Technologies

MWC Is Where Cutting-Edge Phones Shine. Too Bad You’ll Probably Never Buy Them

Commentary: The mobile industry doesn’t suffer from a lack of innovation, but from a lack of mass adoption of fresh designs.

For years, people have decried the monotony of smartphone design. With each annual release, companies tend to recycle the same features — when they’re not borrowing from each other — with minimal upgrades and hardly any aesthetic changes, resulting in an uninspiring sea of sameness and predictability.

That’s why at every tech event I’ve attended over the last several years, the most eager crowds cluster around phones that defy hardware limitations. This year’s Mobile World Congress was no exception. I wiggled my way through hordes of people pushing to get their hands on foldable, flippable and ultraslim devices.

Some of these phones are already available to purchase, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold and Huawei’s Mate XTs. Others are still concepts, like Tecno’s superthin Phantom Ultimate G Fold and its modular phone. A handful of others I saw are on the way to store shelves, like Honor’s Robot Phone and Motorola’s book-style Razr Fold.

As our smartphone options have expanded, our collective tastes have remained largely the same. Global foldable phone shipments hit a record 14% year-over-year growth in the third quarter of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. But their share of the overall smartphone market was just 2.5% that quarter, keeping foldables firmly in the niche sector. Thin handsets like Apple’s iPhone Air and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge have reportedly been underwhelming, with marketing buzz not matching up to real-world adoption. Even at a tech conference like MWC, I rarely saw attendees toting anything other than a standard slab phone.

«Just because something looks great, doesn’t mean you want it at the end of the day,» IDC Senior Research Director Nabila Popal told me in December.

Novelty and adoption remain two separate spheres in the world of mobile design. It’s refreshing to see phone manufacturers branch into more ambitious form factors, but those configurations have yet to graduate from spectacle to staple. And perhaps that’s by design; something can only be buzz-worthy if not everyone owns it. But the argument that there’s a lack of interesting phones loses merit with each passing year of hardware innovation — even if flagship devices continue to feel like copy-paste versions of their predecessors.

Much of the gap between niche phone hype and adoption boils down to their needing to be more practical. Foldables, for instance, have come a long way with improving camera quality and battery life, but they still lag behind what you’ll get on high-end flat phones. The same goes for thin phones like the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air, which have scaled back specs in exchange for lighter builds. Until sleekness can fully coexist with function, most people will keep choosing the latter.

Prices for unique phones are also prohibitive. Book-style foldables cost around $2,000, and a trifold will set you back around $3,000. Even with their more limited capabilities, slimmer and lighter phones tend to linger at the $1,000 mark.

Perhaps we’re creatures of habit. I’m guilty of this myself. After testing some of the most cutting-edge phones on the market, I always flock back to my plain old slab phones. They have everything I need — namely, great cameras and long battery life — without any frills. For most of us, one screen is more than enough for everyday tasks.

Sure, the phone in your pocket may look strikingly like the one you used 10 years ago. But does that really matter if it’s still serving you well?

It’s great that mobile companies are looking for ways to stand apart — not only from one another, but also from their existing products. And I hope they continue to push those limits and break away from more predictable designs, if only to give consumers more choices.

But until more people actually choose to branch out beyond the familiar, fresh mobile designs will remain firmly in the realm of feverish trade show fanfare and the occasional pocket.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Launches an AI Mini-Series

Verum Messenger has unveiled a new project — a mini-series created using Verum AI. The story consists of 7 episodes and will be released on the messenger’s social media channels.

The plot revolves around a global corporation seeking to take control of digital communications and a group of heroes who use Verum Messenger as a tool of resistance. Beyond the story itself, the series highlights the app’s key features, technologies, and advantages.

Combining entertainment with a showcase of the Verum ecosystem, the project presents a dynamic digital series designed for the modern era.

The first episode premieres today, with the remaining episodes to be released over time.

Stay tuned for more.

Watch on YouTube
Watch on Instagram

Technologies

Verum Finance: Earn While You Communicate — The Super App That Pays You

Verum has officially launched Verum Finance, an innovative financial application that transforms a private messenger into a true financial super app. News of the launch was also featured on the respected platform Dealroom.co.

Verum Finance can now be used both within Verum Messenger and as a standalone application for iPhone and iPad. When users sign in to Verum Finance with their Verum Messenger account, all balances, settings, and account data are automatically synchronized for maximum convenience.

Users can now do more than communicate securely and protect their data — they can also generate passive income directly within the ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

• Top up your balance with a bank card, Apple Pay, or USDT
• Send money instantly anywhere in the world
• Issue and manage debit cards (virtual and physical)
• Full Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds quickly

One of the most unique features is the built-in cryptocurrency mining system inside Verum Messenger.

The application utilizes your device’s resources and allows you to earn cryptocurrency in the background — passively, while chatting, traveling, or simply using the messenger.

Maximum Privacy + Real Freedom

• Registration without a phone number, email address, or passport
• End-to-end encryption and full control over your data
• Lifetime free VPN
• eSIM connectivity in more than 150 countries
• Reliable offline communication mode
• Support for 12+ languages for users worldwide

Everything is available in one place: secure communication, financial tools, earning opportunities, and privacy protection.

Users can access the full experience directly within Verum Messenger or switch to the dedicated Verum Finance app for iOS. All data is synchronized automatically between the two applications.

Why Download Verum Today

While many messaging platforms collect user data and expose users to restrictions, Verum offers greater independence and the opportunity to earn.

With a one-time purchase of the feature package, users receive lifetime access to privacy tools, VPN, eSIM services, cryptocurrency mining, and financial features.

This is more than just a messenger.

It is your personal tool for financial and digital freedom.

Download Verum Finance and Verum Messenger today — start communicating securely and begin earning tomorrow.

Download Links:

→ App Store (iPhone / iPad): Verum Finance
→ App Store (Verum Messenger): Verum Messenger

Technologies

Verum Finance: A Super App for Private Finance Integrated Into a Messenger

Verum Finance has announced the launch of a new financial application that allows users to manage their money directly within the secure Verum Messenger ecosystem.

The project has already attracted attention from major media outlets. A dedicated feature was published by Forbes Türkiye, while one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, MEXC, covered the launch. Yahoo Finance had previously reported on the evolution of Verum Messenger into a comprehensive financial ecosystem.

What Verum Finance Offers

Verum Finance transforms a messenger into a complete financial platform. Users can:

• Manage their balance and top up using bank cards or USDT
• Send money instantly to other Verum users
• Issue and use debit cards, including Apple Pay support
• Exchange assets and withdraw funds
• Access all these services without installing separate banking applications

A strong emphasis is placed on privacy. The platform offers registration without a phone number or email address, end-to-end encryption, and full user control over personal data.

Recognition from Forbes Türkiye

In a dedicated article, Forbes Türkiye highlighted Verum Finance as a notable example of modern privacy-driven fintech. The publication emphasized the growing trend of financial services moving from standalone banking applications into unified messaging ecosystems — a model that has proven successful in Asia through platforms such as WeChat and Alipay and is now expanding globally.

Support from the Crypto Community

Alongside the Forbes Türkiye coverage, news about the launch of Verum Finance was also featured by MEXC, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. This reflects growing interest in the project from both traditional business media and the cryptocurrency community.

A Strategic Vision

“We are building more than a payments application and more than a messenger. Verum is a unified secure ecosystem where communication, finance, and privacy tools work together,” the company stated.

Verum Finance is now available for iPhone and iPad users. The application complements Verum Messenger, which offers anonymous chats, voice and video calls, VPN services, eSIM connectivity, and other tools designed to enhance digital freedom.

Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im

Verum Messenger: https://verum.im