Here comes the transparent laptop and smelly cell phone

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) is held every year and provides, in a way, a thermometer of the current state of the technology industry and its trends. In the 2024 edition, we see that flexible displays still have a lot of unexplored potential, that foldable smartphones are becoming more accessible, and that with imagination, it is possible to extrapolate the look of our everyday devices.

In this article, we have selected some of the key news presented at MWC 2024 so that you can stay up to date with the latest interesting technologies and the latest announcements. paying off!

Cell phone scented

To attract consumers' attention, not just their noses, Tecno has unveiled 'Fragrance Leather' technology that adds scent to the finish of smartphones.

According to the brand, scented microcapsules are integrated into the final manufacturing process of the exterior of the smartphone, which is designed from a synthetic material that mimics leather.

The promise is that the pleasant scent will last for up to a year under conditions of normal use without excessive exposure to sunlight and extreme temperatures and without significant friction with the exterior of the device.

As expected, there is no launch date for the fragrance solution to be applied to the brand's smartphones.

Transparent notebook

After showing off a sliding-screen laptop at the recent Mobile World Congress (MWC), Lenovo has introduced another exciting project this year: a transparent-screen laptop.

The ThinkBook Transparent Laptop is a prototype with a 17.3-inch transparent microLED display that provides 55% transparency in all-black pixels.

Without a cover behind the panel, it is possible to see what is behind the screen and still see what is displayed on the screen with some clarity.

Initial impressions indicate that the idea is interesting, but it needs a purpose and that there are privacy issues, as the content of the screen can also be seen by whoever is behind it.

Honor arrives soon

One of the highlights of the technology fair is the confirmation of the arrival of a new smartphone manufacturer in Brazil: Honor.

Being China's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer and no longer linked to Huawei – that is, without suffering the same sanctions imposed by the US government – CEO George Zhao confirmed that the employees came to Brazil to study the local market and determine the best investment strategy.

The brand plans to manufacture its smartphones on the national territory and has already approached major retail stores in the country, but no final launch date has been revealed.

The battery is a smartphone

MWC is known for the strange products it announces every year, and this time Energizer has announced a 28,000 mAh battery that can be used as a smartphone.

The Hard Case P28K has simple hardware with a Helio G99 chipset limited to 4G networks and a 6.7-inch display with a 60Hz refresh rate, but it stands out for its massive battery, massive 27.8mm thickness and 570g weight.

With a full charge, the manufacturer promises up to one week in combined use, up to 122 hours in phone calls and up to 94 days in standby mode.

The device is scheduled to be launched in Europe in October at a price of 249 euros, or about 1,350 Brazilian reals in direct conversion.

The cheapest folding devices

The technology fair also served as a platform to announce three foldable smartphones at very low prices.

One such device is the Energizer Ultimate U660S that features a 3,400 mAh battery, a built-in external display, a 6.6-inch internal panel, a plastic finish, and a Helio G99 processor with 4G.

The second is the Nubia Flip 5G with more advanced specifications including a Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chip, a large 4,310 mAh battery, a circular external display, an internal display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and metal sides.

Finally, we get the Blackview Hero 10, which takes the place of the world's cheapest foldable phone by bringing core hardware with a Helio G99 chip, a 108MP rear camera, a sleek look with a leather-like material finish, and a circular outer display. .

The Energizer foldable will arrive in Europe for €499 (about R$2,700) in November, while the Nubia option will debut in March for US$599 (about €549, or roughly R$3,000) and the Blackview model will be sold in Europe for the official release. At a price of 399 euros, equivalent to about 2,144 Brazilian riyals.

The fierce competition between brands in this segment shows that there is a potential market to be explored for cheaper foldable devices, since the more established manufacturers are yet to exploit the opportunity – the closest to that was Motorola with the Razr 40, which has been priced. The launch price has been set at 699. US dollars (3474 Brazilian reals).