For geeks like us, the Mobile World Congress is one of the highlights of the year, as sunny Barcelona plays host to the latest and greatest gear from the world's leading hardware manufacturers.
This year has been no exception, with the announcement of a number of long-awaited flagship devices – as well as some suprises to keep things interesting!
Unfortunately, I've managed to spend Geek Squad's entire transport budget on in-app purchases for Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector, so I couldn't manage to be there in person. But I've been watching the webcasts like a particularly tech-obsessed hawk, so I'm still well-equipped to bring you all the news you need to know.
From exciting new flagships from the likes of Samsung and LG to the ever-more-impressive worlds of virtual reality, these are the technologies that will define the next 12 months. Let's take a closer look at some of the highlights!
Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
For many tech-lovers, this was the one to watch out for – and good old Sammy delivered in spades.
On the surface, not too much has changed from last year's S6 models. That said, those phones represented a big leap forwards from Samsung's earlier models, which sometimes faced accusations of cheap and plasticy design. No such faults here with the device's slick curves and glass-and-metal construction.
But the real innovation is in the tech, not the looks. The S7 features a camera with "Dual Pixel sensor" technology, which theoretically places it on par with a dedicated DSLR. And you'll be able to take those pro-quality snaps in all weather conditions, too, as the new device is now certified waterproof! Finally, those who lamented the loss of the microSD card slot in the S6 will be delighted to learn that it makes a welcome return in the new devices.
The Galaxy S series is undoubtedly the A-lister of the Android world, and the S7 is a worthy new addition to the lineup – and te new phone will be hitting the market on the 11th of March. If it sounds like your sort of thing, you can find out even more here in Agent Lee's detailed first look.
LG G5
The other major flagship that got our hearts beating at MWC this year was LG's latest, the G5. Often, manufacturers play it safe with their flagship lines – but for the G5, the Korean manufacturer has tried something, in the words of our own Agent Lee, "as unexpected as it is revolutionary".
Unlike most flagship devices, the G5 has a removable battery, which slides out of a slot in the bottom. And it's this same slot that holds the phone's most innovative feature: modular hardware add-ons that LG calls 'friends'.
The Cam Plus adds a grip, shutter button and focus wheel; the Hi-Fi Plus boosts your audio with a Bang & Olufsen amplifier, and the 360 Cam uses twin 13-megapixel sensorts to capture a full 360-degree environment. Other modules include a VR headset, an analogue control stick and even a BB8-style spherical robot!
The G5 is an impressive flagship in its own right, but these 'friends' really set it apart. The new device will be hitting stores in April, with no price announced yet. Keep an eye out for Agent Lee's in-depth first look – it'll be hitting the Geek Squad Knowledge Vault on Tuesday.
HP Elite x3
Think of HP, and you don't generally think of fancy mobile tech. Workaday, businesslike laptops perhaps – but surely nothing to get excited about?
Well, perhaps not – but you have to applaud the hardware giant for trying something a little different with their new Windows Phone-powered Elite x3 phablet.
The six-inch device features impeccable specs: there's 4GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage alongside a 16-megapixel camera – and, unusually, a set of high-powered Bang & Olufsen speakers.
But the really original idea behind the Elite x3 is that it's designed to be your desktop PC as well! The device features a dock that brings USB, Ethernet and HDMI functionality – or you can also simply pair it to a wireless display. Do so, and Windows Phone's 'Continuum' feature provides a flawless, desktop-like Windows experience – so you can settle down for some serious work in whatever office you find yourself.
Okay, that might not sound like too much fun to happy-go-lucky geeks like you and me – but for the device's target market of business and enterprise users, it's going to be a massive selling point. The device will be available this summer, although no price has been announced yet.
Virtual Reality
As our own Agent Strevens recently explored, virtual reality is making a comeback in a big way in 2016– and that's something that was frequently in evidence at MWC this year.
Facebook honcho and noted hoodie-wearer Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance during Samsung's press even to sing the praises of VR technology and its potential applications: “VR is the next platform, where anyone can create and experience anything they want [...] That’s why Facebook is investing so much in VR, so we can deliver these new social experiences. VR is going to be the next social platform." Facebook, of course, are the owners of the long-awaited Oculus Rift VR headset, due to make its commercial appearance later this year.
Elsewhere, HTC announced the price of their ultra-swanky Vive headset, which will be hitting the market at an eye-watering $799. That's even more than the Rift, whose own $599 prince point has come under fire for pricing out all but the wealthiest explorers of virtual worlds. VR might indeed be the platform of the futute – but for now, at least, most of us will simply have to make do with the present.
ZTE D1 Smartwatch with Sonar Fish Finder
In the crowded wearables market, some manufacturers are differentiating their products by focusing on clothing rather than the well-worn smartwatch format– but Chinese manufacturer ZTE is coming at things from a different, ahem, angle.
The Android-compatible D1 does many of the usual things you'd expect from a smartwatch: it can make and receive calls, track your heart rate and other fitness data, and supports Bluetooth music. But the reason it's really on this list is simple: it's the first smartwatch specifically designed to help you catch fish.
The watch comes with a Wi-Fi enabled float which you can cast out on river, lake or ocean. This float then sends sonar pings down to a depth of up to 36 metres, which then bounce back and provide data about what lies beneath.
The watch then displays information including the water depth and temperature, the contour of the bottom and, of course, fish location and depth.
It's certainly a niche device – but for the committed tech-fan who's also a committed angler, this could actually be a pretty great perch-ase. (Sorry.)
That's the end of our MWC 2016 overview – but if any of these weird and wonderful gadgets tickle your fancy, why not let us know in the comments below? And for more great articles delivered to your inbox each month, don't forget to get your name down below for the Geek Squad newsletter!