Samsung, Apple, Infinix and Honor win GLOMO awards at MWC 2026

The 2026 edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona has concluded, with the GSMA announcing its annual GLOMO awards to recognize outstanding achievements in the mobile industry. This year's ceremony highlighted a diverse range of winners across multiple categories, from flagship smartphones to innovative battery technologies.

In a somewhat controversial decision, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra was named "best in show" despite not being officially announced at MWC 2026. The flagship device, which represents Samsung's latest Ultra offering in its S series lineup, apparently impressed the judges enough to earn the top honor even without a formal MWC unveiling. This marks a departure from tradition, as most "best in show" winners are typically devices announced during the event itself.

Similarly, the "best smartphone" category saw Apple's iPhone 17 Pro series take the award, despite these devices launching back in September 2025. The iPhone 17 Pro series, which includes both the standard Pro model and the Pro Max variant, represents Apple's latest premium offering with advanced camera systems, the A19 Pro chipset, and iOS 19 optimizations. The decision to award a device released six months prior to the event raises questions about the timing and relevance of the GLOMO awards.

The entry-level segment wasn't overlooked, with the Infinix Hot 60 Pro+ winning "best device" in its category. Released in July 2025, this budget-friendly smartphone from the Chinese manufacturer offers impressive specifications for its price point, including a large display, capable camera system, and long-lasting battery life. The Hot 60 Pro+ demonstrates how budget devices continue to improve in quality and features, making them increasingly competitive in the global smartphone market.

Honor received recognition for "disruptive device innovation" for its implementation and commercialization of silicon carbon battery technology. While the award description suggests Honor is the only brand pursuing this technology, silicon carbon batteries represent an important advancement in mobile power storage, offering higher energy density and faster charging capabilities compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. This innovation could significantly impact smartphone design by enabling thinner devices or longer battery life without increasing physical battery size.

The GLOMO awards encompass dozens of categories beyond device-specific honors, recognizing achievements in areas such as network infrastructure, applications, and industry initiatives. The full list of winners is available through the GSMA's official channels, providing a comprehensive overview of the mobile industry's most significant developments over the past year.

These awards come at a time when the mobile industry faces various challenges, including supply chain constraints, increasing competition in emerging markets, and the ongoing transition to 5G and beyond. The recognition of both established players like Samsung and Apple alongside emerging brands like Infinix and Honor reflects the diverse and evolving nature of the global smartphone ecosystem.

The timing of these awards, occurring after major device launches throughout 2025, suggests the GLOMO judging process considers a full year of technological developments rather than focusing solely on MWC announcements. This approach provides a more comprehensive evaluation of the industry's progress but may also create disconnect between the awards and the event itself.

For consumers and industry observers, the GLOMO awards serve as a barometer of technological trends and quality standards in mobile devices. The recognition of devices across different price segments and the emphasis on battery innovation highlight key areas of focus for manufacturers as they compete for market share in an increasingly saturated global smartphone market.