—is a digital camera that may file as much as one hour of 1080p video. There’s a bit battery accent that clips to the again of a helmet, doubling as a tail mild, and it boosts that video recording time to 5 hours in whole. The arms of the glasses have audio system so you may play music, and so they sounded fairly good in my transient demo in a really loud area. Naturally, there’s AI at play right here however not on the glasses themselves. The algorithms analyze the footage and recommend probably the most attention-grabbing clips, placing them collectively right into a spotlight reel with minimal effort in your half. The glasses are launching on Kickstarter later this month for $499. —Julian Chokkattu

NTT Docomo’s MiRZA AR Glasses

I engaged in some guided Japanese calligraphy with the assistance of NTT Docomo’s AR glasses at MWC. They’re huge and chunky, however these glasses don’t must be plugged instantly into something, and you’ll repair your content material in area so it doesn’t transfer along with your head. It was comparatively straightforward for me to breed the image earlier than me, regardless of my lack of inventive expertise, and so they might be used within the office to overlay engine elements or information machine repairs. Whereas these glasses price round $1,500 and are aimed primarily at companies, NTT additionally confirmed me a brand new, lighter pair it has within the works, with a simplified show for navigation and notifications from a Bluetooth-connected telephone. The following-gen MiRZA AR Glasses are aimed toward Joe Public and can be nearer to $500, however could require an AI subscription. —Simon Hill

Xpanceo Reveals Off Extra Good Contact Lens Prototypes

I wrote about Xpanceo at last year’s Mobile World Congress, and the corporate is again with extra good contact lens prototypes. One in every of these is a contact lens that might be recharged by a contact lens case, and one other had biosensors that might analyze sure parameters in tear fluid to observe glucose, cortisol, and extra. One other prototype had a sample on the lens that shifts in response to intraocular stress, which will help detect glaucoma early, and there additionally was a Good Contact Lens for AR Imaginative and prescient, which had an built-in microdisplay to indicate photos. I used to be in a position to look by this one and browse some textual content! The last word objective is to bake all of those prototypes into one product—the stuff of sci-fi goals—however this type of miniature expertise is extremely tough to engineer. It will likely be an extended whereas earlier than a wise contact lens arrives available on the market. —Julian Chokkattu

Solecooler Can Cool or Warmth Your Aching Ft

Closing in on 30,000 steps for the day, my burning tootsies could have had one thing to do with Solecooler catching my eye amid a sea of unusual innovations and startups. The kindly inventor, Bruno Aubert (a thermodynamics engineer) defined that these intelligent insoles warmth your ft by as much as 4 levels Celsius, or, in case you flip them, cool by 3.5 levels. The wonder is that they’re charged up by you strolling on them, although they take a couple of minutes to get going (very similar to air-con). They price €50 and are available one measurement, which you have to lower down in case you’re beneath measurement 14.

Aubert is now engaged on new battery-free, pressure-adjusting insoles known as Warnfeet, with a number of sensors to observe your ft and shield them, probably stopping blisters for athletes and guarding towards ulcers for diabetics. —Simon Hill

Keocam Is a Wearable Private Security Dashcam

No, this isn’t the second coming of the Humane Ai Pin (though that might already be in progress). That is Keocam, a private security “dashcam” from Keotech, which, very similar to the notorious AI wearable, stays affixed to garments because of a separate magnetic again.

It connects to your smartphone and constantly data a one-minute loop, storing every clip on the machine, your telephone, and a backup within the cloud, guaranteeing there are a number of copies. Within the occasion of an emergency, press the button and it’ll save and add the earlier minute and can begin recording till you press the button once more to cease it. Within the companion app, you can add contacts in order that emergency footage might be despatched to them. It has a 3-hour battery life, a 160-degree angle digital camera, and an IP67 score for defense from the weather. It will likely be out there later this yr. —Julian Chokkattu

Neuranics Innovates With Magnetic Gesture Recognition

Correct, low-power gesture recognition might be a vital piece of the puzzle for wearables like smart glasses, and Neuranics has developed an answer that depends on Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR). The Scottish startup has designed its personal sensors and built-in circuits and confirmed WIRED a demo the place hand actions had been tracked on display screen through a small sensor worn on the arm. These extremely delicate sensors can detect the smallest muscle actions and now have purposes for healthcare and health. The hope is that the tech is perhaps licensed and folded into one thing just like the Apple Watch. —Simon Hill

Doublepoint Provides New Gestures to Its Watch App

We have lined Doublepoint’s WowMouse smartwatch app before—it allows you to use gestures whereas carrying your WearOS watch or Apple Watch to duplicate mouse-like performance on a PC. New at MWC, the corporate unveiled much more gestures you need to use, like a flick to scroll a web page, and these gestures are going to fall underneath WowMouse Pro—an improve tier that prices $5 (solely out there for Android proper now).

It isn’t simply new gestures—you may assign customized actions to double faucet and modify music playback with hand actions too. The corporate says it has crossed 140,000 downloads since CES 2024 and its tech is now being built-in into the chips themselves, that means much less energy consumption and decrease latency. —Julian Chokkattu

Whispp Offers Voice to the Unvoiced

Whispp is a subscription app that permits customers to whisper into their telephone and have the app convert these whispers to common speech. Initially designed by the Dutch inventor Joris Castermans to beat his extreme stutter, the expertise additionally works splendidly for folk with broken vocal cords. We tried it out at MWC and located you may choose a voice after which whisper into your telephone’s microphone and have the audio come out, virtually in real-time, from a linked Bluetooth speaker. You may even prepare the AI to make use of your voice in case you can present a pattern.

Castermans is already at work on an improved model able to on-device processing; the present app sends the audio to the cloud for processing, which accounts for the small delay and the subscription price. The hope is that the brand new expertise is perhaps licensed and rolled into a preferred chipset as an extra assistive expertise, although it additionally has different purposes, reminiscent of giving voice to of us engaged on noisy manufacturing facility flooring. Castermans additionally hopes to discover a approach to assist of us who battle to enunciate and totally type phrases. The Whispp app is out there now for Android or iOS and prices £20 or €20 a month. —Simon Hill

Sonim’s Thermal Smartphone Is Rugged however Slim

Rugged telephones with Flir-powered thermal cameras are nothing new, however Sonim’s latest XP Pro Thermal does not actually look like a rugged telephone. It is pretty skinny for its class, even with its 5,000-mAh battery and a thicker-than-usual layer of Corning’s Gorilla Glass Victus II for elevated sturdiness for the 6.58-inch LCD display screen. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. This telephone comes with the My Flir Professional app constructed into Sonim’s Iris app, and what’s neat is the corporate plans to broaden the options to make the thermal perform extra versatile. You’ll program the telephone to, say, seize a thermal picture at sure intervals. That might be helpful if you wish to analyze an space over a while. The XP Professional Thermal is launching in Europe and South Africa within the second quarter, and it’ll make its approach to the US. —Julian Chokkattu

Catch Pad Affords Extremely Customizable Sports activities Coaching

With 4 RGB LEDs on every disc, the Catch Pad caught my consideration as a result of it resembles that outdated digital Simon recreation from Hasbro the place you might want to press the colours in the best sequence. Seems these discs are sensor-packed and supply a modular system for all types of sports activities coaching. They’ll mild up, vibrate, make sounds, and measure all the pieces, from stress to relative power, to not point out register contact, vibration, proximity, and steadiness. Every disc has a chargeable battery inside and connects to the Android or iOS app in your telephone through Bluetooth.

The software program is very customizable and able to monitoring all types of knowledge. There are greater than 100 completely different coaching packages you need to use as a base, from hand-eye coordination, velocity, and power measurements for boxing follow to soccer dribbling abilities and tight ball management. Costs begin from round €280 on the CatchPad website. —Simon Hill

Have a look at This Head

I have been overlaying Metalenz for a few years—the corporate makes superior optics known as metasurfaces that remove the necessity for a number of lens components in a smartphone digital camera, thereby making them extra compact. In 2024, the corporate introduced Polar ID—the power to make the most of polarization data captured through this metasurface lens to establish and authenticate folks. That is the Android world’s reply to Apple’s Face ID—or so the corporate hopes—and it is cheaper to supply. Metalenz did not have any bulletins at MWC 2025, however the firm did present me the brand new face masks it is utilizing to check the accuracy of its authentication system. Properly, it is not likely a 3D masks anymore—it is a full-blown head. (You may see the Polar ID module beneath the pinnacle within the picture above.) Certainly, Polar ID rejected the creepily lifelike head throughout an authentication try; the polarization knowledge—how mild bounces off of topics—was completely different from that of the true particular person. The corporate says we are able to anticipate Polar ID in Android units in 2026. —Julian Chokkattu