MWC 2026 is coming to a close, so to wrap up our time in Barcelona, here are 9to5Google’s Best of MWC 2026 Awards.
Expand Expanding Close9to5Google Best of MWC 2026: The most important new products and announcements
Author
Ben Schoon is a Senior Editor at 9to5Google, working for the publication as one of its primary news writers since 2016.
In 2013, Ben helped start an independent tech publication where he learned the skills used at 9to5Google including writing, product photography, and videography. He is located in the city of Winston-Salem in North Carolina where he lives with his wife Melissa. Ben is an avid disc golf player.
He primarily covers Android products, including Google Pixel devices, Samsung Galaxy smartphones, as well as devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Motorola, and more. Beyond just covering news about these products, Ben also spends time using these products himself, speaking from experience with the articles he writes. Some of Ben’s most recent hands-on reviews include; Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Watch 2, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Motorola Razr+, HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, and more.
Ben is also a leading source for information about Google’s Android TV, diving deeply into important parts of the platform including its powerful Operator Tier, explaining future changes to the platform, and reviewing its products such as Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield TV, and more.
In 2019, Ben leaked one of the first in-person photos of the Pixel 4 before later revealing the Recorder and Pixel Themes apps months ahead of launch. In 2020, Ben also reported on multiple upcoming Pixel devices including Pixel 5a and the first report of Google working on a foldable Pixel smartphone. That same month, he was also the first to correctly report the $49 price point of what became the Chromecast with Google TV.
Ben Schoon is active on Twitter, @nexusben, but can also be found on Instagram and LinkedIn. For questions or tips, you can email him directly, and his portfolio is also available online.
Email: schoon@9to5mac.com | Encrypted Email: benschoon@protonmail.com
Google starts calling out Android apps that drain your battery before you download them
Following its announcement last year, Google has started rolling out a warning in the Play Store that warns you of apps that might drain your battery excessively.
Expand Expanding CloseI tried Nothing Phone (4a) Pro – where did all the transparency go? [Gallery]
The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro has arrived and, while it looks like a really solid upgrade on paper, the new device largely ditches the transparent design elements that has made Nothing stand out for the past few years.
Expand Expanding CloseNothing Headphone (a) adds more bass, color, 135-hour battery life for $199
Following up on its first over-ear headphones released last year, Nothing has just announced Headphone (a) as a more affordable option with added colors and, somehow, longer battery life too.
Expand Expanding CloseNothing Phone (4a) series goes official with major Pro upgrades from £349
Nothing has just launched its new Phone (4a) and Phone (4a) Pro with a slightly higher starting price, but some major upgrades across the board.
Expand Expanding CloseAirDrop over Android Quick Share support will roll out this month, Oppo says
Following its debut on Google Pixel, it sounds like AirDrop-over-Quick-Share support is heading to more Android phones soon, with Oppo saying it will roll out an update sometime later this month.
Expand Expanding Close
Xiaomi wants to release new versions of its Google Tensor-like chip every year, globally
Xiaomi has confirmed that it has plans to continue its Google Tensor-like in-house chipset efforts, with a new version of the chip each year.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung is back to sending out Galaxy S26 ads through notifications
Samsung has been sending out ads for new phones through notifications for years now, but for the Galaxy S26 series, those are now arriving from a new source via the Samsung Health app.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle vs Epic Games dispute ends as ‘registered’ Android app stores, lower fees roll out this year
The long-running Google vs Epic Games dispute has finally come to an end, with Google today announcing new changes to Android that include better support for third-party app stores and changes to Google Play.
Expand Expanding CloseNothing Phone (4a) Pro teaser hints at return of the Glyph Matrix display
Ahead of its launch tomorrow, Nothing has just dropped what appears to be the first teaser for Nothing Phone (4a) Pro which reveals that the phone, which has been a mystery thus far, will apparently have a Glyph Matrix display on the back.
Expand Expanding Close
Google Pixel’s new Now Playing app breaks third-party history tools
Google Pixel’s well-known and beloved Now Playing experience just became its own app, which is great, but it comes at the apparent expense of some third-party history tools that have completely stopped working since the change.
Expand Expanding CloseTCL finally put AMOLED behind its NXTPAPER display, and the result is stunning [Gallery]
TCL’s NXTPAPER display tech has been something I’ve been keeping my eye on for years now. The anti-glare look alone has sold me time and time again, and TCL has only been improving it in recent years. But after seeing TCL finally put AMOLED behind NXTPAPER, I’m sold, and I want more right away.
Expand Expanding CloseSamsung shows off more partial Privacy Display options, brighter panel, slidable concept [Gallery]
Samsung Display is at MWC 2026 showing off, of course, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s new Privacy Display, but also new ways to use that feature on specific parts of the display, and other ideas such as a slidable phone concept.
Expand Expanding CloseGorilla Glass Ceramic 3 is designed to hold up to years of drops, debuts on Razr Fold
Corning has announced Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, a new upgrade to smartphone cover glass that promises protection against years of drops, and it’s launching first on the upcoming Motorola Razr Fold.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Home just announced a bunch of Gemini, smart home updates rolling out now
Google has announced a number of updates to the Gemini for Home experience that include various fixes and improvements to voice controls for your smart home, addressing quite a few widespread and niche complaints.
Expand Expanding CloseThe adorable Androids of MWC 2026 are ready for your XR glasses demo [Gallery]
As per usual, Google is at MWC 2026 in Barcelona this week with its Android Avenue setup, including a host of adorable little Android figures all over the place, building an Android sign, as well as preparing for your chance to take Google’s Android XR glasses for a spin.
Expand Expanding CloseNothing just revealed Phone (4a)’s colors, but Phone (4a) Pro remains a mystery [Gallery]
Ahead of its full launch later this week, Nothing just showed off the new colors of its Phone (4a) series at MWC 2026, in the most Nothing way possible.
Expand Expanding CloseHonor says its Robot Phone launches later this year with 200MP gimbal camera [Gallery]
While the Honor Magic V6 is the brand’s biggest announcement at MWC 2026, the Robot Phone and humanoid robot are perhaps the ones the company is more excited about. While no one has really had a chance to use the Robot Phone yet, Honor says it will launch the device later in 2026.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola confirms GrapheneOS support for a future phone, bringing over features
Following rumors swirling for quite some time, Motorola has announced a partnership with GrapheneOS that will see the privacy-focused, de-Googled version of Android pre-installed on upcoming Motorola devices.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: Motorola Razr Fold’s software is halfway between Pixel and Samsung [Gallery]
Motorola’s new Razr Fold looked great when we didn’t know anything about it, but it just looks all the more attractive now. During a hands-on session at MWC 2026 this weekend, I was able to see more of the Razr Fold’s software suite, and it feels very much like it’s the perfect middle ground between the Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy approaches to book-style foldables.
Expand Expanding CloseMotorola details Razr Fold specs: 6,000 mAh battery, €1,999, still no release date
Following a preview back at CES, Motorola is officially detailing the Razr Fold specs including a big 6,000 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chipset.
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: Lenovo’s modular ThinkBook concept is whatever laptop you want it to be [Gallery]
There are a lot of different types of laptops out there, but Lenovo wants to give you everything at once with its new ThinkBook modular PC concept, and I kind of love the idea.
Expand Expanding Close
Lenovo’s latest Android tablets include ‘ThinkTab’ and AI-focused Idea Tab
Lenovo is coming to MWC with its usual collection of new laptops, concepts, and ThinkPads, as well as throwing a couple of new Android tablets into the mix including the “ThinkTab.”
Expand Expanding CloseHands-on: Lenovo’s Legion Go Fold gaming handheld shows a new future for foldables [Gallery]
Foldables have come a long way in the past few years, but outside of reinventing the flip phone and hiding a tablet within a smartphone, the concepts haven’t changed all that much. Lenovo, though, has a really clever idea in its new Legion Go Fold concept, which I really hope makes it to reality someday.
Expand Expanding Close