MWC 2016 highlights: Samsung Galaxy S7, LG G5, IoT and more

The Mobile World Congress is probably the only event in a position to count both 5G and a G5 among its headlines.

Negotiations are ongoing after metro and bus workers from TMB, the main public transport operator in the metropolitan area of Barcelona announced plans to strike during the four-day conference from February 22-25. Android Authority will bring you hands-on coverage of the LG G5 as soon as we’re allowed to, so make sure to stick around for the full lowdown.

Here are the details of what you can expect from the event in the smartphone category. Samsung, LG and other popular smartphone-makers use the convention as a launching pad for all their new products.

Samsung Galaxy S7: One of the most awaited and expected announcements ahead of MWC 2016, the Galaxy S7 launch takes place tonight at 7 pm CET, which is 11.30 pm IST.

The overall spec sheet is also quite impressive. There’s also talk of a new port on the bottom of the phone called the Magic Slot which could potentially lead to expansions such as different cameras or as a way to connect to a virtual reality headset.

KT chairman Hwang Chang-gyu will also attend the MWC 2016. A key point to note here is that consumers are now much more knowledgeable about the technical features that go into a phone than they were a couple of years ago, and HTC is undoubtedly feeling the pinch in this regard.

Samsung and LG still will likely decide when to launch sales of their flagships, which will depend on the features and performances of their rivals at the MWC, they said. Xiaomi Mi 5 is likely to launch in two variants – 3GB RAM with 32GB storage and 4GB RAM with 64GB storage. The X Screen model will be powered by 1.2GHz quad-core chipset, backed by a 2GB RAM, and will have a 4.9-inch screen. Although the screen size would be smaller than the G4’s 5.5-inch screen, the second screen might make up the difference. Analysts believe that the company will take the smartphone market by storm with this premium, yet affordable, device. They have been releasing devices in all the segments, including smartphone, smartwatch and now even in laptops.

There may be Lite and Max versions of the P9, too.

Xiaomi will be showcasing its devices at MWC 2016 for the first time, including the Mi 5. This year the company seems interested in differentiating the two phones with more than just a curved screen on the Edge. With our homes, vehicles and businesses all becoming smarter and more connected, MWC could be our first proper look at some of the most important technology being released this year. The company’s press event will also be held on the 21st of February where it will be held at 2pm GMT.