It is February 2023 (at the time of writing) and this can mean only one thing; we're heading to MWC in Barcelona to check out what exhibitors have got lined up for us over the next 12 months.

As is customary at such events, MUO has selected a handful of devices to win awards for being the best tech we saw at the conference. Given that MWC is a mobile-centric expo, we've got plenty of new smartphones to wow your eyeballs with.

Check this lot out...

MakeUseOf Best of MWC 2023 Awards

We've got plenty of awards here, so without further ado, let's see which devices won!

Honor Magic5 Pro

Honor has pulled it out of the bag this year, netting itself no less than three awards at MWC 2023. The first in line is the magnificent Magic5 Pro, the latest flagship smartphone from the brand.

Building on the impressive Magic4 Pro, launched at MWC 22, the brand has pulled no punches in releasing its new handset. Boasting a massive 5100mAh battery, a gorgeous LPTO display, and a camera that has seen the phone top DXOMARK rankings above all other smartphones, this is easily THE smartphone that excited us most at MWC 23.

Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 5G Modem

Qualcomm is shaking up the mobile connectivity space yet again, this time with the successor to the Snapdragon X70 modem, which resides in 5G smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC.

Now, we have the X75; the latest modem chip from the brand. It is smaller than the X70, and also reportedly uses less power, so you can stay connected for longer. The chip also complies with forthcoming 5G Advanced, which we'll see in the likes of connected cars and so on.

Honor Magic5 Lite

The Honor Magic5 Lite follows its beefier sibling, bringing an affordable device that doesn't skimp on features. It actually has a better battery than the Pro version, packing a 5200mAh cell into the lightweight device.

The 5Lite comes with an impressive OLED screen, which looks great; particularly so for a smartphone at this price point. We've reviewed the Honor Magic5 Lite in full, so go and check out exactly what made this an Editor's Choice handset, and why it takes an award at this year's MWC, too.

NUBIA Pad 3D

Could NUBIA be about to revive the Android tablet landscape? For several years, we've heard people saying that the Android tablet market is all but dead. Now, though, NUBIA steps in with its incredible Pad 3D; a tablet capable of displaying content in 3D, but without the need to wear 3D glasses.

This is the kind of innovation we love to see at tech shows. You really need to witness the device for yourself to understand how breathtaking the 3D display actually is, but take it from us, it suitably wowed when we saw the device for the first time.

TECNO PHANTOM V Fold

TECNO enters the foldable space with its new, and very impressive, PHANTOM V Fold. This is the first foldable smartphone from the brand, and it genuinely looks to pose quite the threat to the bigger players on the foldable smartphone scene.

Boasting two 120Hz LTPO AMOLED screens, a MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC, no less than five (yes, five) camera lenses, and a 5000mAh battery with 45W fast charging, TECNO has crafted a very competitive device here that is certain to prove popular among foldable fans.

And yes, it folds flat, so there is no gap at the hinge.

Huawei Watchbuds

Sometimes you forget your earbuds, and really, it is

a total pain. So, what do you do in such a case? You should store your earbuds inside your watch! This might seem like an outrageous concept, but Huawei has pulled it off with style, thanks to the Watchbuds.

So, how does this work? Well, flip your stylish hinged watch face open, and you'll find a pair of earbuds charged and ready to go. Plus, close the watch face again and you've got a stylish fascia, fully connected to your Huawei Health app on whatever smartphone you install it!

Bullitt Motorola Defy Satellite Link

We stumbled across this little gizmo at Showstoppers, which takes place the day prior to day one of MWC, and it blew us away. Why? Because it could literally save not just your life, but the life of anyone owning the device, and even those around you (in an emergency situation).

Imagine you're out hiking and you take a tumble on some rocks. Just pull out your little Bullitt puck, tap the SOS button, and you're immediately connected, via satellite, to Bullitt's rescue partner, Overwatch & Rescue, which has trained rescuers poised to come and save you in a flash.

There are so many use cases for this device that we simply had to give Bullitt an award,

Mymanu Clik S

Imagine you're in a country where you don't speak the native language. Understanding conversation can prove difficult. Not with the Mymanu Clik S in your ears, These earbuds not only cover music playback, like any earbuds, but they can translate language in real-time.

So, next time you're out of your linguistic comfort zone, you can simply wear the Mymanu Clik S earbuds, and they will translate whatever language you're trying to communicate in, as though you're fully conversant with whomever it is you're speaking with. Leave Google or Apple Translate in your bag. Mymanu has got you covered. Another Showstoppers favorite.

Honor Magic Vs

If you follow our smartphone reviews, then you'll know that Honor's new foldable, the Vs, is setting the bar high. It folds flush; a feat even Samsung is yet to master with its silly wedge-shaped handset, and it packs in all of that hardware goodness we've come to expect from Honor since it split from Huawei.

Honestly, this is a foldable you want in your pocket, and with two stunning OLED screens, Honor's excellent camera tech, a hinge so innovative we awarded that separately, and a 5000mAh battery that'll keep you going for days, it represents an excellent investment.

Doogee V Max

Doogee knows how to command the rugged handset market, as has been clear for generations. Now, though, it brings its V Max handset to market, and it is easily our favorite rugged handset to date. Why? Because it is so feature-rich.

eSim? Check. Unheard-of 22000mAh (not a typo, you read correctly, twenty-two thousand) capacity battery, a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 5G SoC, a 120Hz display, and a 108MP main sensor, and you've got all the hallmarks of a flagship device, except you won't break it when your clumsy fingers lose grip.

HTC Vive XR Elite

You'll know HTC Vive for its forays into the world of VR. Cross-reality is very much the buzzword right now, and HTC Vive has stepped to the side of traditional VR headsets, for which it is well known, to bring an all-encompassing device courtesy of the XR Elite.

The XR Elite is a standalone headset, so you don't need all sorts of additional peripherals to enter the virtual environment the XR places before you. Simply pop the headset on and away you go, tapping into a world of pure imagination.

Oukitel Abearl P5000

When it comes to portable power stations, Oukitel caught our eye at MWC this year. The P5000 is a model we reviewed recently and we found it to be super powerful.

The Oukitel Abearl P5000 has a 5120 kWh capacity and 2200 W AC output. The battery also has a pretty long lifespan with up to 3,500 charge cycles. This 50kg power station is one you want to have in your home during a power outage!

MWC 2023: Awarded

Now you know which devices have caught our attention, you'll be well-positioned to jump right in when the time to invest is right. From foldable phones to life-saving devices, via the latest in mobile modem tech, our awards bring you the crème de la crème of MWC 2023.