MWC 2013: what you need to know

While we initially thought these handsets would be for emerging markets only, it turns out that Nokia also hopes you'll want one as a back-up phone. Good luck with that, Nokia!

Nokia 105

It's just like an iPhone only nothing like one

You won't be surprised by the 105's specs, then. As John McCann writes in our hands on: "There's no camera, app store or social network integration, but what you do get is a phone which will make calls, handle text messages and even boasts a headphone jack if you fancy listening to some tunes."

Read more in our Hands on: Nokia 105 review.

Got a bit more to spend? Then why not splash out on the Nokia 301? There's no touchscreen but you do get a low resolution 2.4-inch display which sits above a 12-button keypad.

"As with the 105, the Nokia 301 will likely do very well in emerging markets," writes our John McCann, adding: "With the advent of low-cost and feature packed Android handsets in Europe it will probably struggle to break through."

Read more in our Hands on: Nokia 301 review.

So it was the Nokia Lumia 720 that caught our eye on the Nokia stand. The new handset joins Nokia's Lumia range, slotting in around the Lumia 620, 820 and 920 for Windows Phone 8.

Nokia Lumia 720

The Lumia 720 is a snappy performer

We sent deputy editor Dan Grabham off to check it out, and here's what he said: "The Lumia 720 doesn't have the high end features we've come to expect from the more expensive Lumias but it does have a decent spec sheet for something that's bound to be available on next-to-nothing contracts."

For further thoughts, and a whole load of pics, check out our Hands on: Nokia Lumia 720 review.

While at the Nokia stand, we also had some time with the 4-inch Lumia 520. This Windows Phone 8 handset could do rather well, as a low budget handset for those who don't want an over-complicated or over-equipped smartphone, Dan reckons, writing in our Hands on: Nokia Lumia 520 review.

Nokia Lumia 520

Specs have been trimmed for the Lumia 520 to hit its price point

"It's not a handset for those who really want a Windows Phone," says Dan, "but rather it's one for those who want a budget smartphone. For that type of purchaser, the cheap and cheerful nature of the 520 will surely appeal."

Samsung at MWC 2013

Samsung announced the long-rumoured Galaxy Note 8 tablet on Sunday ahead of the show's opening after it was photographed on the Samsung stand.

While we got some specs (8-inch 1280 x 800 Super Clear LCD display, Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, 1.6GHz ARM-quad-core processor and 2GB RAM) Samsung has so far neglected to name a price. We do know that the release date has been set for Q2 2013, though.

TechRadar's phones and tablets editor Gareth Beavis got a good chunk of time with the supersized Note, where he noted (ahem): "The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a great device that finally gives the Korean firm a chance to compete at the 8-inch size range with a tablet that doesn't skimp on specs". However, while Samsung remains tight-lipped on the price he points out that it's hard for us to give a firmer opinion at this stage.

Read our full thoughts, and the price that we'd like to see the Note 8 debut at, in our Hands on: Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 review.

We weren't expecting to see Samsung's eagerly anticipated Galaxy S4 in Barcelona - we'll be at the S4's unveiling on March 14 - so we contented ourselves by spending some quality time with the Samsung Galaxy Fame, the Samsung Galaxy Grand, the Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Young.

The Fame (Faaaaaaaaaame!) won't light up the sky like a flame, but as a budget phone it could sell bucketloads, while the Samsung Galaxy Grand is like a Galaxy Note 2 only cheaper and with somewhat underwhelming specs.

Global Editor-in-Chief

After watching War Games and Tron more times that is healthy, Paul (Twitter, Google+) took his first steps online via a BBC Micro and acoustic coupler back in 1985, and has been finding excuses to spend the day online ever since. This includes roles editing .net magazine, launching the Official Windows Magazine, and now as Global EiC of TechRadar.