Chinese company Tecno used MWC 2026 to showcase developments in hardware design that move away from the standard "brick" look of modern smartphones. The standout device presented by the company is the Pova Neon, a concept model that integrates physical lighting technology on the back of the device instead of regular LED lights.
The Pova Neon is equipped with a rear chamber containing ionized inert gas. The use of gas creates a visual effect that simulates live lightning flowing through the phone’s body. During testing at the company’s booth, it appeared that the light currents follow the user’s finger movement when touching the back glass. Despite the visual impression, it seems that at this stage the technology is intended for demonstrating capabilities only and not as a shelf product; the device displayed at the exhibition was anchored to a large base unit, which was presumably required to operate the system.
Alongside the Pova Neon, Tecno presented a concept for a modular device based on magnetic connection. The technology, called "Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology," allows various accessories to be attached to the back of the device, using artificial intelligence for synchronization and operation. This is an attempt to revive the idea of modular phones, which other companies abandoned in the past, using strong magnets instead of complex mechanical connections.
At this stage, the manufacturer did not provide timelines for marketing the devices or data on the gas chamber’s durability in daily use. The technologies presented mainly serve as a statement of intent regarding the company’s future design directions, aiming to combine unconventional materials with AI-based processing capabilities.
"Innovation in the smartphone world is no longer focused solely on technological power and device performance, but places significant emphasis on user experience and personalization," said Dror Bahat, marketing VP of Pelephone. "Concept models like these generate great interest and differentiation in a crowded and competitive market, in a world where many consumers seek uniqueness and a genuine connection between the device and their lifestyle. Although at this stage these are conceptual devices and not shelf products, our role is to closely follow the trends presented at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, identify what is relevant for the Israeli consumer, understand which of these innovations will truly translate into demand, and ultimately bring them to the local market."
The author attended the exhibition as a guest of Pelephone.