MWC AndroidPIT Awards 2017: what you need to know before the show
The Mobile World Congress is an intense time, this definitely being the case for AndroidPIT editors, as well as our readers and fellow tech fans, who are fervidly following the news. Press conferences from the biggest names take place all day long, new smartphones are presented as manufacturers try to dazzle us. And, of course, as is the case each time, the larger-than-life mobile convention brings a wealth of surprises and innovations. In order to commend this year's participants for their innovations, we will award the very best products with our own AndroidPIT MWC 2017 Awards. May the best house win.
Four Award Categories
The third edition of the AndroidPIT Awards will take place throughout the MWC and will reward the cream of the crop of the high-tech world. The aim is to hail the products that stood out. Furthermore, the most popular brands will not necessarily be awarded, but the best products, regardless of the manufacturer's size.
Four prizes will be awarded:
- Best Android phone
- Best budget Android phone
- Best innovation
- Best Android wearable
For each category, we’ll have an internal vote among all AndroidPIT journalists, who cover news for France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the USA and Brazil. Of course, and as always, your voice will also be heard. That’s why we encourage you to take part by commenting on this article.
MWC 2017: best Android phone
Contrary to previous editions, this MWC will not see a Samsung smartphone be next in line for the MWC’s best smartphone title. Samsung’s absence has blown the competition wide open for other manufacturers. The battle is on as the smartphone manufacturers do all they can to launch a smartphone that will make everyone forget about the Galaxy S8.
The possible nominees: LG G6, Huawei P10, BlackBerry Mercury, Sony...
In your opinion, which manufacturer will present the best smartphone at the MWC 2017?
MWC 2017: best budget Android phone
This year's AndroidPIT Award seeks to applaud the manufacturer that offers the best smartphone at a reasonable price (around $300). The most important criteria includes: design, technical specifications, originality, functions, integrated services… Well, it’s a long list, as you can imagine. Last year, surprisingly, it was Alcatel that won the prize with its Idol 4, a reversible smartphone for which the box transformed into a virtual reality headset.
The 2017 competition is fierce and there’s no doubt that all contenders want to launch the best smartphone possible to conquer the mid-range market.
The possible nominees: Lenovo Moto G5, Honor, Sony...
MWC 2017: best innovation
The 2017 MWC could also surprise us in a number of ways. The Barcelona convention is a cornucopia for high-tech fans and will be exciting this year as there will be many surprises regarding drones, virtual reality and the Internet of Things, to name just a few of the many innovations that are getting some traction.
Last year, we awarded the modular LG G5 but the choice was difficult as the concepts from Sony (Sony Concept Agent, Sony Beamer) also got our attention.
MWC 2017: best Android wearable
Keeping a relatively low profile last year, wearables (connected accessories) could find their way back to the limelight in Barcelona this year. Assistant technologies, as in Google Home and Amazon Echo, are starting to make their appearance in households and are communicating more and more with objects with which people interact. The fitness tracker market continues to improve, Bluetooth accessories are multiplying, smartwatches running Android Wear 2.0 are becoming important again… In short, there are a lot of wearables.
Last year, Sony won in this category for its Xperia Ear, a Bluetooth device able to follow itineraries, reply to emails and messages, that could also receive calls and weather updates.
Which newcomers do you think will make their mark at the 2017 Mobile World Congress? Do you think there will be any surprises? Let us know in the comments below.
Why is Moto not on the list, or is it lumped under Lenovo?
Blackberry & Nokia back in the race :)
welcome back Nokia.. and finally a chance to see what HMD are gonna do, maybe the best budget android at MWC..
We're also super keen to see what Nokia has in store. Nokia, Blackberry....it's nice to see these names back in the game.
By the way you should add them to your list above
Hope at last some new battery type is announced,as when consumers are paying so much for there phones,they deserve better battery life on there phones
That's why we need removable batteries. Phones can last years longer than their battery. My S3 still going strong, close to 5 years old now. Thanks to the removable battery.
I think it is more a marketing ploy than a benefit to smartphone owners, the fact that manufacturers don't opt for a removable battery. It just makes sense, but we sadly don't see enough on the market.
Just planed obsolescence, to force you to buy a phone more often. That's what it is all about. Apple started it, when they got away with it. Now everybody else is jumping on the band wagon.
Yes, to the detriment of the people buying them. Sadly, these same people will keep on buying these phones, so I don't see manufacturers stopping any time soon.
it's not all bad, last year modular G5.. removable battery, that Ap awarded. Moto mods a nicely done modular design with potentially amazing battery life..
it's a shame, but personally I can't see user replaceable battery ever becoming popular.. modular add-ons seems to be the only option.
I'm glad someone is optimistic! :)
We won't see anything innovative from MWC this year that's unfortunate. Continue your great work.
Well, I hope you're wrong, but we'll see! With you being an avid Samsung fan, I think the lack of the S8's presence put rain on your parade. What do you think the Galaxy Tab S3 will be like?
#SamsungFanBoy cry my boy!
I just hope you give your innovation award to a company who is actually innovating. The last couple of years your choices have been way, off in my opinion.
Hey Mark! Sorry, you thought that. We'll try to make a decision that year that truly commends an innovative product.