I saw shocking thin phones everywhere in MWC 2025. But do people even love them?

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Humanoid robotsconcepts of cars and futuristic displays the Mobile World Congress In Barcelona, ​​dozens of people turn around a special attitude. From a distance, it seems to be one of the many stands showing another lining of smartphones. But closely reveals what everyone is looking forward to getting their hands: a Incredibly slim phone Unlike everything I've seen.

The screen is the concept of Spark Spark Spark Spark Tephen, a 5,75mm thick headset (Skinnier from a standard pencil) and weighs only 146 grams, according to the company. After waiting for about 15 minutes for my order, I take the desired phone and I am immediately thrilled. Light is like a feather and yet it doesn't feel like something I can use in half. I do my own visual thickness test by extracting a pen from the backpack and comparing it: Spark Slim is, in fact, thinner.

It is not the only company that seems to believe that Slim is inside. Several halls down, Samsung shows its Galaxy S25 EdgeWhat remains only out of reach behind the barricade, surrounded by a similarly impermeable crowd of eager spectators. The details of that phone, from the specifications to the date of publication, are as thin as its appearance. But reports suggest we'll see him somewhere this year.

Read more: Best of MWC 2025: Available Phones and Cool Camera Concepts

OPO also launched it Find n5What he calls “the thinnest in the world of overlapping the book”, measuring only 8.93mm when it is closed and a thickness of 4.21 mm when opened. The size and shape blew me When I tested itand helped to convince some of my reservations about the practicality and greatness of other switches. And perhaps one of the biggest rumors leading to the scheduled publication of Lining iPhone 17 is the potential iPhone “air,” A thinner (and probably lighter) version of Apple's headset.

But the thinner phone, while cold flex, can lead to flaws. Less space often means a smaller battery, and therefore shorter battery life. The hardware for cameras can be reduced, leading to lesser image quality. The storage space can similarly hit. All of these are the main concessions for phone buyers, which still rank battery life, camera quality and storage space Among their top priorities.

Pressing the boundaries can be catastrophic, as Samsung has learned when deciding to reduce the design of the Galaxy Note 7, just for devices to start smoking and for the phone eventually be Recall. Manufacturers of phones also need Keep endurance in the forefrontEspecially if buyers pay a pretty penny and expect their devices to last.

“You can't be thin; You have to have all Svona and gigs on the premium phone, “Nabila Popal, older data and analytics director at IDC, told MWC. “The question is, how will OEM (phone manufacturers) achieve that without endangering other more important features such as battery and camera?”

It will be a challenge because more companies undoubtedly rely on the trend of thin phones. But if what consumers have asked for driving, why bother weight loss devices?

“For the most part, it's an attempt to differentiate them,” Popal says. While General Ai was a clear fact of attention During last year's MWC, it became so ubiquitous that this year, the focus was more about Strategy and implementation. Therefore, phone manufacturers need to find a new way to highlight, and an surrounding slim and attractive light device is one way to do so.

This approach seems to work in places like China, where companies like Honor, Xiaomi And Huawei all debut slim premium devices (often double as Overlapalso). But Popal adds that just because something resonates in China does not necessarily mean that it will be in other parts of the world, as consumers in China tend to be more recurrent for unique phones than they are in America. But it illustrates that, at least somewhere, slim phones are already hit by a chord.

Read more: MWC 2025: The strangest phones we've seen in Barcelona so far

Apple releases a thinner phone can be particularly favorable, especially as it is fights to distinguish his iPhone what From each other, says Anisha Batia, an older analyst for consumer platforms and devices of the Globalda.

“For example, iPhone 15 Plus The model currently occupies an uncertain position in Apple's composition, sweating between the basic model and more rich in features Pro and pro max Versions, says Batia. “This ambiguity has led to confusion among consumers, who are struggling to distinguish models plus based on a value proposal and a set of features. Sales data indicate that models plus are underestimated compared to other iPhone variants.”

On the other hand, something flashy like a slim iPhone is easier to distinguish and can have a better blow to attract attention – and dollars – to buyers.

So, for a few years, will the phones themselves attending the MWC 2025 are eagerly filled around, will be in pockets and hands, now taking photos of everything that is considered the next technological innovation? Will the thin phones become ubiquitous and win?

“The thin will not be mandatory, but it is definitely a feature that makes the phone feel more premium, and it's nice to have,” Popal says.

What was once revolutionary often becomes the norm. Just a few years ago, a larger phone screen was considered a special feature, but now it has become standard. Alternatively, overlapping phones remained a niche, even more than five years after Samsung Galaxy Fold's debut. Slim phones can be lowered on any route; It is simply early to predict, says Popal.

Also, what's old is again new. The trend to thinner phones relies on the popularity of Motorola's original razrWho became a phenomenon of pop culture after announcing in 2004, due to its thin building, unique form and trend (who wouldn't want a hot pink phone just like Paris Hilton?). Motorola worked on the return of that Zeigeist by reviving Razr telephone line In the form of a assembled smartphone.

Back to this day, even if weak phones don't end with mainstream, it may not be so bad, Popal suggests.

“I would argue, why do you want to make the norm? Keep it a niche, keep it a premium, “she says. “The faster the norm, the faster the profitability goes.”

And, faster the crowds move toward the swarm around the next big (or thin) job.