Why did devices not launched at MWC win awards?

Both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Series were announced before MWC. GLOMO Awards evaluate the best innovations across the full annual cycle — not exclusively devices unveiled at the show itself. This is consistent with the awards' historical approach.

What specific feature pushed Galaxy S26 Ultra to Best in Show?

The world's first built-in Privacy Display was the decisive factor highlighted by judges — hardware-level privacy protection integrated directly into the screen, rather than external screen protectors.

Why did Honor win for silicon carbon batteries when other brands also use them?

The judging criteria focused on "implementation and commercialization" of the technology — as explicitly stated in the award description. As GSMArena observed, this is debatable given how widely the technology has been adopted.

Is the Best Device under $150 category new?

Yes — this is one of six new award categories introduced in 2026, reflecting the industry's accelerating focus on affordability and digital inclusion. Infinix's win signals the GSMA's formal recognition of the emerging-market smartphone segment.

How significant is the GLOMO Best in Show for Samsung commercially?

The Galaxy S26 series was already seeing strong pre-order demand — with early indicators suggesting it could surpass the Galaxy S25 series' approximately 1.3 million pre-orders. The Best in Show win provides third-party validation that no marketing budget can replicate.

GLOMO Awards 2026: Galaxy S26 Ultra Best in Show at MWC, iPhone 17 Pro Best Phone

GLOMO Awards 2026 at MWC Barcelona: Galaxy S26 Ultra Wins Best in Show, iPhone 17 Pro Takes Best Smartphone

The GSMA announced the winners of the 31st annual Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards at MWC 2026 in Barcelona — over 30 awards across six categories, judged by a panel of more than 250 independent experts from around the world.

Best in Show: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Galaxy S26 Ultra won Best in Show for its seamless blend of advanced hardware and intuitive, proactive One UI 8.5 software, with Galaxy AI delivering adaptive, context-aware intelligence that simplifies everyday tasks while safeguarding security and privacy.

Shaun Collins, Chair of the Judges, said: "The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra stood out for pushing the boundaries of mobile technology while delivering meaningful, real-world impact. In particular, its privacy innovation addresses one of the most important needs of today's digital lifestyle — security, personal space and trust."

The judging panel drew a pointed contrast with much of what was on show at MWC: many technologies at the event highlight the future, but this is a product consumers can experience today.

The standout feature: Galaxy S26 Ultra introduced the world's first built-in Privacy Display — a breakthrough in display engineering giving users a more private yet vibrant viewing experience.

Best Smartphone: Apple iPhone 17 Pro Series

Apple won the Best Smartphone award for the iPhone 17 Pro series. Notably, the iPhone 17 Pro Series launched back in September and wasn't announced at MWC — and it won as a "series" rather than a single device.

Other Device Awards

Disruptive Device Innovation went to Honor for the implementation and commercialization of silicon carbon battery technology in commercial devices. Best Connected Consumer Device was awarded jointly to Garmin, Skylo, and Sony Altair for the Garmin fēnix 8 Pro Multisport Smartwatches. Best Device under $150 went to Infinix for the HOT 60 Pro+.

Tech4Good

Dots for Inc. won the Digital Inclusion and Usage-Gap Impact award for DC Box Network, a village-scale digital hub connecting underserved rural communities across Africa. The Best Mobile Innovation for Climate Action award went to K-water for its AI-powered smart water network management platform.

Lifetime and Chairman's Awards

The Chairman's Award was jointly presented to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General, and Kelly Clements, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, for maintaining global connectivity during crises. The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises.

GLOMO Going Global

The GSMA announced new regional GLOMO events: GLOMOs LATAM in Mexico City in May 2026, the inaugural GLOMOs Africa at MWC Kigali in June 2026, and the Asia Mobile Awards transitioning into GLOMOs Asia at MWC Shanghai in June 2026.

GLOMO Awards 2026: Galaxy S26 Ultra Best in Show at MWC, iPhone 17 Pro Best Phone — Full List of Winners