The biggest phone launch event of 2021 just got delayed by four months
- The Mobile World Congress 2021 was postponed from the beginning of March to the end of June.
- This could delay the introduction of phones for brands that depend on MWC.
- The organizers hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will no longer pose a safety problem by then.
Phone manufacturers typically flock to the Mobile World Congress in late February or March to showcase their latest devices. However, you might wait a while before you see these products. The GSMA has postponed MWC 2021 from March 1 to June 28, or nearly four months later than expected.
You won’t be surprised to hear the argument. Just when the GSMA canceled this year’s Mobile World Congress due to COVID-19 pandemic problems, the organizers are not convinced that they can safely hold the event in February 2021. This increases the chances of having the “unique, unmissable experience” of a face-to-face meeting, the GSMA said.
The show will continue to include online components that “complement” the physical event, the association added. MWC Shanghai 2021 has also been postponed to February 23.
Continue reading: The best phones from MWC 2019
This can cause delays on some phone starts. Brands like LG, Sony, and Nokia (HMD Global) often feature hardware at Mobile World Congress to maximize impact. Now they have to choose whether to wait until June 2021 or bring out phones without so much fanfare. You may just be waiting if scheduled phones don’t ship right away. In other words, early spring could be calm.
It is not surprising if some phone manufacturers ignore the delay and release phones earlier, even if the startup events have to be virtual. Huawei and Samsung likely won’t mind. They often held separate introductions weeks before or after MWC. Still, don’t be surprised if much of the phone’s usual startup cycle is delayed by a few months – assuming the pandemic doesn’t result in further delays or another canceled show.
