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Weird technologies we saw at MWC 2025

Efe Udin

March 15, 2025

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Mobile World Congress 2025 once again brought a wave of cutting-edge innovations, including smartphones, but not all of them made perfect sense. Some devices left attendees excited about the future, while others sparked confusion about their practicality. Companies often use MWC to showcase experimental technology, some of which will never make it to market.

This year, we saw a mix of strange form factors, unexpected use cases, and futuristic but questionable ideas. While some of these devices might eventually find their place in consumer tech, others could end up as one-off concepts that fade into obscurity.

What makes technology “weird” at MWC? Sometimes, it’s about solving a problem no one really had, while other times, it’s about an unusual implementation of existing technology. A device can also feel odd simply because it looks too futuristic to be believable. Whether they are useful or not, these five devices stood out as some of the most unusual innovations at the event.

Weird Technologies At MWC 2025

1. Xiaomi’s modular camera lenses

Xiaomi surprised attendees with a modular camera concept featuring attachable lenses connected via pogo pins. The idea is to let users swap out different lenses, much like on professional cameras, but for a smartphone. In theory, this could bring DSLR-like versatility to mobile photography. However, it raises several questions about durability, ease of use, and whether everyday consumers would actually want to carry multiple lenses.

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Modular phones have been attempted before, most notably by Motorola with its Moto Mods and LG with its ill-fated G5. Both failed to gain traction, largely because users prefer an all-in-one design rather than dealing with detachable accessories. Xiaomi’s implementation may be more refined, but the idea of physically attaching lenses to a phone feels cumbersome. The company hasn’t confirmed whether this will become a commercial product, but it remains one of the more unusual camera innovations we’ve seen.

2. Mudra Link gesture control wristband

Gesture control has been a recurring theme in futuristic tech, but Mudra Link takes it a step further. This wristband uses neural signals to let users control devices with hand movements. The demo at MWC showcased people adjusting volume, playing a virtual violin, and even controlling an Apple TV—all without touching anything.

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The concept is undeniably futuristic, but it also raises practical concerns. How accurate is the technology in real-world conditions? Will users need to train the device extensively? Perhaps most importantly, is this any better than using voice commands or a simple button press? While gesture control has applications in accessibility and virtual reality, it remains to be seen whether it can replace traditional input methods for everyday use.

3. Honor’s robotic hand

One of the weird technologies we saw at MWC 2025 isthe Honor robotic hand. Honor showcased an AI-powered robotic hand called Paxini, which can mimic human movements in real time. The device includes a camera that tracks a user’s gestures and replicates them, creating an interactive experience. While the underlying technology is impressive, the actual purpose of the device remains unclear.

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Could it be used for remote interaction, accessibility, or even gaming? Honor didn’t provide a clear answer, which adds to the mystery surrounding it. While robotic limbs have clear medical applications, a robotic hand designed purely for mirroring gestures seems like a solution in search of a problem. It’s an interesting demonstration of AI and robotics, but whether it will evolve into a practical product remains uncertain.

4. Humane’s AI Pin wearable assistant

Humane showcased its Ai Pin, a wearable assistant designed to replace smartphones for certain tasks. The small, clip-on device projects an interactive display onto a user’s hand and responds to voice commands. Unlike smartwatches, it doesn’t have a physical screen and instead relies on a combination of AI-driven voice input and gesture recognition.

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While the concept is futuristic, it raises concerns about usability. Interacting with projected images on your palm seems less intuitive than using a touchscreen, and voice commands are often unreliable in noisy environments. Additionally, AI-driven assistants have struggled with accuracy, which could limit the device’s practicality. Despite these challenges, the Ai Pin represents an attempt to rethink mobile computing, even if its real-world appeal remains uncertain.

5. Samsung’s foldable gaming console

Samsung Display introduced a prototype for a handheld gaming console with a foldable OLED screen. The device looked like a cross between a traditional gaming handheld and the company’s foldable phones, with a central hinge allowing it to fold in half. Unlike most gaming devices, which have a fixed screen size, this concept allows for a more compact design when folded and a larger screen when open.

Source: Sammobile

At first glance, this might seem like a big step for handheld gaming. Yet, the model was just a screen idea, not a full gaming tool. Samsung did not show any real gaming parts or apps on the device. This makes us wonder if it’s meant to be a real device or just a way to show off its folding screen tech.

Another point is whether gamers even want a foldable device. Handheld systems like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch have done well without bendy screens, and strength is still a worry. The extra cost of a foldable screen might not make sense if normal screens work fine. Until Samsung or another firm makes a real model that can handle games, this stays a cool but not useful thought.

Conclusion

These are the weird technologies at MWC 2025, at least the ones we saw. No doubt, MWC 2025 had lots of cool tech, but some gadgets stood out for being very odd. From phone parts that can be changed to robot arms and screens that fold in three ways, firms keep trying new shapes and ways to use them. While some of these ideas might turn into common items, others may stay as tests that never catch on.

The vibe of MWC is such that not all gadgets we see will hit the shops, but that’s part of its appeal. It’s a spot where firms test the limits, even if some ideas seem odd or not needed. Whether these techs become daily tools or not, they show the field’s push to create—sometimes in ways that make us wonder.

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