Here are all the most notable product and technology announcements from MWC 2022.
By Hadlee Simons•
March 1, 2022
Despite the ongoing pandemic concerns, MWC 2022 has gone full steam ahead. The world’s biggest mobile-first trade show has returned with an in-person presence, and it hasn’t been plagued by late withdrawals like CES 2022.
Mobile World Congress is a mobile-focused trade show that takes place every year in Barcelona, Spain. After a cancellation in 2020 and a diminished event in 2021, we’ve got a full-size show this time out.
A few days after the CyanogenMod team revealed its new Android-related product, Focal – part of a greater initiative called Nemesis – we hear that the new camera app will be included in CyanogenMod 10.2.
In a longer Google+ post, the team said that Focal will be included in CM 10.2, but that the app won’t make it to CM 10.1, or at least not just yet, as CM 10.2 appears to be a priority:
The JLab Epic Air Elite were once a brilliant pick for athletes but its limited availability makes it a hard sell. Instead, JLab pushes customers toward its JLab Epic Air Sport headset, and other more compact alternatives. Still, if you're able to find a pair of Epic Air Elite earbuds in stock, they're a great option and the dual-purpose charging case is a wonderful touch.
The IP55 JLab Epic Air Elite earbuds can withstand both dust and water.
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
If you missed the event, you can re-watch it here. It’s only about 40 minutes long. Right after it ends, a Nintendo Treehouse Live event begins, which gives you three hours of gameplay footage for the games announced in the first part of the livestream.
We’ve saved you some time though, as we have rounded up everything announced at the Nintendo E3 2021 Direct event!
The Google Pixel 4a is here, offering another affordable entry point into Google’s smartphone ecosystem. Much like 2019’s Pixel 3a, this latest model isn’t attempting to win over the performance-enthusiast crowd. Instead, the Pixel 4a offers just enough of everything you need in a comprehensive, reliable smartphone package.
At least that’s the theory. However, the Google Pixel 4a’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset and 6GB RAM looks rather anemic next to the similarly priced OnePlus Nord, with its 5G-enabled Snapdragon 765G and up to 12GB of RAM.
HyperX HyperX Cloud Flight SThe HyperX Cloud Flight S offers what every gamer needs, like solid battery life, audio quality, and a comfortable build, along with frills many will want, and it executes well on almost everything.
HyperX puts out some of the best gaming headsets on the market, and has done so for years. With the HyperX Cloud Flight S, the company is looking to make a play for a more premium part of the market.
This year was pure bliss for Android purists, with two Nexus devices hitting market. One phone definitely doesn’t fit all, something Google learnt with the Nexus 6, a device that was significantly larger than most smartphones and came with a price tag that was heavier than usual.
We have been playing with both the Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X for some time and are ready to put them face to face. These Nexus devices have plenty of differences, but the price is obviously the first that comes to mind.
While we can’t really claim secrets are better kept in the Android décor than in Apple’s world, especially now, we can’t help but laugh our behinds off whenever iPhone clones looking exactly like the originals come out before the authentic devices.
But iPhone 5’s launch was even more special and amusing than usual. And not just because we saw Apple stoop to one of its lowest levels ever by calling the new device a major upgrade for simply featuring a bigger display and “groundbreaking” 4G LTE speeds.
Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
TL;DR
Samsung just announced a new policy for Samsung updates. The policy states that all Android-based Galaxy-branded devices from 2019 or later will now get four years of security patches. That includes every Galaxy line: Galaxy S, Note, Z, A, XCover, and Tab, for a total of over 130 models. Last year, Samsung surprised us all by announcing it would support its most recent phones with three years of Android upgrades.
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
TL;DR
A new patent for a double-folding Samsung smartphone has emerged. The phone consists of two hinges with three distinct sections. Samsung has previously showcased similar designs, most notably its Z-folding prototype in August 2021. Samsung currently offers two foldable phone designs. The Galaxy Z Flip series is known for its compact, vertical fold, while the Galaxy Z Fold line is famous for its book-like mechanism.