MWC 2025 followed its usual course, with brands showing off their latest and greatest. Honor unveiled a new smartwatch with incredible battery life and Samsung showcased a wild gaming-focused foldable handset. While we saw some of the best products of MWC 2025, beyond the big announcements, some quirky yet fun gadgets caught my attention. Here are the weird yet awesome gadgets I spent time with at MWC 2025.
7
Xiaomi Buds Pro 5 with Wi-Fi for lossless audio
Earbuds that ditch Bluetooth for even better sound quality
Wireless earbuds are incredibly convenient. However, if you’re an audiophile, you know how Bluetooth compression can ruin sound quality. Since Bluetooth has a limited data bandwidth, listening to lossless audio on wireless earbuds has never been ideal. That’s where Xiaomi Buds Pro 5 Wi-Fi comes in.
Unveiled at MWC 2025, these earbuds ditch Bluetooth for Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing for lossless audio streaming. Instead of compressing audio, they rely on Wi-Fi for faster, uncompressed data transfer. Xiaomi says the Buds Pro 5 (Wi-Fi) supports 4.2Mbps bandwidth and can stream 24-bit/96kHz lossless audio. Qualcomm’s S7 Pro chipset, which has the XPAN technology under the hood to transmit audio over Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, makes this possible.
The only catch? These earbuds only work with the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra for Wi-Fi audio, though Xiaomi says support for more devices is coming. They still work when paired with a Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel, but only over Bluetooth. Even so, Xiaomi proved that wireless earbuds don’t have to sacrifice sound quality.
6
Xiaomi 15 concept phone with a magnetically attached camera lens
Is this the future of smartphone photography?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, the company’s Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra competitor, takes smartphone photography to the next level, but it seems Xiaomi isn’t stopping there. At MWC 2025, the company showcased a custom Xiaomi 15 concept with a magnetic camera lens attachment.
The concept device features a Qi2-style magnetic ring on the back, allowing users to snap on Xiaomi’s proprietary Modular Optical System (MOS) on the back. The phone has two-pin connectors above the magnetic ring that hold the lens in place and provide 10Gbps high-speed data transfer. When attached, the phone automatically detects the MOS lens, allowing users to switch to it as the primary camera sensor.
The MOS is a 100MP Light Fusion X Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is larger than a standard smartphone sensor. It features a variable aperture up to f/11 and manual focus with haptic feedback. While we didn’t fully test it, the brief hands-on session at MWC showed the potential for future smartphones to move beyond built-in camera sensors and adopt modular, DSLR-style lenses.
5
Realme Ultra brings DSLR-like lenses to smartphones
An interchangeable-lens phone with an even bigger sensor
Xiaomi wasn’t the only brand experimenting with DSLR-like cameras at MWC 2025. BBK-owned Realme showcased its concept phone, called Realme Ultra, which takes mobile photography to an entirely different level.
Unlike Xiaomi’s magnetic attachment system, Realme Ultra features an external mount that attaches over the phone’s camera module. The phone is packed with powerful sensors, including a 1-inch Sony CMOS sensor, an ultra-wide Sony IMX890, and a periscope Sony IMX989. With an adapter, users can mount interchangeable lenses using a Leica M mount to the phone, turning it into a true DSLR-like smartphone.
Realme demoed two lenses for this device: a 73mm lens that can go up to 3x zoom and a 234mm lens that supports up to 10x zoom. With the full setup attached, Realme’s Ultra concept looked more like a DSLR than a smartphone. While it’s still a concept, I hope Realme turns this into a commercial product because we’ve never seen anything like it.
4
Lenovo ThinkBook Flip concept is a laptop with a vertically folding screen
Bringing the foldable form factor beyond smartphones
Foldable smartphones are becoming more common, and companies are experimenting with foldable displays in other devices. Samsung showcased a massive 18.1-inch foldable OLED at CES 2025. At MWC 2025, Lenovo brought the foldable form factor to laptops with the ThinkBook Flip concept.
The ThinkBook Flip works exactly as it sounds. It has an outward-folding screen that transforms into a large vertical display when fully unfolded. Lenovo demonstrated several use cases at MWC, including sharing the screen with someone across the table without turning the laptop, using the top half of the foldable display in a tilted position to watch content, and watching short-form videos.
The only downside of this concept is that, since the foldable screen folds outward, it’s always exposed, making durability a concern for everyday use. Lenovo hasn’t confirmed whether a commercial version of this concept is in the works, but it was one of the more interesting devices showcased at MWC 2025.
3
HMD Amped Buds are wireless earbuds whose case doubles as a wireless charger
A case that keeps your buds powered and charges your phone, too
One of the first companies to hold an event at MWC 2025 was HMD, which showcased something truly unique. While the company unveiled its Fusion X1 smartphone, designed for teen and child safety, it also introduced its new wireless earbuds called the HMD Amped Buds.
At first glance, the Amped Buds look like any other wireless earbuds. They feature an in-ear design, silicone ear tips, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and USB-C charging. Still, the real standout feature is the charging case. This charging case packs a 1,600mAh battery, which powers the earbuds and features magnets on the back, allowing you to attach it to your phone and use it as a wireless charger.
While 1,600mAh isn’t enough to fully charge a modern Android phone, it could be a lifesaver in emergencies. The HMD Amped Buds are priced at £180 in the UK and €200 in Europe. HMD hasn’t announced US pricing or availability yet. We’ll keep you posted if and when they do.
HMD Amped Buds
The HMD Amped Buds come with a standard set of features you’d expect from wireless earbuds but stand out with a massive 1,600mAh charging case that can wirelessly top up other devices.
2
Aurzen Zip is a trifolding projector that fits in your pocket
A compact, portable projector you can take anywhere
Most projectors are bulky, stationary devices that stay in one place for weeks, unless you need to move them. However, Aurzen is changing that with its Zip trifolding projector, showcased at MWC 2025.
When closed, the Aurzen Zip measures 3.1 x 3.1 x 1 inches and weighs around 300 grams, making it small enough to fit in your pocket or backpack. When you’re ready to use it, unfold it and adjust the hinge, which is sturdy enough to tilt and angle the projector how you like. The device also has a suction cup and mounting stand, making placement even easier.
Feature-wise, the Aurzen Zip can project an 80-inch display at HD resolution. It doesn’t have built-in software, so it relies on casting for full functionality. As for battery life, Aurzen promises 1.5 hours of playback, which can be extended to 4.5 hours with the stand. The Aurzen Zip is available on Kickstarter, but the company plans to bring it to market in the next two months for $399.
1
Huawei Watch D2 is a smartwatch that monitors blood pressure on the go
A smartwatch that measures blood pressure like a medical device
Huawei may not dominate the smartphone market like it once did. Still, the company makes some of the best wearables. At MWC 2025, Huawei showcased the Huawei Watch D2, a smartwatch that looks ordinary at first glance but comes with a game-changing health feature: blood pressure monitoring.
Blood pressure tracking on smartwatches isn’t new. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch series has offered it since the Galaxy Watch 3, but the Huawei Watch D2 takes things further. Instead of relying on a PPG sensor like Samsung, the Watch D2 features an inflatable strap with a mini air pump, like a medical-grade blood pressure cuff, resulting in more accurate readings.
Another advantage of the Huawei Watch D2 is that it works with any Android or iOS device, unlike Samsung’s BP tracking, which requires a Galaxy phone.
Beyond blood pressure tracking, the Huawei Watch D2 is a fully functional smartwatch. It features a 1.82-inch AMOLED display, a durable aluminum alloy build, and IP68 dust and water resistance. Its battery lasts up to six days on a single charge. The Huawei Watch D2 is available in the UK for £349.99, though there’s no word on a US release.
MWC 2025 had a lot to showcase
MWC 2025 once again delivered some of the most exciting tech of the year, and this isn’t all of it. Tecno showcased its new AI glasses, featuring a built-in screen and AI functionality. Even though many of the devices mentioned above are still concepts, they give us a clear idea of where the tech industry is headed, and it’s looking more exciting than ever.
