The show floor at Mobile World Congress Shanghai felt different this year. Folded phones were no longer curiosities tucked in demo cases. They were the headlines, the models people gathered around, the devices that changed how the conversation on mobile design sounded.
Organizers unveiled the inaugural GLOMO Awards Asia during the event, an evolution of the long-running Asia Mobile Awards. It was a symbolic shift: the same industry recognition, refreshed for a moment when hardware and imagination are sprinting forward together.
Foldables in the spotlight
Two handsets walked away with the top honors. Honor's Magic V6 picked up two awards: Best Smartphone and Disruptive Device Innovation. Vivo's X Fold6 claimed Best In Show - Product, capping a rollout that became official at the event. Both are book-style foldables, but they point in different directions when you look closer.
The Magic V6, which launched in March, impressed judges with design choices that marry sleekness and function. It is a phone that wants to be seen as a flagship—no gimmicks, just thoughtful engineering. The dual recognition it received speaks to both everyday usability and bold hardware thinking.
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The vivo X Fold6, unveiled today, leaned into refinement and polish. Its Best In Show nod wasn't just about specs. It was about the complete experience: materials, hinge behavior, software smoothing, and the way these pieces come together when you actually use the phone for a day.
Why does this matter? Because foldables are transitioning. Once, they were headline-grabbers for the novelty of having a foldable display. Now, the question is whether they belong in pockets and meeting rooms and photo shoots without asking permission. Awards like these spotlight which designs are proving their case.
There is an undercurrent here about risk and reward. Honor earned praise for daring to push an idea that still feels fresh. Vivo's approach rewarded patience and iteration. Two different philosophies. Both valid. Both influential.
MWC Shanghai runs from June 24 to June 26. The GLOMO Awards Asia, launched this year, mark a new chapter for regional industry recognition and reflect how manufacturers are refocusing priorities: build something usable, then make it aspirational.
If you're tracking where phones are headed, watch the foldable segment closely. The Magic V6 and X Fold6 are not just trophies on a shelf. They are signals. Expect more manufacturers to chase their blend of durability, polish, and real-world usefulness in the months ahead.




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