Día Dos mis Amigos

We made it, day two is done and so are most feet, but we soldier on, myself and Mrs Mallard are still en Casa but my fingers are a blur getting MWC info to ya faces!

Comenzamos mis amigos, and hang on tight as it gets a little weird, a little expensive and there's polygonals ... no, I've no idea either!

I blogged yesterday about Xiaomi announcing a lovely camera phone with Leica lens, and hot on its modular heels is the RealMe concept camera phone however, RealMe's can mount full-frame mirrorless lenses, which are larger and could potentially take better photos. It also has an adapter that allows the mounting of professional-level lenses, like a Leica M11 or Canon R6, so is that one in the shutter for Xiaomi?

Who remembers the folding screen, and the retail success that was? well to combat that Samsung have a device with TWO hinges, count them one, two! Even stranger, each folding limb is a different size, with a smaller flap on the top and larger flap on the bottom -- and when folded up, they don't fully cover the central part?? Unfold each flap partway, though, and the phone does look a bit like the 90s cell phones that flipped down their thin mouthpieces... how very retro!

Then just as you thought it was safe to go out side, here come the polygonals! Samsung had a odd take on its Z Flip clamshell series --out goes last year's Galaxy Z Flip 6 exterior design, the company has redesigned its external display around a retro-futuristic look with polygonal* grey plastic.

Heads up, that's the last you'll hear of polygonals from this bloggy person! lets just keep it real from here on in, remember the roaring success of the RedMagic 10 Pro? well here comes the the difficult second album. For nearly three times the price, you can get the same phone built with precious metals: gold-wrapped, with gold and silver plating in its cooling system, a carbon fibre body and a sapphire glass rear cover. The Golden Saga phone, as it's called, costs $1,500 for a fancier-looking version of the same gaming phone... good luck with that one! Mrs Mallard wants one just to melt down and cash in!

PS: There's also a Pink version of the RedMagic 10 Pro if you want a more affordable version with just a bit more pink!

And next on our merry-go-round of oddity and weirdy I bring to you the end! No, sorry I mean the Finnish as our friends at HMD on the back of the Barbie phone now bring us a Nokia 3210 so far so good, in the colours of F.C. Barcelona.. oh! Complete with hidden messages from players, custom wallpapers and the classic mobile game Snake, this time played on a football pitch ... Barça, Barça, Barça!

However, this is a collector's edition smartphone engraved with the signatures of 11 of the club's star players. HMD also promises Easter eggs that will appeal to fans, and you can even be woken up by the voice of one of your favourite players in the morning shouting ... he's off Ref he's 'kin off!!!!

And they don't stop there, these guys are out to disrupt the classroom now with the Fusion X1 which is the company's first smartphone for teens, hang on I thought all phones could be used by teens? don't cry it's all in hand (pardon the pun!) The Fusion X1 which allows parents control over kids' phones, however it requires a monthly Xplora subscription. This allows parents to control internet browsing and social media, in addition to a School Mode. The subscription also provides continuous location tracking at 20-second intervals with safe zones, emergency SOS calling, low battery alerts and remote device access -- your teens will be thrilled!!

In all honesty this is a great initiative that could go some way to providing your kids with safe browsing and allow you to know where they are, and at only £230 go buy one, piece of mind doesn't have a price.

And a round up of other notable devices, Nothing! .. No, hang on I mean Nothing the London based tech company, the Nothing Phone 3A and 3A Pro are as dazzling as their predecessors, with solid all-round specs, affordable price tags and an eye-catching LED-infused design.

Huawei are back with their quite maravilloso tri fold phone with three screens that folds into one which is always worth a second sorry, third look!

Samsung has come up with what in real terms sounds like and looks like a foldable Nintendo Switch which is a great idea for anyone who games on the go, you can spot them they are the ones getting off the bus at the terminus after it has ended it's shift because they gamed past their stop!

Oppo opted out of launching their folding phone at MWC, but early reports say its foldy, impressively slim, light and foldy.

TCL continue to impress with their NxtPaper displays, which mimic e-readers, giving the screen a paper like look and feel and their 60 series expands with models bosting 108MP cameras and larger batteries.

MWC 2025 is shaping up to be a good one, with everyone chipping in with new innovation, new launches... everyone? anyone heard from the fruit boys?

Adios mis amigos!

*Having many sides or relating to a surface marked by polygons, now you know!

Two hands hank, takes his pocket smartphone out for a walk!