MWC 2024 has reached its second day and brings with it a whole host of new and interesting technologies. We’ve seen everything from dedicated mobile SIM cards and AI-based PINs to affordable smartphones.
Mobile World Congress always promises to be an exciting time for those interested in the future of mobile phones, and so far it has not been a disappointment. You really don’t want to miss what’s happening, so join us for this roundup of day two of news, product launches and hands-on sessions on upcoming phones, wearables and other mobile devices.
Never be affected by interrupted networks again with this rSIM
Network disruptions have been at the center of the news lately due to AT&T’s massive network outage last week. For many, this decline led to complications as their lives came to a virtual standstill. However, the release of the resilient SIM card, or rSIM, could be the solution people need.
The rSIM can test the phone’s network connection every 60 seconds. If it detects that there is no connection after a preset time, it switches to the second backup network. The bottom line is that this all happens in the background without a user having to do anything. It really seems that simple. However, it is important to note that rSIMs are expected to cost more than a single SIM card, although they are slightly cheaper than two separate cards.
Given the current concerns about network disruptions, this is a good time to release this type of technology. While this won’t prevent networks from collapsing, it will give customers the peace of mind to ensure their lives suffer as little disruption as possible.
Can’t afford Apple Vision Pro? Well, there is a cheaper option
VR is undoubtedly the future, but if Apple Vision Pro is anything to go by, it’s a prohibitively expensive future. However, the ZapBox could be the affordable VR experience people are looking for.
This little headset, which will only cost you $100, serves as a frame for your phone. The ZapBox doesn’t have much to offer, it’s just an adjustable headset, a pair of lenses that hold your iPhone in front of your eyes, and a pair of Bluetooth controllers. When we tried it out, we found that there was almost no lag when using the device as a pass-through for AI, although the apps were a bit fiddly.
The concept of using a phone for VR isn’t really new, and we’ve already seen variations of this type of headset with the Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard and the Lenovo Mirage. All of these previous devices haven’t made the splash they wanted, but ZapBox has some interesting ideas about app development that could help avoid the pitfalls of its predecessors.
OnePlus has introduced a significantly improved smartwatch
The OnePlus Watch 1 had a rather mixed impression when it was released. While it was remarkably affordable and easy to use, it lacked some key features that kept it from being all it could be. OnePlus seems to have learned its lesson when it announced the OnePlus Watch 2 at MWC 2024.
Perhaps the most impressive change that has occurred is the introduction of a dual chipset design to the OnePlus Watch 2 as well as the allowance of third-party apps on the device. Thanks to the dual chipset, the watch can run two operating systems: Wear OS and the original RTOS software of the OnePlus watch. Essentially, this system allows the watch to perform simpler operations via RTOS and more complex programs via Wear OS, while seamlessly switching between the two.
The downside to this is an increased price from $159 to $300, which the developers say is a fair adjustment given the amount of work and technology put into the new watch. Only time will tell if the changes OnePlus has made to the next generation of watches are enough to entice customers to give the OnePlus Watch 2 a chance.
The Humane AI Pin was released with a delay
MWC is one of the most important ways for developers to show the potential future of technology, and there are few things as futuristic as the Humane AI pin. This little piece of technology aims to make the screen a thing of the past and eliminate all the distractions of a smartphone. The result is a simple, elegant piece of hardware that attaches to the chest.
MWC 2024 gave people the chance to finally get their hands on the device and see what it’s capable of, and the results were initially amazing, but the question still remains as to whether this little pin will be the 700th dollars is worth. The Pin has plenty of smart auxiliary commands, but a small camera can easily describe what it sees and offer breakdowns and suggestions based on what’s in front of it.
However, there are some concerns. Namely, that the barebones features may be more of a hindrance than a help. For example, the method of viewing photos on the device seems more cumbersome than it needs to be. Time will tell whether this minimalist approach to AI is enough to attract crowds.
TCL launches five new affordable phones
If you’re looking for a cheaper phone, TCL has just unveiled new devices in its “50 Series,” five of which are coming to the U.S. and will cost less than $250 each. TCL may not have the same name recognition as the other phones on our best budget phones list, but they consistently make phones that are more than adequate.
The first phone to launch will be the TCL 50 XL 5G, available in the second quarter of 2024 from Metro by T-Mobile for the low price of $159. This phone has a 6.78-inch screen, a reasonable camera configuration and 6GB of RAM. At the same time, TCL will also release the $229 TCL 50 XL NXTPAPER 5G, the first phone in the US to utilize TCL’s NXTPAPER 3.0 display.
Also available in the third quarter are the TCL 50 XE 5G and TCL 50 XE NXTPAPER 5G, which will cost $149 and $199, respectively. Finally the ultra-affordable option comes in the form of the TCL 50 LE. The price of this phone is around $99 and it will be available at an as-yet-unspecified date later this year.
Although the prices obviously mean these phones don’t have the same performance and AI capabilities as the bigger brands, they’re perfect for anyone who just wants a perfectly good phone at a reasonable price.
