Technologies
Best MagSafe Accessories for iPhone in 2023
From stands to wallets to car mounts and wireless battery chargers, here are the best MagSafe accessories for iPhone.
The MagSafe technology built into Apple’s latest iPhones is not only designed for wireless charging but a wide range of new magnetic accessories, the best of which we’ve rounded up here. They include wallets, power banks, stands, kickstands, car mounts and other devices that adhere to the back of your iPhone or MagSafe-compatible iPhone case.
Some «MagSafe» accessories are official, Apple-licensed products while others aren’t. The main difference is that accessories that aren’t Apple-certified won’t be able to charge at the highest speeds (up to 15 watts). But in a lot of cases, the lack of certification won’t change how well the product performs, though some non-Apple-certified MagSafe-compatible accessories sometimes lack strong enough magnets.
Here’s a look at my current favorite MagSafe accessories. Note that I’ve personally used all of the products listed below. We’ll update this list as we discover new top accessories.
Read more: Best iPhone 14 Cases So Far
Magnetic wireless battery chargers
David Carnoy/CNET
What’s cool about Anker’s 622 magnetic battery is that it’s a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won’t get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts) but it’s slim and easy to carry around.
It charges via USB-C and if you use a USB-C to Lighting to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That’s not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it’s faster than 7.5 watts.
David Carnoy/CNET
The Baseus Magnetic Mini Wireless Portable Charger is a compact 6000-mAh wireless power bank that sticks to the back of MagSafe-enabled iPhones (or MagSafe-enabled iPhone cases) and charges your iPhone at 7.5W. If you’re looking for faster charging, you can plug a USB-C to Lightning cable into the battery and get 20W charging speeds. It also offers pass-through charging (you can charge the battery while charging your phone).
The battery is similar in size to many 5000-mAh batteries and also costs less. That 6000-mAh capacity will get you close to a full charge with most iPhones, though it may fall a bit short for iPhone Max models.
David Carnoy/CNET
You don’t want your phone to go dead on the mountain so it’s always good to pack a battery pack.
MyCharge calls its new line of magnetic power banks Superhero MagLock, implying that they’re real saviors. I was impressed by their design. Not only do the batteries, which come in various capacities, have strong magnets and stick really well to the back of your iPhone 12, 13 or 14, but they have raised coils, which are supposed to help with reducing heat levels while charging. It does seem to work.
The 3,000-mAh battery is lightweight and slim and is nice to have around for some emergency charging. However, it won’t get you a full charge, so you’ll probably want to step up to one of the higher-capacity options like the 6,000-mAh model, which retails for $60, but you can currently grab for 30% off with the on-page instant coupon. The 9,000-mAh version is beefy and feels like your phone is attached to a small brick — the battery and phone do fit in your hand nicely, but the combo certainly isn’t pocket-friendly.
All the MagLock batteries charge Qi-enabled iPhones at 5 watts, although you can get faster charging if you go wired and use a USB-C to Lightning cable. I also liked how there’s a chime when the charging starts and your phone tells you how much juice is left in the battery pack (it’s tied into iOS 15). You can wirelessly charge Android devices as well but the MagLock won’t stick unless you have a metal ring on the back of your phone’s case (stick-on rings are available).
The SuperHero MagLock is available in a few colors and has a glossy finish. It’s currently the best designed magnetic power bank — better even than Apple’s.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Mophie’s Powerstation Wireless Stand with MagSafe is currently only sold through Apple and Zagg, Mophie’s parent company. It’s not cheap, but it is a versatile 10,000-mAh battery battery with both a stand and MagSafe charger built in, and also has a threaded tripod mount at the bottom.
Since this is an official MagSafe charger, the battery does charge at 15 watts, making this among the fastest wireless external battery chargers out there and will also charge the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro models with MagSafe. If you use a USB-C-to-Lighting cable (not included) with it, you can charge at 20-watt speeds. You can also charge two devices at the same time.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
If you’re looking for a bigger portable battery that charges your phone wirelessly, the Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is an excellent option. It houses a 10,000-mAh battery that can charge an iPhone 14 around two times — but it’s still somewhat compact.
The magnet is strong, and I also liked that it has an integrated flip-out kickstand, so it converts into a stand. There’s also an LED battery life indicator on back of the battery that tells you exactly how much juice the battery has left (you see the actual percentage). The Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is available in three color options with the black version currently costing a few bucks less.
The RapidX Boosta magnetic wireless portable charger comes in a variety of colors and is about $10 less than some magnetic 5,000-mAh battery power banks. This isn’t an official Apple MagSafe accessory, but it magnetically adheres to the back of your MagSafe-enabled iPhone or MagSafe case — yes, its magnet is strong — and can also be used with other phones that support wireless charging.
Wireless charging speeds are limited to 7.5 watts for iPhones, but if you need a faster charge, you can connect a USB-C to Lightning cable to bump the speed up to 10 watts. Just note that it will fall a little short of a full charge for a Pro Max, so you may want to upgrade to a larger power bank if you’re using that model.
Magnetic folding stands/wallets
David Carnoy/CNET
Clckr’s new, trimmer Stand and Grip is one of my favorite MagSafe accessories. The accessory really sticks to the back of your MagSafe-enabled phone or MagSafe-enabled case and not only makes it easier to hold up your phone but when converted into a kickstand, it props up your device nicely in portrait or landscape mode for video calls or video watching.
This new version is lighter than the original and available in several colors. It’s one of the best MagSafe stands out there.
David Carnoy/CNET
This accessory from Moft not only acts as a magnetic wallet that adheres to the back of your MagSafe-enabled iPhone (or case), but it converts into a stand that can be used to prop up your phone horizontally or vertically. The wallet fits a couple of credit cards (you can stretch it a bit to get three in there) and the accessory has a fairly strong magnet, so it stays on your phone pretty well.
I’m showing it in light blue but it’s available in several colors. You can also buy this as a bundle for $60 with Moft’s MagSafe case, which is a nice case.
David Carnoy/CNET
Zagg’s Gear4 Ring Snap 360 is is a ring accessory that converts into a stand. It not only feels solid but looks sleek and has a strong magnet that allows the accessory to stick securely to the back of your iPhone or MagSafe-enabled case. The stand works better for propping up your phone horizontally (in landscape mode) but can also prop it up vertically at about a 45-degree angle. It’s available in two colors, but the rose gold model is currently available only on Zagg’s website.
David Carnoy/CNET
The Anker 610 magnetic phone grip is one of the more affordable MagSafe accessories. It has a strong magnet and you can use the retractable ring to hold your phone securely in your hand or as a kickstand. It allows you to prop up your phone horizontally but not vertically. Some other MagSafe stands do both.
Amazon
If you’re a PopSockets fan, you have a couple of MagSafe options. There’s the more standard PopGrip ($30) and the PopWallet Plus for MagSafe ($40), which combines a magnetic wallet that stores a few credit cards and a PopGrip that gives you a grip and kickstand option.
Available in multiple color options, this simple, lightweight flip-out kickstand has a strong magnet and takes up minimal space on the back of your phone (it works better for propping your phone up horizontally).
Apple/Screenshot by CNET
Apple’s official MagSafe wallet is more expensive than a lot of third-party magnetic wallets, but the one thing it has that the other ones don’t is compatibility with Apple’s Find My network. But don’t expect to track it down like an AirTag: It really just signals if and when it becomes detached. It’s available in five colors.
Magnetic charging stands
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Belkin’s MagSafe Wireless Charger with Kickstand is essentially a better version of Apple’s own wireless MagSafe charger because it integrates a flip-out kickstand, allowing you to watch videos on your iPhone as you charge (or play games if you have a wireless game controller).
It does charge at up to 15 watts and comes in three color options: black, white and blue. Alas, no power adapter is included (the cable is integrated into the charging puck).
David Carnoy/CNET
The Anker 637 has a magnetic charging pad on one side and seven charging ports on the back: two USB-C, two USB-A and three standard AC outlets. The USB-C ports deliver up to a 65-watt charge when charging one device — or 45- and 20-watt if charging two devices simultaneously. So yes, you can use it to charge most laptops that charge via USB-C.
For MagSafe-enabled iPhones, the wireless charging pad charges at 7.5 watts. You can only charge Android phones if you stick a metal ring accessory (sold separately) on the back of your device and place it in the right spot. You can also save $30 right now by activating the instant coupon on the product page.
Jared DiPane/CNET
Anker’s 633 2-in-1 MagGo charging stand has more components than you might think at first glance. Not only is it a charging stand that also has a spot to charge your AirPods (or any earbuds with a wireless charging case and even a second phone), but the wireless charging pad is actually a 5,000-mAh portable battery, which is why I put it in the wireless battery section.
Since this isn’t an Apple blessed MagSafe charger, it only charges at up to 7.5 watts (not 15). It comes in black, white or light blue.
Read our first take of Anker 633 2-in-1 MagGo Charging Stand.
David Carnoy/CNET
The Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 is an Apple-certified MagSafe accessory so it offers fast (15-watt) wireless charging for your MagSafe-enabled iPhone as well the Apple Watch.
It includes a 40-watt adapter and I charged an iPhone 13 Pro, the third-generation AirPods and Watch Series 7 at the same time. Like the Boost Charge Watch fast-charger, the adjustable Watch module accommodates any Apple Watch case size in either flat or in nightstand mode. You can also charge a second phone on the AirPods slot, but you don’t get fast-charging there — it only offers 5-watt charging.
This is certainly a nice charging station for Apple devices. It has a sleek, elegant design, with a soft-to-the-touch silicone finish. My only gripe? That finish is a dust magnet and I had to wipe it down with an alcohol towelette to remove any dust particles before I photographed it. The black shows more dust so I’d recommend getting the white version (of both chargers) rather than the black.
Read our first take of Belkin Boost Pro 3-in-1 Charging Pad with MagSafe.
Magnetic car mounts and chargers
iOttie
iOttie offers this MagSafe-compatible wireless car charger with a car vent mount. It has a strong magnet, so your iPhone stays on the mount, and it also has an integrated USB-C cable and cigarette-lighter power adapter so you’re ready to start charging out of the box. Note that the iPhone’s «fast» charging caps out at 7.5 watts.
Amazon
Spigen’s OneTap magnetic car mount comes in a few different versions, including an air vent and dashboard versions. This version is just a magnetic mount, not a wireless charger. You have to step up to the Spigen OneTap Pro ($40) to get wireless charging.
This model features a telescopic arm and fairly strong magnet. However, it’s not quite as strong as the one in Belkin’s car mount (see below). While it’s quite affordable at around $30, there’s no cigarette lighter power adapter included (a USB-C cable is, however).
Belkin
Belkin’s Car Vent Mount Pro with MagSafe technically isn’t a charger. It’s just a certified MagSafe vent mount. Belkin also has a wireless charging version of this (it costs $40 without the car charger, $60 with it), but you’d have to connect a cable to it anyway for charging. The advantage of a wireless version would be that unlike with this vent mount, you wouldn’t have to plug a cable into your phone every time you want to charge it. I have a USB-C-to-LIghtning cable set up in the car for fast charging, but I don’t love the extra step of having to plug in the cable each time I want to charge the phone.
All that said, what sets this Belkin apart from other generic, non-MagSafe-certified mounts that look similar (and some even offer wireless charging), is that the Belkin has a very strong magnet while many of these other vent mounts don’t. If you have a MagSafe case on your phone, or just a naked newer iPhone model, the phone really sticks to the mount. The clip also keeps the mount securely in your vent and you can rotate the mount from portrait to landscape mode as needed.
Magnetic mounts for laptops and monitors
David Carnoy/CNET
You can now turn your iPhone into a webcam using the Continuity Camera features in the latest version of MacOS. What’s cool about the Belkin iPhone Mount with MagSafe for Mac Notebooks is that you can use it as a kickstand to prop your iPhone up in landscape mode. And you can use the flip side of the mount to attach your phone to the top of your MacBook in landscape or portrait mode for webcam use.
Check out our hands-on review and video of the Belkin iPhone Mount for MagSafe for Mac Notebooks.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
STM’s MagArm is designed to stick to the back of your laptop or computer monitor with the help of an integrated suction cup. Some people have complained that the suction cup doesn’t adhere securely enough, but I attached the MagArm to both a monitor and laptop and it adhered just fine if you follow the instructions correctly. I used it with an iPhone 14 Pro, which is a pretty heavy phone, but I didn’t use it with an iPhone 14 Max Pro or Max Plus.
You can adjust the mount so it sits horizontally (on the side) or vertically (on top) of your laptop or monitor. And what’s nice about it, if you own Apple’s wireless MagSafe charging puck, there’s a dock for it built into the mount so you can keep your phone charged (you could also just plug your phone into a a wired charger).
While the the MagArm is bigger and bulkier than some laptop MagSafe mounts, it’s sturdily constructed. You can peel the suction cup off your laptop (it doesn’t leave a mark) and you can remount it when you need to use it again.
Magnetic photo and video accessories
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
The Joby Beamo LED Ring Light for MagSafe is a nifty MagSafe ring light that adheres magnetically to the back of your iPhone but can be used with the front selfie camera as well as shots using the rear camera. Equipped with an integrated rechargeable battery that charges via USB-C, it’s well designed and uses a «flattering soft» 5600K Daylight color temperature with 4 levels of brightness you can toggle through.
It’s also worth noting that it has a built-in mirror for checking yourself out before you shoot.
David Carnoy/CNET
Joby makes bendable tripods for cameras and smartphones and its products are a staple of vloggers and other content creators. Sometimes it’s a little cumbersome to get your phone out of their clamping mounts, which is what’s appealing about the company’s new MagSafe options. You can simply stick your phone to the mount; it adheres magnetically.
My iPhone 13 Pro stuck pretty securely to the GripTight mount. I was testing it with an Otterbox MagSafe-enabled case, so I wasn’t really worried about the phone getting jostled and falling off the mount. But if you want a more secure fit, you have the option of using the «hybrid» clamp to really lock your phone onto the mount. The clamp works in both vertical and horizontal modes and when you’re going the magnetic route only, you can easily swivel your phone into a horizontal or vertical position.
Joby is currently selling three GripTight for MagSafe accessories. There’s a simple wall-mount option, a GripTight Mount for MagSafe that can be added to any GorillaPod (or tripod for that matter), as well as a bundle that includes a GorillaPod and GripTight Mount (arms for the GorillaPod are sold separately). All three new MagSafe options are also compatible with Joby’s Wavo Mobile, Beamo Mini and RangePod accessories.
Amazon
Belkin’s magnetic phone mount with face tracking is designed for folks who shoot their own selfie videos for TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms with a MagSafe-enabled iPhone. (The device has a companion iOS app but not an Android app.) There are competing products out there like the Pivo Pod Lite ($70), but this is MagSafe-enabled so all you have to do is stick your phone on the mount — you can simply turn your phone to place it in landscape or portrait mode. The pedestal automatically turns as your phone follows your face while you’re shooting yourself.
To be clear, this is not for FaceTime or WhatsApp or WeChat video calls. It doesn’t have to be plugged so it’s easy to move around the room and place wherever you want. However, it’s not equipped with rechargeable batteries. It’s powered by three AA batteries that do give the pedestal some added weight for stability.
Amazon
Moment makes a few different photography-oriented MagSafe accessories, including a couple of tripod mounts. With the Pro tripod mount you can choose to just use the magnets or lock your phone in for added security. This may not work as well with the larger Pro Max model, but the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Pro are lighter and are less likely to become detached (magnets are only so strong).
Here are a few things to keep in mind when buying MagSafe-related accessories, particularly so-called MagSafe charging products:
- A true MagSafe wireless charger will get you the potential for the fastest wireless charging rate (up to 15 watts instead 7.5 watts or 10 watts that some chargers deliver) on iPhones.
- Official MagSafe products — those blessed by Apple — include a Made for MagSafe badge on the box. However, plenty of other manufacturers have created magnetic wireless chargers that look and feel like MagSafe accessories. These MagSafe technology copycat devices are also far more affordable than the official MagSafe offerings, but here’s the catch: they offer less powerful charging (limited to 7.5 watts). We’ve included these non-official products in this list, but know that they’ll charge only half as fast (for iPhones), even if they are capable of wirelessly charging certain Android smartphones at up to 15 watts (those that support 15-watt fast wireless charging).
- Do not expect a MagSafe or magnetic accessory to stick to a non-MagSafe case. MagSafe accessories should be used directly with a naked MagSafe-enabled iPhone or MagSafe-enabled case. Alternatively, you can add a stick-on metal ring accessory to the back of a non MagSafe phone or case. However, it’s best to use a MagSafe-enabled case with MagSafe and other magnetic accessories.
- To get that maximum power, you’ll need a 20-watt USB-C PD charger — ideally one that is Power Delivery 3.0-certified. (The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Mini include a USB-C to Lightning cable in the box, but not the charger.) Some companies offer bundles that include a MagSafe wireless charging puck with a USB-C power adapter while others, like Apple, sell the puck and power adapter separately.
- Most of the MagSafe chargers (aftermarket and MagSafe-certified) will charge other Qi-compatible devices, like select older iPhones and Android phones. You just won’t get the magnetic adhesion.
- If you need to also get a charger, our list of best USB-C chargers has plenty of options. That will, of course, work for wired charging, too — which will always be faster than MagSafe or other wireless charging options.
Technologies
If You Miss MTV and Dunkaroos, This Indie Game Is for You
Mixtape is an upcoming game about being a teenager when «everything meant the end of the world or the start of the world.»
At a record store in northern Los Angeles, I walked past racks of albums, a DJ spinning records and a stack of Dunkaroos, a cookies and icing snack that was all the rage in ’90s America. It felt like stepping back into an earlier era, the same one backdropping the upcoming game Mixtape, a story about a group of self-mythologizing teens hanging out before life pulls them away from their suburban American town.
In an amusing twist of fate, the main brain behind the game is an Australian rocker who didn’t step foot in the US until his 30s. Johnny Galvatron (a stage name and lead singer of the band The Galvatrons), creative director at studio Beethoven & Dinosaur, dreamed up Mixtape based on a blend of American youth culture that was broadcast worldwide, along with his own upbringing loving music of the period and playing in bands.
In a recording room behind the record store, I chatted with Galvatron about why a man from the Antipodes would tackle American youth, nostalgia through the lens of music and analog audio tech, the earnest wrongness of being a teenager and why the US is like Middle-earth.
I also got to play a short slice of Mixtape ahead of the conversation, a demo I originally saw at Summer Game Fest last year (but with a couple extra scenes exclusive to this event). It opened up with the game’s older teen heroine, Stacy Rockford, skateboarding down a winding road with her friends, lazily pulling kickflips and calling out oncoming cars in the golden hour before twilight, a fitting start for a game about the last days before adulthood knocks.
From what I saw, there’s a bit of overlap with other nostalgia-laden narrative games about teens growing up, such as studio Don’t Nod’s Life is Strange series or last year’s Lost Records: Bloom and Rage. But Mixtape avoids the plotty drama of those games in favor of lionizing the humble wonder of teens killing time. And it does it in style, with kinetic editing and needle drops that immerse players in the MTV-drenched lives of kids whose rebellious days are numbered. It’s tonally different, reflecting Galvatron’s memories of being an earnest teen, liking music and tossing out strong opinions.
«There’s a lot of stories about teenagers where they’re portrayed as very shy and not confident. And that’s not really my experience of being a teenager,» Galvatron said. «I was very confident and wrong about things and about how I felt about music.»
Galvatron’s earnest teenagehood was in Australia, but setting the game there might have been too close to home. Plus, his favorite music and culture came from America. Despite not coming to the US until he was 32, he’s watched America every single day of his life, he said. Seeing it in person is like coming to a theme park, or a fantasy land: «To people who live in Western cultures, America is Middle-earth,» Galvatron said.
The game is split into chapters, each patterned after a carefully-chosen song. They all come together in the titular mixtape, the swan song of a cherished friend group, one last rock-out to tunes that speak to the moment. It was those songs that drove the creation of the emotional sequencing of Mixtape, Galvatron told me. Whereas most games start development by creating a «vertical slice» that represents the core loop of the game, Beethoven & Dinosaur made «a real shitty version of the whole game» and swapped around the songs to see what different stories the configurations told.
«We would play with that soundtrack until it seemed to have this cinematic flow to it, like a really lovely narrative that chained these songs together,» Galvatron said. «Once we had that right, we could put the story and the characters in.»
Picking the songs was a delicate process to find the right tone (and to ensure variety, as Galvatron joked he kept wanting more Devo songs, which the team vetoed and limited him to one). There’s a pivotal moment in the game where the main character Rockford is betrayed by her friend, and despite digging up the saddest songs they could think of, none worked. So they flipped the emotions to the other extreme, trying tunes evoking over-the-top happiness like Stuck In The Middle With You, and went with songs from the artist BJ Miller from the 1960s, «and that seemed to make it just all the more devastating,» Galvatron said.
I saw parts of 4-5 song chapters out of what Galvatron told me will be a total of 26 or 27. But each felt like a sublime snippet (in Pixar parlance, a core memory) that the player gets to control, from an embellished shopping cart escape from the cops to a flailing first kiss of awkward tongues to rocking out in the car on the way to a party. It sounds mundane, but these delightful moments hearken to a time in everyone’s lives when the people and the songs around you elevated the simple into the unforgettable.
«We don’t have skill trees, we don’t have (gameplay) loops. We have moments where mechanics, music, dialogue, narrative all meet and hit these crescendos,» Galvatron said, and emphasized the importance of their brevity. «Get in, deliver the mechanic, make it beautiful, make it a great experience. Don’t overstay your welcome.»
It’s undeniable that Mixtape reaches back into the past to evoke a feeling of place and time, specifically this moment in the American 90s where music was blasting from cassette tapes and CDs. There’s a warmth to this equipment, Galvatron noted, and to the music it produces. Moreover, the tactility lends itself very well to touching, spinning and clicking motions on game controllers, giving players a real feel for the music they’re playing on screen.
Yet when I asked how he felt the game fit amid our current era of nostalgia — which media like Stranger Things have built IP empires upon with period-appropriate references, fashion and songs — Galvatron asserts that the game has a different aim than prompting viewers to remember specific songs, CD players and Tamagotchis. «What I want people to remember is when you defined yourself by the singles you liked, by art, and I think that’s something naive and sweet,» he said.
If the rest of the game meets the bar set by the demo I saw, players will be pretty awestruck by the polished, electric delivery of moments from scene to scene. Mixtape feels intentionally designed, likely meticulously storyboarded, to land moments with camera angles and timing that make you feel along for the ride.
Beethoven & Dinosaur’s strengths are leaning into the grandness of cinematics and music, Galvatron said. «That’s how I remember being a teenager,» he said, «[it’s] something theatrical and fast, and everything meant the end of the world or the start of the world.»
Technologies
These MWC Phones and Gadgets Wowed Me, but Where Are They Now?
From AI hardware to wearable phones, these products promised a lot. So what happened to them?
Mobile World Congress sees the biggest and best tech companies, the world over, gather in Barcelona to show off their latest, greatest products. MWC 2026 runs March 2 to 5 and we expect to see several major phone launches, some wild concepts and a lot of tapas. But what about products we saw in prior years?
From Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S phones to incredible hardware from Xiaomi, we’ve seen some amazing devices in the years CNET has been attending the show. But we’ve also seen a lot of unusual products that have promised more than they’ve delivered.
From concept devices that are quickly forgotten to new gadgets that boast revolutionary functions, these are the MWC tech launches that arrived with a fanfare… but aren’t necessarily where you’d expect them to be today.
Humane AI pin
AI might still be the biggest buzzword in tech, thanks to every phone company cramming their devices with all kinds of bizarre AI functions. But at MWC 2024, one company wanted to take that further. The Humane AI pin was a wearable badge that you could talk to and ask questions about your schedule, the weather or things like sports results. It could read answers out and even project them onto your hand with a laser. Because everyone loves lasers.
Sounds fun, right? And the company’s rhetoric around how AI-based devices like this will replace phones sounded compelling. However, the product, well, sucked (just ask CNET’s Scott Stein, who spent extended time with it) and the company was eventually swallowed by HP, with the Pin itself ceasing to function in February last year. If you were one of the early adopters, do let us know what you’ve done with that $699(!) paperweight now.
Motorola Rizr
MWC is a great place to show off concepts that will excite technology nerds like us. Motorola has a good history of this at the show and the Rizr is one of my favorites. This phone didn’t just have a flexible display like we’ve seen on many of today’s foldable phones, its display could actually mechanically unroll at the push of a button, extending the top of the screen to give a more immersive display for watching videos or playing games.
It was amazing to see in person and it was certainly a different idea on how to use flexible displays. But that’s all it was; an idea. Motorola hasn’t deployed the Rizr’s mechanical unfurling into any of its products, with its upcoming Razr Fold launch being just a standard book-style foldable. The reason is obvious: The technology is likely expensive and probably fragile too. Three years on and Motorola hasn’t said a thing about this cool concept, but I’ll still keep my fingers crossed for this year.
Xiaomi SU7 EV
Xiaomi might be better known for its superb camera phones, but the Chinese firm has fingers in many pies, including scooters, vacuums, air fryers and, er, water pistols. It was no surprise then that during MWC 2024, the company showed off its first EV, the Xiaomi SU7. With sleek, sporty looks and a promised range of over 470 miles, I was excited.
I was excited again when the company showed off an even more performance-focused model at last year’s show, which had already delivered some blistering track times on the infamous Nürburgring. But I’ve yet to get behind the wheel. While Xiaomi is already producing and selling cars in its native China, the company has no plans to launch in the UK or wider Europe until at least 2027 and they almost certainly won’t sell in the US at all.
As a result, I feel like I’ve been teased somewhat with the promise of this slick, powerful EV that would have sat perfectly on my driveway. In reality, I still have a big wait ahead of me, if the SU7 European launch happens at all. Sales of the SU7 in China have surpassed those of the Tesla Model 3, according to a report by Car News China. Meanwhile, the same story shows that the SU7 Ultra’s sales have declined dramatically due to a number of controversies and lawsuits around the car and Xiaomi’s rollout.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s Galaxy Ring made for an interesting MWC in 2024. Here was a new type of wearable that promised advanced health and fitness tracking, while blending into your daily life by sitting unobtrusively on your finger. And that’s what it does, with CNET giving it a healthy 8.5 out of 10 in our full review.
But that was in 2024, and a full two years later, I’m left wondering what’s happening with the wonderful world of smart jewelry. Samsung has made no official comment around a follow-up, through rumors suggest we may see one in late 2026 or 2027. Smart ring manufacturer Oura, meanwhile, has filed a public lawsuit against Samsung and other smart ring companies claiming patent infringement. This is likely one of the reasons we’ll have to wait for a Galaxy Ring 2. While other smart rings do exist — like the Oura Ring 4 — it’s not a category that flourished after Samsung launched its ring.
There’s no Google Pixel Ring, no Apple iRing and not even an LED-infused Nothing Ring (1). Most other smart rings are made by smaller companies, such as Pebble’s recently announced $75 recyclable ring. Smart rings may have a place on our hands for a while yet, but Samsung’s lengthy delay in launching a follow-up might suggest that it’s not exactly a priority product.
Motorola wrist phone
I said that the aforementioned Moto Rizr was «one of» my favorite MWC concepts.That’s because the company’s flexible wrist phone from 2024 absolutely takes my top spot. This candybar-style Android phone had a fully flexible body that let you to wrap the whole thing around your wrist and wear it like something resembling Leela from Futurama’s wrist-mounted doodad.
I found it extremely intriguing. Here was a phone that doesn’t bulge out your skinny jeans when it’s in your pocket, but that’s also just a glance away like a smartwatch. And compared to the precision engineering required for the Rizr, the wrist phone’s technology seemed relatively achievable. After all, we already have flexible displays and this didn’t even require any specialized tiny motors — you just whack it onto your wrist like a ’90s slap bracelet.
But, like the Rizr, the wrist-mounted phone remained just a flight of fancy I experienced oh so briefly for a few days in Spain. And like any holiday romance, perhaps it’s best for me to simply remember it for what it was and not spend my days pining for what could have been.
With MWC 2026 just a few days away I’m excited to see new and wild products show their face, and I’m curious to see which of them will have staying power.
Technologies
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