A modular phone, a neon-glowing handset, and one that matches your outfit – Tecno’s MWC trio is wild

If MWC 2026 is good for one thing, it’s for concepts that absolutely don’t need to exist – but we’re very glad they do. And this year, Tecno has turned up with not one, not two, but three concept handsets that inject some much-needed novelty into the smartphone world.

First up is the modular one. Tecno’s latest concept can measure as little as 4.9mm thick in its base configuration, which is impressively slim compared to the best phones, even before you start bolting things onto it. The idea revolves around magnets – or, as Tecno calls it, Modular Magnetic Interconnection Technology – allowing snap-on modules to attach cleanly to the back.

There are reportedly up to ten modules in the works, including different camera lenses, a gaming attachment, and even a power bank. It’s part Moto Mods revival, part Google Project Ara throwback, with a hint of LG G5 energy thrown in for good measure. In other words, we’ve been here before, with little to show for it. Still, as a showcase of what a thin, adaptable handset could look like in 2026, it’s certainly intriguing.

It’s a hard act to follow, but how about a phone that literally glows?

Enter the Pova Neon – a handset that uses actual neon lighting via “ionised inert gas lighting technology” embedded into the rear panel, rather than chucking in a bunch of RGB LEDs and calling it a day (via The Verge).

Purely cosmetic as far as we can tell, there are no other specs available. We also couldn’t spot it at the Tecno stand on the MWC show floor, but if the glow matches the description, it’s a welcome addition to a sea of boring matte glass slabs. Whether or not this (or any of Tecno’s concepts) makes it to shelves though, remains to be seen.

And if that’s all a bit loud for your tastes, Tecno also has something more pared back in the form of an AI E Ink concept – a handset with an electronic ink back panel that lets you change its finish on the fly. Even better, you can use the camera to sample a colour – say, from your outfit – and have the rear panel match it with a single snap. 

Unlike the neon concept, this one actually feels like it could make the jump to a real device in the near future. E Ink panels are already used in various secondary displays and cases, and a dynamic colour-shifting back doesn’t sound wildly out of reach.

As with all concept hardware at MWC though, there’s no guarantee any of these will ever ship. But at least they’re entertaining.

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