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The biggest phone launch event of 2021 just got delayed by four months
June 23, 2025
Phone makers usuallyflock to Mobile World Congressin late February or March to introduce their latest devices, but you might be waiting a while longer to see those products. The GSMA hasdelayedMWC 2021 from March 1 to June 28, or nearly four months later than expected.
It won’t surprise you to hear the reasoning. Just as the GSMAcancelled this year’s Mobile World CongressoverCOVID-19 pandemicconcerns, organizers aren’t convinced they can hold the 2021 event safely in February. This increases the chances of having the “unique, unmissable experience” of an in-person gathering, the GSMA said.
There will still be online components to the show to “complement” the physical event, the association added. MWC Shanghai 2021 has also been delayed to February 23.
Read more:The best phones of MWC 2019
This could lead to delays for some phone launches. Brands like LG, Sony, and Nokia (HMD Global) frequentlyintroduce hardware at Mobile World Congressto maximize its impact — they now have to choose between waiting until June 2021 or releasing phones without as much fanfare. They might just wait if any planned phones aren’t going to ship right away. The early spring could be quiet, in other words.
It won’t be surprising if some phone makers ignore the delay and release phones sooner, even if the launch events have to be virtual. HUAWEI and Samsung likely won’t mind. They’ve often heldseparate introductionsweeks before or after MWC. Still, don’t be surprised if much of the usual phone launch cycle is delayed by a few months — assuming the pandemic doesn’t lead to further delays or another cancelled show.
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