What we learned from Mobile World Congress 2019

This year’s Mobile World Congress, held last week in Barcelona, presented a treasure trove of developments that could bring gaming across the globe into a whole new dimension. Here are some of the most exciting announcements in mobile tech evolution.

Longer battery life

Since mobile gaming began, it has been hindered by the restrictions of battery life and phones too powerful to sustain themselves for any length of time. But Energizer’s Power Max P18K Pop promises batteries that last an entire week. Imagine the freedom of being undisturbed by the dwindling percentages in the corner of your screen. Granted, the mobile is somewhat bricklike in size and heft, but it’s certainly a window into a future worth seeing. 

Folding screens

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold opens out to the size of a tablet, allowing you to watch films, play games, browse the net or multitask by using three apps at the same time. All this, and (unlike the Note) you can still fit it in your pocket. On the other hand, Huawei’s futuristic phone has used the folding technology differently by wrapping the screen around the outside of the device. When closed the mobile has two screens, one on the front and one on the back, or alternatively, when unfolded it has one big, seamless 8-inch screen, ideal for any sort of gaming.

5G internet

Web speeds are set to get a whole lot faster with the introduction of 5G – hailed as the next big thing – which is great news for gamers who have had to suffer from lag on their high-res graphics. This kind of tech will open up to door to a whole new generation of games, and will even help enable self-driving cars and other smart devices, giving us almost instantaneous access to information (providing we can get the signal).

Intuitive smartphone cases

Another unexpected advancement comes in the form of smartphone accessories. LG announced that the V50 ThinQ can be purchased with Dual Screen, which, when attaching to your phone, can double your display. On top of providing an optional keyboard, the second screen can be used as a games controller, meaning less clunky play and more room on your screen.

Augmented reality

Microsoft’s Hololens 2 allows you to have a virtual display superimposed over the real world, allowing you to seek DIY instructions and keep your hands free. What this means for the world of immersive gaming, and whether this will overtake straight virtual reality, one can only imagine.

The editorial unit