Samsung Galaxy S6, HTC One M9 most buzzed about at global mobile congress
View(s):This week witnessed the conclusion of yet another Mobile World Congress (MWC), the 86,000-participant showcase for all things mobile communications related held annually. Where January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is more geared towards end-consumer, thanks to tech gadgets and prototypes exhibited with typical Las Vegas showmanship, the Barcelona-based 5-day MWC is more of an annual conversation regarding the future of the mobile communications industry, with marketers, designers, engineers, manufacturers and even the media coming together to form a narrative on where the industry is headed.
But, from the perspective of the layman, the most impactful function of this most recent and many previous MWCs has always been the sheer multitude of new phones launched every year.
Big name brands
As is typically the case, there were a number of leaked pictures and details of highly anticipated devices leading up to the 2015 MWC, both unintentional and otherwise, with the big mobile device companies like Samsung vying to raise the 
talkability surrounding their soon-to-be-launched hopefuls for 2015. But, in the end, it was the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the HTC One M9 that ascended the ranks to become the two most eagerly discussed, and of course speculated about, by media and critics alike, only considering that Apple usually stays away from MWC.
Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
Undoubtedly the most looked forward to off all its devices set to preview in 2015, and the subject of dozens upon dozens of leaked pictures, details, etc, the S6 was finally revealed, putting the entire mobile community out of its misery. Mostly well received, the phone comes with a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display along with an all-new body covered front and back with extra-tough Gorilla Glass 4. Inside, the phone featured a 64-bit, octa-core processor as well as 3GB RAM. It also comes with a few new tricks including wireless charging and a fingerprint sensor. Adding further to the excitement surrounding the S6 is its “edge” variant that offers a display screen that curves over each of the sides to virtually eliminate the phones edges, adding a novelty factor that is currently being eaten up by critics.
HTC One M9
The second most talked about phone leading up to MWC. While it has not improved on its design substantially, the HTC One M9 has upped its performance significantly, adding the superior Snapdragon 810 processor to the mix. This 5-inch 1080p phone also comes with HTC’s new Sense 7 user interface (UI) atop Android 5.0, as well as a 20MP, 2.2-aperture camera on the rear.
Other contenders for this year’s top Android-based offerings skewed towards the more budget-conscious and mid-range priced devices with the Lenovo A7000, the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua, the LG Magna, and the Acer Liquid Jade Z, all aimed at the low- to mid-range of pricing, when eventually introduced to global markets later on this year. However, when it came to non-Android phones there were also a few in 2015.
Microsoft Lumia 640 XL
With the Microsoft brand name finally replacing Nokia, the Lumia 640 XL was the software giant’s contender for the low-end mobile space, which has been thus far unable to crack. Costing US$ 240 for the 4G/LTE model, this 5.7-inch, 720p display phone comes with a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor as well as 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras, both with 1080p HD video capabilities. To be introduced with Windows Phone 8.1 operating system when initially put up for sale, this phone will, ultimately, be upgradeable to Windows 10 at a later date.
Blackberry Leap
Longtime corporate mainstay Blackberry tried to refresh its image once again this year with an introductory model phone, the Leap, aimed at young professionals. This 4G, keyboard-less device also featured a 5-inch HD display, Snapdragon S4 Plus performance and 2GB RAM, in addition to an 8MP rear camera.
Meizu MX4 Ubuntu edition
2015’s MWC also witnessed the debut of the first phone, at this event, featuring the Ubuntu operating system, brought in by China’s Meizu Telecom. With a 5.3-inch full HD display, a Mediatek 6595 Octa-core processor and 2GB RAM, as well as 4G SIM support, and a 20.7MP rear camera, this phone has been reviewed well so far, proving to feature less flaws than its predecessor the BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, unveiled earlier this year. This makes it a viable contender for those on the fringes of the Android or iOS camps.
Novelties
While MWC 2015 was all about phone- and tablet-focused smart devices, with new devices unveiled numbering, literally, in the 100s, there was also a number of novelty-type announcements that struck a chord with tech reviewers. Some of these included the QI-based wireless charging lamps, bedside tables and coffee tables, from furniture icon Ikea; Lenovo’s 170g, 50 Lumens LED Pocket Projector with its 110-inch throw; Xiaomi’s Go Pro-alternative, the Yi camera; the ‘surprise hit at MWC’, the round-face Huawei Watch; Google’s proposed WiFi-utilising Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) programme, to be launched later this year in the US; AVG’s anti-facial recognition Invisibility Glasses; the Blackphone 2 encrypted-calling and messaging phone, which runs the PrivatOS 1.1 Android build; a preview of the Yezz / Google Project Ara modular smart phone concept, which showcased add-ons such as gaming controllers, NFC, storage, etc.; and the LG Urbane, a smart watch that allows phone calls and messaging without connecting to a phone, as well as allowing mobile payments to be made via NFC.
(JH)