MWC 2015: news and reviews from the biggest phone show of the year

MWC is quite possibly the biggest yearly event in the mobile world. At MWC 2014 for example we saw the Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 and a plethora of other smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.
MWC 2015 is expected to be every

bit as big and there are plenty of rumblings of what might be on show. It's still only the press day, and we've already seen the launch of big-name handsets including the HTC One M9, Samsung Galaxy S6 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge in Barcelona.
They are showstoppers on their own, but there are lots of other things going on in the mobile world too. Here's what we know so far.
Latest updates: It looks like the Sony Xperia Z4 and LG G4 will not be at MWC, but Microsoft could have big plans as it's announced a press conference.

• 10 reasons why the Galaxy S6 Edge is a better buy than the regular S6
• Material worlds: Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Samsung Galaxy S5
• Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6
• Battle of the bruisers: HTC One M9 vs Samsung Galaxy S6
• Here's where you can buy the Samsung Galaxy S6
• Samsung brings better virtual reality to the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge
• Samsung Pay emerges from the shadows to take on Apple Pay
• Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge bring back the premium look
• Hands on: Huawei Talkband N1
• Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
• Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S6
• Hands on: Alcatel Idol 3
• HTC One M9 vs HTC One M8
• Hands on with the HTC One M9
• We test out HTC's debut wearable, the HTC Grip
• HTC and Valve have joined forces in the name of virtual reality
• Huawei launches the most beautiful smartwatch yet
• Hands on with Huawei's Talkband B2
• Hands on: LG G Watch Urbane
• Hands on: LG G Watch Urbane LTE

HTC

Well, it's over, and what a show it was. Not only did HTC reveal the expected HTC One M9, complete with its dazzling design and 20MP snapper, but it also rolled out the HTC Grip, its debut wearable.
As the rumours had suggested, the Grip is all about fitness, and we've already taken it for a spin.
But that wasn't the biggest news of all - oh no. As a nice surprise, HTC announced it has partnered with Valve for a high-end virtual reality headset called the HTC Vive.
You might expect this to be a mobile affair, but the Vive is eschewing the smartphone in the name of high-powered VR, and we can't wait to wrap one around our faces.

Samsung

Samsung returned to MWC last year with a bang, launching the Galaxy S5 at the show after shunning it in 2013, opting instead for a standalone launch for its Galaxy S4.
The Korean firm has launched two blockbuster mobiles at MWC 2015, and we've gone hands-on with them both. The Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge both impress in their own distinct ways and sport eye-catching, premium designs.

• Samsung Galaxy S6 release date, news and rumors

It also looks a lot like Samsung is working on a curved screened variant of its next flagship dubbed the Galaxy S Edge, so keep an eye out for that, as the bendy line on Samsung's invite strongly suggests it will be present.
Want more? Good, because rumblings about new tablets and a circular smartwatch have also been spotted in the run up to MWC 2015.

We could see more Tizen smartphones at MWC 2015

And let's not forget about Samsung's own mobile operating system, Tizen, which has finally seen its first handset go on sale in the form of the Z1 and we could see more in Barcelona.

Sony

It's looking increasing unlikely that we'll be seeing the Sony Xperia Z4 at MWC 2015, with multiple rumors now pointing to a launch later in the year.
That's further supported by reports from Xperia Blog that Sony won't have a formal press conference at MWC.

• Sony Xperia Z4 release date, news and rumors

Sony will have a booth at the show and we're bound to see something from the company.
For one thing we're due an update to the 10.1-inch Xperia Z2 Tablet, plus there's a chance we'll see another Android Wear smartwatch to join the SmartWatch 3 in Sony's ranks, and there's always the possibility of some new mid-range handsets.

LG

Another possible flagship? Well, no. Not by the looks of it. Like Sony, it appears LG will hold the launch of its LG G4 until later in the year, avoiding the flurry of announcements which will be made in Barcelona.
Last year the LG G3 was launched at its own unique event in London, and with a potentially crowded line up of new devices at MWC it makes sense for the Korean firm to do its own thing afterwards.

• LG G4 release date, news and rumors

LG has already launched three Android Wear smartwatches, and we got our hands on the LG G Watch Urbane and G Watch Urbane LTE in Barecelona. We'd say LG probably won't roll out another at the show - but we're not ruling it out completely.

Microsoft

Last year Nokia caused a storm at MWC by launching handsets running a heavily modified version of Google's Android operating system.
The sad news is Nokia is unlikely to be at MWC 2015, and if it is its presence will be much, much smaller. On a positive note Microsoft will be taking over what was the Nokia booth, exuding all things Lumia and Windows Phone.
In fact it's doing one better, because as well as having a booth Microsoft has also announced a press conference for March 2.

There's not a huge amount of news regarding exactly what will be on show, but it's been a while since the flagship Nokia Lumia 930 was launched, so it's about time for a new hero for the Windows Phone brand.

The Lumia 930 is beginning to show its age

Talk about a successor to the 41MP Nokia Lumia 1020 refuses to die down, so we'll be on the lookout for another powerful cameraphone too. Then again there are also reports that Microsoft won't bring out any major new hardware until later in the year.
So what will the press conference be about? Our guess is more Windows 10 for phones information, coupled perhaps with some mid-range or low-end handset announcements.
We're also hearing mutterings that Microsoft may be readying a new wearable which could be shown off in Barcelona.

Huawei

Huawei kicked things off with a handful of new devices, including the second generation of its fitness wearable, the Huawei Talkband B2. It also announced what is quite possibly the most beautiful Android Wear smartwatch yet.
If you're more interested in tech that's bonkers rather than beautiful (or perhaps both), the Huawei Talkband N1 has been outed in the form of an innovative bluetooth headset that doubles up as a hippie necklace when not in use. Cool, man.
However it wasn't just about the wearables, as we got our hands on the new Huawei Y635 smartphone. It's cheap and cheerful, with a good spec to cost ratio.

Honor

The breakout brand from Chinese firm Huawei launched its impressive Honor 6 smartphone in the second half of 2014 alongside the entry level Honor 3C - and it's returning with three new devices at MWC 2015.

That's all the details we have for now, with the invite for the Honor press conference in Barcelona giving little else away. Prepare yourself for a trio of low cost, high spec handsets though.

Oppo, ZTE, OnePlus and others

You can be sure that the likes of Oppo and ZTE will be bringing their own arsenal of mobile devices to Barcelona and there will be plenty to see from the slightly more fringe players of the mobile market.
TechRadar will be out in force at MWC 2015 to bring you all the latest as it happens, so make sure you bookmark this page.