Google Pixel 8 wins ‘best smartphone’ award at MWC 2024

Google Pixel 8’s camera capabilities and AI impress judges to win ‘Best Smartphone’ award.

The Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona has entered its last day, and the big winner of the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) this year in the smartphone category is Google’s Pixel 8 series.

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro beat out several other flagship devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 series, the Z Flip5, and the OnePlus Open, to take home the coveted ‘Best Smartphone’ award.

The Pixel phones were recognised for their “outstanding performance, innovation and leadership,” according to the GSMA, the organisation behind the GLOMO awards. Google’s Pixel series has quickly become known for its camera capabilities powered by advanced AI and computational photography. The new Pixel 8 models build on that foundation with updated camera hardware and generative AI-powered editing features.

While Apple and Samsung have traded off winning this award in recent years, this marks the first time Google has claimed the top smartphone prize. The Apple iPhone 14 Pro took the title in 2023 and the iPhone 13 Pro Max won in 2022. But in 2021, it was the Galaxy S21 Ultra that took home the award.

In addition to Google’s win, Qualcomm took home the ‘Breakthrough Device Innovation’ award for its new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. According to judges, Qualcomm deserved recognition for “core hardware and software innovation within smartphone devices themselves.”

Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra was awarded ‘Best Connected Consumer Device,’ beating out products like augmented reality glasses, smartwatches, and more. The Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra impressed with its seamless integration of smartphone and PC capabilities in one portable device.

Rounding out the major device awards, the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Edition foldable phone won ‘Best in Show’ for its novel supercar-inspired design. Unveiled at MWC 2023, the device made a strong first impression on tech journalists and industry experts.

While Mobile World Congress 2023 did not see many groundbreaking new product announcements, it still provided a platform for these companies to showcase their latest advancements.

By Indian Express