World Mobile Congress: Nokia rehashes iconic mobiles; Samsung tabs unveiled

Barcelona is playing host to Mobile World Congress this year

Mobile World Congress kicked off on Sunday, with companies including BlackBerry, LG, Nokia and Samsung unveiling details on the latest smartphones and tablets. Barcelona is playing host to this event. 

Once upon a time, Electronics giant Samsung would announce many new launches, however, due to Note 7 fiasco that caused a loss of consumer trust, wiping out $5.3 billion of operating profit, the company refrained from releasing any smartphone. Nokia, on the other hand, decided to go back time. Its relaunch of Nokia 3310 “candy bar” phone was a throwback, according to India Today.

Nokia at Mobile World Congress

The Nokia 6 has 5.5-in fullHD screen. Its shell is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium. It has smart audio amplifier with dual speakers and it supports Dolby Atmos. It is available in four colours Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper. The Nokia 6 will retail at an average global retail price of Euros 229. Also, there is a Nokia 6 ARTE version, with piano black finish. The special version of Nokia 6 also has 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. It has 3GB of RAM, 32GB of storage along with microSD expansion and a 3,000 mAh battery. Nokia 6 will be priced at Euros 299. 

The Nokia 5 is a smaller phone but very similar to the Nokia 6.The device comes with a 5.2 display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 3,000 mAh battery. The rear camera is a 13MP shooter, while the front is a wide angle 8MP sensor. it is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor. "Available in four colours -- Matte Black, Silver, Tempered Blue and Copper -- the Nokia 5 will retail at an average global retail price of Euros 189," said Nokia.

The Nokia 3 has a 5-inch screen and has 8-megapixel cameras on both front and back. It has a metal frame but plastic body. The smallest of the trio is the Nokia 3, and similarly, has watered-down specifications. Unlike the Nokia 6 and Nokia 5 which are made entirely of aluminum, the Nokia 3 features an aluminum frame and a poly-carbonate back. It will cost Euros 139.

Nokia 3310

Nokia also took to stage to announce the refreshed Nokia 3310. This is still a feature phone, with a 2.4 QVGA colour display, dual-SIM capabilities, micro-USB port, Bluetooth 3.0 and microSD card support up to 32GB. It has a bigger display. And it has 22 hours of talk time, 10 times more than what the original. The purpose here was to re-imagine a classic Nokia product and hopefully bring people on board the new Nokia by relying on past experiences and memories. The Nokia 3310 will retail for $53.

Samsung Electronics at Mobile World Congress

Electronics giant Samsung revealed its two new tablets at the mega mobile show and also shared a teaser video. There are a ton of new phone announcements coming out of Mobile World Congress, but Samsung isn't unveiling the Galaxy S8 until March 29, 2017.

Galaxy Tab S3

* The Android based, 9.7-inch, Galaxy Tab S3, like its predecessor, features a QXGA, 9.7-inch Super AMOLED display. The tab comes with quad speakers, tuned by AKG. The quad speakers’ output auto-rotates to accommodate landscape or portrait viewing and battery life and frame rate per second (FPS) are both substantially improved from that of the S2.

* Galaxy Tab S3 Options include a linked keyboard and a new, improved 0.7mm, rubber tipped, S-Pen, which no longer requires a battery. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, the Tab S3 is cellular network (LTE) capable for connectivity on the move

* On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Book is expected to be a new, much improved version of the Galaxy Tab Pro S, with enough enhancements to warrant a new naming structure. The device is expected to sport a 12.0-inch display along with a 2,160 x 1,440, AMOLED screen. The Galaxy Book is expected to feature 8 GB of RAM, double that of the Tab Pro S, and a redesigned, backlit keyboard, with a larger mousepad and more space to rest one’s palms when typing.

* The keyboard connection on the Galaxy Book is expected to be revamped, making it easier to shift from slate to connected and back again. The Book may boast of longer battery life (reportedly 10 hours) and expandable storage. The Book units may also ship with keyboard and S-Pen in the box, as part of the standard package. For users wanting cellular connectivity, a single click on Samsung Flow may enable hotspot capability for those with a Samsung phone.

* Just like its predecessor, features a QXGA, 9.7-inch Super AMOLED display but this model sports a glass back with its metal frame. The unit is HDR ready, through its mobile Digital Natural Image engine (mDNIe) and it incorporates quad speakers, tuned by AKG. The quad speakers’ output auto-rotates to accommodate landscape or portrait viewing and battery life and frame rate per second (FPS) are both substantially improved from that of the S2.

Galaxy Book

* Samsung claimed that the Book is for users who wants an uncompromising experience. The Book will run Windows operating system (Windows 10)

* Samsung galaxy Book looks like a much improved version of the Galaxy Tab Pro S

* The 12.0-inch, 2,160 x 1,440, AMOLED screen is familiar but this model now features 8 GB of RAM, double that of the Tab Pro S, and a redesigned, backlit keyboard, with a larger mousepad.

* The Book weighs just 754 grammes

* The Galaxy Book comes with 7th-generation Intel i5 processor. In terms of storage, the Book comes with 256GB of internal storage

* Battery has fast charging too.

In past years, the trade fair was the scene of major Samsung launches. This year, however, Samsung postponed the presentation of its next major handset.

No announcements about the price and availability of the Tab S3 or the Book.