MWC Shanghai 2025: AI & 5G Applications and Device Innovations

1
Jul 9, 2025

PDF | 31 Pages

Overview

MWC Shanghai 2025 highlighted the growing impact of 5G-Advanced and AI across networks, devices, and applications. Chinese carriers and tech companies demonstrated key innovations through keynotes and forums, with a strong focus on mobile network operators, smart city development, and IoT-driven use cases. Standout technologies included AI-powered devices, foldables, servers, and eSIM. This wrap-up report from Counterpoint Research provides an overview of the major announcements and trends shaping the mobile ecosystem.

Tablet of Contents

  • Keynotes and Forums
  • Mobile Network Operators
  • Smart City
  • IoT
  • Systems and Devices

AUTHORS

Neil Shah
Vice President of Research
Counterpoint Research

Marc Einstein
Research Director
Counterpoint Research

Ethan Qi
Senior Analyst
Counterpoint Research

Shenghao Bai
Senior Analyst
Counterpoint Research

Shaochen Wang
Research Analyst
Counterpoint Research

Hanumant Pawar
Research Analyst
Counterpoint Research

Kyunghwan Shin
Research Analyst
Counterpoint Research

Summary

Published

Jul 9, 2025

Author

Hanumant Pawar

Hanumant Pawar, in Counterpoint's IoT research, focuses on the cellular IoT module market and applications like smart meters and point-of-sale devices. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Pune University.

Kyunghwan Shin

Kyung Hwan is a Analyst at Counterpoint Technology Market Research. He currently works in smartphone market and TWS devices. He is focusing on smartphone market forecast, especially on price band.

Shenghao Bai

Shenghao Bai is a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, specializing in Teardown & BoM analysis and smartphone supply chain research. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Shenghao has extensive experience working with leading smartphone and smart device companies, including Samsung Electronics, OPPO, and Xiaomi, where he oversaw hardware development and project management across a range of products. His expertise spans product planning and emerging technology trends.

Ethan Qi

Ethan is an associate director in Counterpoint's Greater China team, dedicated to research of smart device, semicondutor and BoM analysis, and emerging technologies. Ethan has been working in the handset and semiconductor industry for 10+ years. Prior to joining Counterpoint Research, Ethan served Coolpad, VIA and Intel sequentially as senior technology researcher and product manager respectively.

Marc Einstein

Marc has over 20 years of experience in the ICT technology research and consulting focusing largely on the Telecommunications and Enterprise IT sectors. Prior to joining Counterpoint Research Marc held several senior positions in industry analyst firms in the USA, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan. Based in Tokyo since 2010, Marc is a regular speaker at industry events and a frequent TV panelist. Marc also spent time in the strategy department of the largest mobile gaming company in Japan. A speaker of 6 languages, Marc holds a BSBA in Finance from Washington University in St. Louis and was a visiting student at Rangsit University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Neil Shah

Neil is a sought-after frequently-quoted Industry Analyst with a wide spectrum of rich multifunctional experience. He is a knowledgeable, adept, and accomplished strategist. In the last 18 years he has offered expert strategic advice that has been highly regarded across different industries especially in telecom. Prior to Counterpoint, Neil worked at Strategy Analytics as a Senior Analyst (Telecom). Neil also had an opportunity to work with Philips Electronics in multiple roles. He is also an IEEE Certified Wireless Professional with a Master of Science (Telecommunications & Business) from the University of Maryland, College Park, USA.