At Mobile World Congress, which closes Thursday, March 3, 2022, there was once again plenty of technological innovation on display in the aisles of the Barcelona trade show, spanning the metaverse, record fast-charging and Wi-Fi 7.
The metaverse according to HTC
At this year's Mobile World Congress, HTC unveiled Viverse, its own version of the metaverse -- the kind of virtual universe that's whet the appetite of the whole industry right now. For the moment, this amounts to a brief presentation where reality meets virtual communities, cryptocurrencies and NFTs. This space should let users move around in several virtual worlds through a dedicated browser. Initially, Viverse will be accessible via HTC Vive Flow headsets, but the manufacturer's ultimate ambition is to make it accessible from anywhere -- at home or even in the car, from a PC, a tablet or a smartphone -- via a browser compatible with this technology. Watch this space...
Huawei's all-in-one PC with an iMac-like look
Stopped in its tracks from becoming the world's number one smartphone seller because of US sanctions that prevent it from incorporating Google services into its latest models, Huawei is now betting big on the PC market. In addition to new laptop models, the Chinese manufacturer made a splash by unveiling the MateStation X, an all-in-one PC with a large 28.2-inch screen and a look reminiscent of the Apple iMac. It should be available later this year for €2,199 (approximately $2,440).
A robotic dog from Xiaomi
In a very different style, Xiaomi turned heads at MWC with its CyberDog, largely inspired by the famous Spot robot from Boston Dynamics. For the moment, its capabilities seem limited, as the robot-dog can only walk and sit. In the long term, however, its applications could prove interesting, whether for accompanying people with various needs or for locating survivors in hazardous terrains after natural disasters, for example. At first, it's likely to be proposed to professionals only.
Earbuds that take your temperature
Honor's new-generation earbuds have an original feature. The Earbuds 3 Pro are capable of taking the wearer's body temperature, thanks to directly integrated heat sensors. It's likely that other manufacturers could soon offer similar technology, starting with Apple and its upcoming AirPods Pro. The Honor Earbuds 3 Pro should be available soon for €199 (approximately $220).
Record smartphone charging speeds
The Mobile World Congress is above all about smartphones, and one of the main innovations on show this year was fast charging. Oppo and OnePlus have announced the upcoming integration of a new technology, called 150 W SuperVOOC, capable of recharging a compatible mobile to 50% in just five minutes. The first smartphones equipped with this technology are expected by the summer. Until now, the fastest charging technologies on the market (mainly on Chinese devices) have been 120 to 125 W. Note, however, that the higher the charging power, the greater the negative impact on battery lifespans can be.
A first chip compatible with Wi-Fi 7
Finally, there was also talk of Wi-Fi 7 at MWC, with Qualcomm presenting the very first compatible chip, the FastConnect 7800. On paper, it promises a theoretical maximum throughput of 5.8 Gb/s and very low latency. Wi-Fi 7 should offer speeds two to three times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and will reduce latency by transmitting the signal over more bands, thus avoiding interference. This new generation of wireless connection should be able to satisfy all the growing needs of internet users, whether for video calls, 8K streaming, online video games or virtual or augmented reality applications. The first Wi-Fi 7-compatible products are expected to hit the market in 2023.
