GearBrain’s Best of MWC 2025: Editor’s Choice Award Winners

Realme Ultra Concept – Interchangeable Lens for Smartphones

Realme stunned the mobile photography world with its Ultra Concept, the first smartphone with interchangeable lenses, bringing DSLR-like versatility to mobile imaging. Designed for photography enthusiasts, this concept device features an M-Mount system, offering size and focal versatility. However, for now, the lenses are tailored specifically for 3x and 10x zoom, allowing users to capture detailed shots at multiple focal lengths.

To support this new interchangeable lens system, Realme has adapted its camera app, introducing two dedicated modes for 3x and 10x zoom, alongside the standard 1x and wide-angle options. While this innovation pushes smartphone photography forward, it also presents practical challenges—users may need to adjust to handling larger, heavier lenses, which could outweigh the smartphone itself.

Since the Realme Ultra Concept is still in development, refinements are needed before it becomes a fully realized consumer product. However, with advanced computational photography enhancements and AI-powered scene optimization, this device has the potential to redefine mobile photography if it reaches mass production.

BleeqUp 4-in-1 Cycling Glasses

BleeqUp made waves at MWC 2025 with its 4-in-1 cycling glasses, designed specifically for cyclists and endurance athletes. Unlike most smart glasses that offer only 30 minutes of recording, BleeqUp’s glasses deliver an unmatched 5 hours of continuous recording, making them ideal for long rides. With support for distances up to 200km per charge—compared to most competitors' 20km limit, these glasses redefine cycling technology.

Engineered by former Lenovo, Huawei, and Xiaomi designers, BleeqUp’s cycling glasses integrate a heads-up display (HUD), AI coaching, built-in navigation, and health tracking. Cyclists can monitor real-time speed, heart rate, and performance stats, while the AI assistant provides coaching cues to optimize training. The glasses also featurea 16 MP camera and anti-shaking technology to ensure stable visuals, and a dual-speaker system that lets riders hear audio cues and surroundings clearly, improving safety and awareness on the road.

A key highlight is their dashcam functionality, which can spot debris on the road and alert riders to potential hazards. The glasses offer three control methods: touch-sensitive controls on the arm, voice activation, and a handlebar button, allowing seamless interaction while riding. Additionally, adaptive tinting technology adjusts lens transparency based on light conditions, ensuring optimal visibility at all times.

With next-level durability, intelligence, and endurance, BleeqUp’s cycling glasses have set a new standard for high-performance sports eyewear. We’ll be keeping an eye on their commercial launch and adoption among serious cyclists.

Nubia Flip 2 5G Smartphone

Nubia’s Flip 2 5G is the latest affordable 5G clamshell foldable smartphone, offering a sleek design, improved durability, and enhanced AI features. Weighing just 193g—lighter than last year’s Nubia Flip 5G (209g)—this device is engineered for portability and ease of use. It boasts a 6.9-inch foldable 120Hz AMOLED inner display and a 3-inch OLED outer notification screen, ensuring a smooth and immersive experience. The zero-gap hinge enhances durability, while the device is also drop-resistant up to 1.2 meters, adding extra toughness for everyday use.

The Nubia Flip 2 5G features a dual-camera setup, including a 50MP wide-lens rear camera and a 2MP depth sensor, delivering high-quality photography. On the front, a 32MP selfie camera ensures sharp and detailed self-portraits. The device is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7300X chipset, providing efficient 5G performance, and includes AI-driven features, such as real-time call translation and Google Gemini functionality for smart assistance.

For storage, the Flip 2 5G offers 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, catering to users looking for a balance of performance and affordability. However, the pricing has seen a significant jump from last year’s model—starting at $730, compared to the $599 price tag of the Nubia Flip 5G. While US pricing hasn’t been confirmed, it’s expected to be higher in regions like the US, UK, and Australia. Also, the Nubia Flip 2 5G comes in two colors: Night Black and Lilac Purple.

We’ll update you once the international pricing details and availability are confirmed. For now, the Nubia Flip 2 5G stands out as a lighter, more durable, and AI-enhanced foldable phone in the affordable 5G market.

Honor Watch 5 Ultra -  Excellent Battery Life (15 days)

The HONOR Watch 5 Ultra is a premium smartwatch built for fitness tracking, health monitoring, and extreme durability. Featuring a Grade 5 Titanium Alloy Case, it is both lightweight and highly durable, while the artificial sapphire glass display enhances scratch resistance and longevity. The watch’s space viewport design adds a futuristic aesthetic, making it as stylish as it is functional.

The 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display ensures vivid visuals, while the watch is powered by Magic OS, delivering a seamless and smart user experience. With advanced health-tracking features, it includes sleep tracking, blood pressure monitoring, and multi-band GPS for outdoor and fitness enthusiasts. The HONOR Watch 5 Ultra also introduces a 40M Free Diving Mode, complying with the EN13319 standard for diving accessories, making it suitable for free dives up to 40 meters.

Boasting an impressive 15-day ultra battery life, this smartwatch is designed to keep up with adventurers and athletes who need long-lasting, reliable performance. However, it is important to note that while the HONOR Watch 5 Ultra provides comprehensive health management features, it is not a medical device, and its data should be used for reference only.

With its rugged build, professional-grade tracking, and extended battery life, the HONOR Watch 5 Ultra stands out as a top-tier smartwatch for those who demand both style and endurance. This smartwatch will be available in March 2025 and does not have cellular connectivity.

Tecno Spark Slim – The Slimmest Smartphone Ever

The Tecno Spark Slim is making waves as the thinnest smartphone ever, measuring just 4.9mm thick while packing impressive performance and stunning visuals. The device features a 6.78-inch 3D curved AMOLED display with a 1.5K (1224P) resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, delivering crisp, vivid details and ultra-smooth navigation. With a peak brightness of 4500 nits, users can enjoy ultra-clear visuals even in bright sunlight, making it one of the most striking displays in its class.

Despite its ultra-slim form, the Tecno Spark Slim doesn’t compromise on power. It boasts excellent battery life and supports 45W fast charging, ensuring quick top-ups for all-day use. Its sleek and modern design and top-tier display technology make it a standout option for users who want both style and performance in a compact package.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro -  Best Innovative Design SmartPhone with Trio Camera System

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro continues Nothing’s legacy of transparent design while introducing a pro-grade photography system and enhanced performance. The phone now features a triple-camera setup, including a 50MP shake-free OIS main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP front camera with periscope zoom, delivering exceptional detail and clarity. The periscope zoom system, with its unique prism and horizontally stacked lens configuration, enables 3x optical zoom and up to 60x ultra zoom, allowing users to capture intricate details with a 0.6x to 60x zoom range and advanced macro functionality. AI-powered stabilization enhances 4K video recording, ensuring crisp, steady footage even in low-light conditions.

The 6.77-inch AMOLED display offers stunning visuals, complemented by a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth performance. Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 2 chipset, the device easily handles multitasking, gaming, and photography. The Nothing Glyph Interface remains a standout feature, providing customizable LED notifications that add a unique, interactive experience.

With an impressive 26-hour battery life, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is designed for all-day use. Running on Nothing’s clean, bloatware-free OS (Android 15), it offers a refined, fast, and seamless user experience.

The Nothing 3a Pro starts at $450 and is available on the company site in two colors. Also, works on a Bluetooth 5.4 wireless connection, dual band Wi-Fi connections (2.4 and 5 GHz), and NFC.

Lenovo Yoga Solar PC Concept - Best Eco-Friendly Laptop

At MWC 2025, Lenovo showcased a revolutionary concept laptop, the Yoga Solar Power Concept PC, marking the first laptop to integrate photovoltaic solar panels into its design. This 2-in-1 convertible laptop not only features OLED display and runs on Intel’s next-gen AI-driven chipset, but it also uses AI to enhance creativity and productivity while optimizing battery life.

The standout innovation is its solar-embedded cover, which can charge the laptop’s battery using sunlight. Additionally, the system monitors real-time power consumption, intelligently adjusting usage to extend battery life. The Yoga Solar PC is also part of Lenovo’s expanded Copilot+ AI PC lineup, offering AI-driven features like Windows Studio Effects and new NVIDIA GPU options for demanding processing tasks.

However, since this is still a concept device, there are important considerations regarding performance and durability. Typically, laptops aren’t designed to be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods due to heat concerns, which could affect internal components. It will be interesting to see how Lenovo addresses thermal management while allowing for efficient solar charging. Another potential challenge is the durability of the external solar panels, as they must withstand daily laptop use, folding, and transport.

Despite these challenges, the Yoga Solar Power Concept PC represents an exciting step toward sustainable, energy-efficient computing, making it a compelling option for remote workers, digital nomads, and eco-conscious users. We'll be keeping an eye on how Lenovo refines this concept into a viable commercial product.

XPANCEO Biosensing Smart Contact Lens

At MWC 2025, XPANCEO pushed the boundaries of wearable tech by unveiling three new prototypes of its smart contact lenses, each featuring advanced biosensing, remote power transfer, and intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring. These next-generation lenses demonstrate XPANCEO’s vision for non-invasive health tracking, augmented reality, and seamless data connectivity.

One of the standout innovations is Remote Power Transfer, which enables the smart contact lens to receive power over the air, eliminating the need for bulky external power sources. Another prototype introduces biosensing technology, capable of analyzing tear fluid to monitor glucose levels, hormones (cortisol, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, and testosterone), and essential vitamins (B1, B2, B3, E, and D), providing a comprehensive snapshot of a user’s health in real time.

XPANCEO also debuted a Smart Contact Lens with an IOP Sensor, designed as a non-invasive glaucoma management system. Using an AI-powered smartphone app, this lens provides instant, highly precise intraocular pressure measurements, allowing for early detection of glaucoma before significant vision loss occurs.

In addition to health-focused lenses, XPANCEO showcased augmented reality (AR) contact lenses that integrate a microdisplay, eliminating the need for external image sources like smart glasses or AR/VR headsets. These lenses can display notifications, navigation cues, and digital overlays directly within the wearer’s field of vision. The company also demonstrated a smart contact lens with a wireless data transmission antenna, capable of sending real-time data from the eye to a smartphone, opening new possibilities for hands-free computing and data accessibility.

While these smart contact lenses remain prototypes, XPANCEO aims to refine and develop them into commercially viable products for mass production. We’ll keep you informed as these groundbreaking innovations move closer to market availability.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Smartphone - Best New Camera Features for Smartphone

Xiaomi continues to dominate the ultra-premium smartphone market with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, bringing top-tier performance, cutting-edge AI, and a powerful camera system to the forefront. The device now features a new flat AMOLED display for crisp visuals and enhanced durability, housed in a premium ceramic back with a titanium frame. IP68-rated water and dust resistance ensures reliability in all conditions, while excellent battery life keeps users powered throughout the day.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with 16GB of RAM and storage options of 512GB or 1TB, delivers lightning-fast performance for multitasking, gaming, and professional-grade photography. The Leica-tuned quad-camera system includes a 50MP main sensor but also supports an optional 200MP telephoto lens capable of 120x zoom, providing DSLR-quality imaging for photographers who demand the best.

Running on Android 15 with Xiaomi’s new HyperOS 2, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra introduces several AI-powered features for transcription, translation, summarization, and writing suggestions, making it an excellent tool for both productivity and creativity.

The Xiaomi 15 is now available in the UK and Europe, starting at £849 (€999), while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is priced at £1,299 (€1,499). For photography enthusiasts, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra Photography Kit is available for an additional £179 (€199).

Honor Open Earbuds - Best New Open Ear Bone Conduction Earbuds

Honor introduced its Earbuds Open, designed for those who want high-quality audio while staying aware of their surroundings. These open-ear, bone conduction earbuds deliver immersive sound without completely blocking ambient noise, making them ideal for runners, cyclists, and commuters. They employ an industry-first virtual bass algorithm and dynamic bass compensation to enhance low-frequency depth while maintaining a natural and balanced sound profile.

The slim case makes them easy to carry, while AI noise reduction ensures crystal-clear calls, even in noisy environments. Users can enjoy 6 hours of playback per earbud and 22 hours with the charging case, providing all-day listening convenience. Additionally, AI translation via the Honor app enhances communication for travelers and professionals.

Pricing and availability have yet to be announced. Still, Honor’s lightweight, ergonomic design ensures these Open Earbuds will be one of the most comfortable and feature-rich open-ear options on the market.

Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro Earbuds - Best built-in immersive sound headphones

Xiaomi’s Buds 5 Pro redefine premium wireless audio with cutting-edge technology that delivers an unparalleled listening experience. These earbuds introduce Xiaomi’s first-ever dual-amplifier feature, independently driving the high and low-frequency units to reduce signal interference and enhance sound clarity and detail. Tuned by the Harman Golden Ear Team, the Buds 5 Pro deliver deep, powerful bass and a pleasing, high-fidelity sound profile. Users can customize their audio with six preset EQ settings, including two dedicated profiles for a professional, tailored listening experience.

The Buds 5 Pro also offer ultra-low 50ms latency, personalized dimensional audio, and head tracking, creating an immersive and responsive soundstage. Three microphones and an AI-based noise cancellation algorithm work together to significantly reduce background noise during calls, ensuring crystal-clear communication even in noisy environments. A built-in audio recording feature enhances functionality, while AI translation and transcription serve as an on-demand professional business assistant.

Connectivity is cutting-edge, featuring Bluetooth 5.4 for seamless pairing. Xiaomi also introduces its first-ever Wi-Fi-enabled earbuds, the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi, offering a more stable and high-fidelity connection—currently exclusive to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, with support for more devices via future OTA updates. The Wi-Fi version is available only in Black, while the standard Buds 5 Pro come in Ceramic White or Titan Gray.

Battery life remains impressive, with 40 hours of total playback using the charging case and fast wireless charging that delivers six hours of playback in just 10 minutes. The Buds 5 Pro retail for £159.99 (about $200 or AU$325) in White or Gray, while the Buds 5 Pro Wi-Fi are priced at £189.99 (around $240 or AU$385).