Chinese Phone Makers Set to "Blow Up" MWC2025: Imaging and AI Take Center Stage

Chinese Phone Makers Set to "Blow Up" MWC2025: Imaging and AI Take Center StageMarch is always the busiest time of year for the mobile phone market. On the one hand, post-back-to-school season sees a surge in student demand for new phones

Chinese Phone Makers Set to "Blow Up" MWC2025: Imaging and AI Take Center Stage

March is always the busiest time of year for the mobile phone market. On the one hand, post-back-to-school season sees a surge in student demand for new phones. On the other hand, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) takes place in March, providing a platform for global phone manufacturers to unveil new products and showcase the latest technologies. MWC2025 is no exception. Realme, Meizu, Xiaomi, and Honor have already announced press conferences during MWC2025. Realme will launch its first interchangeable-lens flagship concept phone, while Meizu will introduce the Meizu 22 series and other new products. Lei Technology's MWC reporting team will provide firsthand coverage from the event. In addition to these manufacturers, Huawei and vivo will also release flagship phones in March. Manufacturers are pulling out all the stops to secure a strong start to the first quarter. So, what are the highlights of these new phones? Let's take a closer look.

Since its inception in 1995, MWC has been a stage for phone manufacturers to showcase new technologies, such as Huawei's Mate X foldable phone, LG's Wing rotating screen phone, and OnePlus 11's water-cooled version. Some of these products have gone into mass production, while others remain in the conceptual stage. So, what remarkable products will emerge at this year's MWC?

I. Nothing Phone (3a) Series: Design-First, Following the Imaging and AI Trend

Nothing Technology announced a small-scale new product launch during MWC2025 (March 4th), releasing two new mid-range 'a' series phones the Nothing Phone (3a) and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. Both phones continue the transparent back design of their predecessors, with three independent Glyph light strips surrounding the camera module. Notably, both phones feature a triple-camera setup, including wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto lenses. An official unboxing video shows that the (3a) Pro's telephoto lens uses a periscope design. (Source: Nothing)

In terms of specifications, the Nothing Phone (3a) is expected to feature a 6.8-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate; a battery capacity of up to 5000mAh with 45W fast charging. The most unique feature is a mysterious independent button on the right side of the phone. Overseas bloggers, after disassembling the Nothing OS 3.0 system, revealed that this button supports quick voice memo recording, AI assistant activation, execution of AI tasks, and offers different functions in various scenarios, such as acting as a shutter button when taking photos.

Nothing Phone has always been popular among tech enthusiasts, mainly due to its excellent design and unconventional style. There are reports that Nothing is preparing to re-enter the Chinese mainland market, and the Nothing Phone (3a) series, debuting at MWC, will also be launched simultaneously in mainland China. This explains why Nothing is debuting a periscope telephoto lens and an independent AI button on this mid-range model.

II. Meizu Note 22 Series: AI Full Ecosystem's First Overseas Debut

Starke Meizu announced that it will showcase its AI full-ecosystem family products at MWC2025, including the Meizu 21 series, which has been on the Chinese market for over a year, and the Meizu StarV AI glasses. More importantly, Meizu will also launch the Meizu Note 22 series for the overseas market at this exhibition for the first time. Official announcements show that the new phones will include the Meizu Note 22, Meizu Note 22 Pro, Meizu Blue 22, and Meizu Blue 22 Pro. The Note and Blue series are both mid-range models. (Source: Starke Meizu)

According to leaks, the Meizu Note 22 and Meizu Note 22 Pro both focus on long battery life and ultra-narrow bezel designs. The former features a 5570mAh battery, while the latter boasts a 6000mAh battery. The Meizu Note 22 Pro is likely to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 mobile platform, while the Meizu Note 22 will feature the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 mobile platform. Posters show that the design style of these new phones differs from Meizu's previous style. The model with a ring flash in the poster is likely the Meizu Note 22, while the model with a triple-camera setup is likely the Meizu Note 22 Pro. There's also a single-camera model in the poster, which is expected to be the Meizu Blue 22 and Meizu Blue 22 Pro. The Blue series may be exclusive to the overseas market.

Starke Meizu's high-profile participation in MWC2025 aims to showcase its Flyme AI ecosystem and release several new phones targeting the overseas market, attracting attention from international consumers. Meizu officials also stated that there will be more good news regarding the true flagship Meizu 22 in March.

III. Realme 1-Inch Sensor Concept Phone: Interchangeable Lens, Supporting Lossless Zoom

Realme announced it will launch a new imaging flagship phone at MWC2025. Teaser posters reveal that this phone will feature an ultra-large 1-inch sensor, with only one lens. According to leaks, this new phone not only boasts an ultra-large sensor but also features an interchangeable lens design.

As is well known, due to physical limitations such as internal space and flange distance, mobile phones typically only have non-interchangeable fixed-focus lenses. This is why phone manufacturers strive for more lenses to cover a wider range of focal lengths. (Source: Realme)

Realme's new phone uses an interchangeable lens design, meaning that lossless zoom can be achieved through external zoom lenses. Official sample images show that this zoom lens supports up to 120x zoom. Based on the commonly used 24mm main camera on current phones, the furthest focal length can reach 2880mm.

Many phone manufacturers have designed imaging flagships with interchangeable lenses. The most controversial example is Xiaomi's publicly revealed Xiaomi 12 Ultra prototype, which even used an M43 sensor, 0.3 inches larger than the 1-inch sensors currently used in phones. However, this design is difficult to mass-produce in the short term, as it involves a series of issues including lens groups, algorithms, and supporting services.

IV. MWC2025: A "Big Test" for Phone Manufacturers

MWC2025 is a "big test" for phone manufacturers, and the leaked new phones and technologies are already impressive. In addition to Xiaomi, Nothing, and Realme, which have already revealed details, Honor will also announce its Honor Alpha AI strategy at its press conference.

V. Huawei Dual-Foldable Phone: The "Only True God" Launching in March?

Currently, there are not many manufacturers releasing new phones in March, and those primarily targeting overseas markets are even more attractive. However, Richard Yu previously revealed in a live stream that Huawei will hold a press conference in March, expected to release the highly anticipated Pocket 3 small foldable phone.

As the latest member of the Pocket series, the Pocket 3's biggest highlight is its all-around upgrade: performance, imaging, and structural stability. In terms of performance, the Pocket 3 is expected to be equipped with the same chip as the Mate 70 series. While many people expect a more powerful Kirin chip, considering the Pocket 3's positioning and market demand, the Mate 70's chip is more appropriate.

In terms of imaging, Huawei will "downwardly integrate" the highly acclaimed Red Maple imaging technology from the Mate 70 series into the Pocket 3, enhancing color reproduction and delivering a more vivid visual experience. However, due to the body limitations of small foldable phones, the imaging hardware upgrades on the Pocket 3 will not be as luxurious as other high-end models.

The Pocket 3's biggest advantage lies in its hinge and body structure. The previous generation Pocket 2 already used the industry-leading Xuanwu water drop hinge, almost eliminating all structural gaps and improving flatness by 62%. This technology not only makes the phone flatter but also improves its drop resistance and durability. Therefore, the Pocket 3 will likely continue to optimize this aspect, making the hinge more robust and the overall user experience smoother. (Source: Huawei)

In addition to the Pocket 3, Richard Yu also mentioned that Huawei will launch a phone with a "new form factor." According to reports, this is a small horizontal foldable phone with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This phone has a unique screen ratio and size, with a 3.5-inch external screen and a 6.3-inch unfolded screen. This means that whether folded or unfolded, this phone fits the definition of a "small-screen flagship". (Source: Weibo)

This new form factor phone will be equipped with the native HarmonyOS, marking the beginning of HarmonyOS ecosystem compatibility with more smart