Apple wasn't at the world's biggest Android show - but its influence was all I could see

Source: ZDNet

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the largest trade shows in the world dedicated to mobile technology. From new handsets to infrastructure to 6G, there were announcements, keynotes, and hardware aplenty to take in. One notable brand that typically sits out of the show, though, is Apple.

Also: This robotic camera phone is going viral at MWC, and I can see why

The Cupertino company didn’t come to Barcelona, Spain, even though it had hardware to show off. But just because Apple didn’t attend the trade show doesn’t mean it wasn’t there in any capacity. In fact, Apple’s presence was felt in every corner of the show floor, and I found four notable examples of Apple showing up, even when it didn’t.

1. The cameras recording us all

One of the first things I noticed at MWC was a camera crew running around, grabbing footage of the event for the show Mobile World Live. At the beating heart of this camera rig is none other than an iPhone 17 Pro Max, with all manner of attachments enabling a production style similar to what we’ve seen at recent Apple events.

Adam Doud/ZDNET

It takes a truckload of accessories—a harness, lights, a USB hub, a microphone, and more—to make this machine work, but it’s all built around the same phone you and I could carry in our pocket. It’s the first time I’ve seen a professional production rig using Apple hardware, and if I had to guess, it won’t be the last.

2. Sneaking into the walled garden

In the interest of disclosure, I should point out that Honor provided travel and lodging for me to attend MWC, but Honor is the subject of my second observation. Honor launched the Magic V6 here, along with a bunch of other hardware, and a big part of its keynote was its Honor Connect software. Honor Connect enables file sharing between Honor and Apple devices, and even screen sharing from a MacBook to the Magic V6.

Jason Howell/ZDNET

This gives Apple fans the opportunity to experience a foldable phone while still using their other Apple hardware. If Apple won’t make a foldable, Honor is happy to stand in. The sharing isn’t as seamless as between an iPhone and a MacBook, but it’s fairly straightforward, so it might coax some Apple users who are curious about folding‑screen tech.

3. Breaking the iPhone Air’s limits

Tecno concepts are a mainstay at MWC. This year, the company showcased a modular phone design with magnetic attachments—camera lenses, stackable battery packs, and speakers—that you could add to the back. Whether this will work in practice remains to be seen.

Also: I tried Tecno’s modular phone concept at MWC – and it quickly got weird

If you look at the design, a familiar shape emerges. I’m talking about the Tecno Pova that the company shared with me at IFA last year, and the hints of the iPhone Air you can see in this design.

4. Shameless clones, everywhere

Adam Doud/ZDNET

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, and there is no shortage of Chinese phone makers flattering Apple. The absolute pinnacle of that flattery belongs to Oukitel. At the booth, Oukitel displayed what appears to be an iPhone 17 Pro Max clone—a large camera island and everything else. There wasn’t a model number, but a similar device nearby, the C17, had slightly different sensor placement. The clone looked like a stripped‑down iPhone with the Apple logo removed.

Also: iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 17: I compared the two models to decide which has the better value

Nearby, a Galaxy S26 Ultra clone was also on display. While both the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the S26 Ultra are aspirational devices, these clones inhabit an uncanny valley that feels a little dirty.

Apple’s influence on smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, audio, and many other verticals is undeniable. A company with so much swagger can’t help but influence the party, even if it never shows up.