The MWC Barcelona Show, a flagship event for the mobile industry, was held from February 26 to 29. In a gloomy context of a historic decline in global sales, manufacturers are showing boldness and innovation, particularly by focusing on AI.

Key figures for the smartphone market were released as the show opened, confirming an expected decline in global sales, although they remain very high, with 1.2 billion units sold in 2023.

Manufacturers therefore focused on innovation at the MWC to revive users' appetite for smartphones.

Many of them have opted for the integration of artificial intelligence, AI, to upgrade their services and relaunch the race for innovation. But let's say it right away: we will not find generative AI on smartphones in 2024, even high-end ones. We will therefore have to wait a little longer to truly stop talking into our smartphones, but to our smartphones...

Before this future upgrading already awaited, a small anthology of the stars and novelties of this 2024 show open to "intelligence", with the sale prices announced by the manufacturers. We will note in passing that this step towards soft-innovation has a cost: even Chinese production flirts or even happily exceeds the threshold of €1000 per mobile!

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max:

  • Featuring an AI-powered quad camera system, iPhone 15 Pro Max captures photos with exceptional sharpness and clarity in any condition.
  • Its voice assistant Siri has been enhanced with AI, offering a deeper understanding of the user's needs and providing more relevant and useful answers.
  • Sale price: from €1,359.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra:

  • Built-in camera AI lets Galaxy S26 Ultra automatically identify subjects and adjust settings for flawless photos and videos.
  • Samsung's AI-powered real-time translation system delivers seamless communication in over 100 languages.
  • Sale price: from €1249.

Google Pixel 8 Pro:

  • With its new AI-powered personal assistant, the Google Pixel 8 Pro anticipates user needs, plans tasks, and provides personalized recommendations for maximum productivity.
  • The Pixel 8 Pro's Face Unlock feature uses AI algorithms for accurate and secure recognition, even in the dark.
  • Sale price: from €1099.

Honor Magic 6 Pro:

  • The AI built into the Magic 6vPro delivers an advanced photography experience with automatic scene detection and intelligent suggestions for optimal settings.
  • Thanks to AI, the latest from Honor will learn from its users' habits to speed up usage: extradition of email addresses, opening of GPS apps, etc.
  • Sale price: From €1199.

Xiaomi Mi 14 Ultra:

  • With AI, the Xiaomi Mi 14 Ultra optimizes battery performance by intelligently predicting device usage and adjusting settings.
  • Still thanks to AI, the new flagship of the Chinese brand aims to expand users' photo creativity.
  • Its facial unlocking system uses AI algorithms for fast and secure recognition.
  • Sale price: From €1499.

These smartphone models demonstrate the potential of integrating AI into our mobile devices. By offering innovative features, improved performance and a more intuitive user experience than ever before, they are likely paving the way for a new generation of truly “smarter” smartphones. But the use of AI should not be an excuse for a price increase unrelated to the improvement in the service provided.