Top New Smartphones at Mobile World Congress 2014
The largest mobile showcase in the world, the Mobile World Congress, wrapped up in Barcelona, Spain this week. There were a lot of new gadgets and gizmos introduced during the expo, so here's a rundown of the most buzz-worthy new devices.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Of course, Samsung stole the show by introducing the fifth installment in its flagship line of Galaxy S smartphones. As had been rumored, Samsung is incorporating a fingerprint reader in its newest smartphone, in response to the Apple iPhone 5s's much-touted feature.
Instead of putting it on the home button, as Apple did, Samsung has the fingerprint reader on the screen. Like Apple's TouchID, Samsung's fingerprint scanner will allow for secure purchasing functionality through PayPal, but Samsung also included a fingerprint-unlocked private mode where personal files and apps can be locked away. And that feature works for multiple profiles, so different users can use the same phone while keeping their private content private.
Other improvements to the Samsung line include a trendier back cover, a light sensor that can help the S5 automatically choose appropriate color profiles for a better screen experience, and a 16 megapixel shooter with some new software features that are usually only found in DLSR cameras.
The Galaxy S5 also comes with the Galaxy S4 Active's IP67 dust and water resistance rating standard, so every phone will be capable of being submerged in up to three feet of water for 30 minutes without damage -- though it's advisable not to try your luck. Finally, in conjunction with SanDisk, Samsung announced it was upping the ante on MicroSD card storage to 128GB.
LG G Pro 2
LG is hoping to extend the critical approval it garnered with the LG G2 with a new high-tech phablet. It comes with a 5.9-inch screen with 1080p HD resolution, putting it in competition with the likes of the HTC One Max and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Its Snapdragon 800 running at 2.26GHz with 3GB of RAM will help it run with that competition as well.
Just like the G2, the G Pro 2 comes with the "rear key" power/volume rocker combination, though on a larger phone it's not clear if that feature will be as handy as before.
The LG G Pro 2's camera is still a 13-megapixel affair, but LG added some of its own specialty software that you'd normally find on cutting edge stand-alone cameras. The biggest standout for LG is Magic Focus mode, which takes a series of shots with different points of focus, so later you can decide whether you want the photo to emphasize the foreground, background, or somewhere in between.
Finally, LG decided to put a MicroSD card slot on the G Pro 2, the lack of which was one of the only low points on the LG G2.
Nokia X
Nokia is (kind of) taking the Android plunge with the Nokia X. Developed as a mid-tier line of devices, this smartphone won't pack the kind of specs seen above -- and instead is targeted for emerging markets. The Nokia X comes in several different flavors, including dual SIM versions, with screen sizes ranging from four to five inches across.
Despite running on Android, Nokia is using a highly customized version that resembles the Windows Phone OS more than Android, with homescreen tiles instead of a grid of apps and widgets. The Nokia X also doesn't come with Google apps, but rather a suite of apps and services made available by Nokia and Microsoft. However, with that customized non-Google UI, Nokia has included a handy feature called Fastlane, which is a quick-access element to get to your most used apps by swiping the left or right edge of the home screen.
Since it's headed to developing markets, like in Asia and Latin America, Nokia is keeping the price down. The basic Nokia X phone will cost the equivalent of $122, with other versions that feature enhancements in camera, storage, and/or screen size costing slightly more.
Mobile: Two Major Directions
Of course, there were lots of other gadgets, wearables, and smartphones at the Mobile World Congress, but these three best represent the direction of the mobile electronics market this year. For the developed world, an emphasis on easy, beefed up privacy and security can be seen in the Samsung Galaxy S5. But the high-end "regular" smartphone market has mainly been tapped, which is why you'll see more phones like the LG G Pro 2 and the Nokia X.
Both of those devices are attempting to appeal to buyers outside the average high-end four-to-five-inch smartphone market. The LG G Pro 2 appealing to buyers, especially in Asia, that want a device with all the features of a smartphone, but with a tablet-like experience. Meanwhile, with markets like Latin America exploding in smartphone purchasing and use, cheaper devices like the Nokia X are where the money is at, this year and in the near term future. Look for more manufacturers trying to make standout mid-tier smartphones this year.
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