The air is on fire in Barcelona: MWC 2026 is in full swing! While you’re reading this text, we’re hunting around the trade fair for you to find out whether there are any real game changers behind the AI hype of the “IQ Era”. Are you ready for our Editor’s Choice Awards 2026?
The “era of intelligence”
This year, everything is under the motto “The IQ Era”. In short, technology is getting smarter. We are seeing live how artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a gimmick, but is moving directly into your smartphones, watches, and even the telephone network. The goal: technology should make your everyday life easier without you having to search through menus.
Our awards are awarded in cooperation with inside-digital
We have teamed up with our colleagues at inside-digital.de so that you don’t lose track of the news chaos during the trade fair week. We tried out the new products ourselves, checked the batteries, and asked critical questions.
Here are our Editor’s Choice Awards 2026: the devices that really impressed us this year:
Smartphones
- Honor Magic V6: Thinnest foldable (8.75 mm) with IP69 protection and 6,660 mAh battery for maximum portability and extreme robustness.
- Honor Robot Phone: Innovative concept with an autonomous gimbal camera that follows subjects and combines smartphone photography with smart robotics.
- Leica Leitz Phone: Photography purism with a 1-inch sensor and variable aperture in the iconic Leica design for discerning mobile image creators.
- Motorola Edge 70 Fusion: New price-performance king of the mid-range. Combines premium displays with extreme endurance for a broad target group.
- Motorola Razr Fold: First book-style foldable with an 8.1-inch screen, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 and 6,000 mAh battery for high-end performance.
- Nothing Phone (4a): Proves that design is not a question of price: glyph interface and transparent aesthetics set the tone in the budget class.
- Point. MC03: Statement for digital sovereignty: Smartphone manufactured in Europe with a focus on data protection via Apostrophy OS.
- Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Ultimate business flagship with new privacy display to protect against prying eyes and unrivaled computing power for professionals.
- TCL NXTPAPER 5.0 (AMOLED): Symbiosis of eye-friendly E-Ink optics and brilliant 120Hz AMOLED panel for fatigue-free reading and working.
- Tecno ATOM / MODA: Modular Magnetic Ecosystem (MMIT) for hot-swapping batteries and special lenses during operation. Innovative hardware flexibility.
- Ulefone Xever 7 Pro: Hot-swap revolution: Thanks to the buffer battery, the main battery can be changed without interruption during operation.
- Vivo X300 Ultra: Professional video power with log profiles and a 400mm telephoto lens. Pushes the boundaries of a professional camera.
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Flagship camera with gigantic sensor and optical zoom. Sets new standards for professional mobile photography.
Smart home & connectivity
- Anker Nano Smart Display Charger: First Smart Display Charger with automatic iPhone detection and real-time charging information on integrated display.
- Deutsche Telekom Magenta AI Call Assistant: Enables live translation, call summaries, and AI-based answers directly during the call.
- eufy C15: Innovative robotic mower with integrated human recognition for safer automated work in the home garden.
- Fritz! FRITZ!Box 6835 5G: 5G router with eSIM and Wi-Fi 7. Flexible mobile use is possible thanks to the USB-C power supply.
- Fritz! FRITZ!Repeater 6700 Pro: First quad-band WLAN repeater with 6 GHz and up to 18 Gbit/s throughput, including 10 GBit/s LAN.
- MediaTek x Starlink Satellite Services: Lifesaving standard for direct satellite connectivity (CMAS/ETWS) on smartphones, completely independent of mobile networks.
- Telefonica 5G Tactical Bubble: Mobile 5G network in a suitcase for setting up critical communication infrastructure in crisis areas in a matter of seconds.
Energy & sustainability
- Lenovo ThinkPad T-Series: Sustainability benchmark with 10/10 iFixit score. Modular design enables easy repairs and maximum longevity.
- Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (e-scooter): High-performance e-scooter with the aggressive design DNA of the SU7 Ultra sports car for urban electric mobility.
- Xiaomi Vision Gran Turismo: Spectacular electric hypercar concept that demonstrates Xiaomi’s technological ambitions and innovative strength in the field of electromobility.
Wearables & health
- Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite: Wearable benchmark with dedicated AI cores for precise health analysis and enormous battery life under continuous load.
- Timekettle translation earbuds: Powerful AI earbuds with bone conduction for simultaneous live translation in 40 languages with crystal-clear communication.
- XGIMI MemoMind One: AI glasses suitable for everyday use with a discreet display for real-time transcription and navigation directly in the field of vision.
Which of these highlights is your personal favorite from MWC 2026? Do you think the “IQ Era” will really change our everyday lives? Let us know your opinion in the comments