The Oukitel phone (left) next to the iPhone 17 Pro (right). It's uncanny. Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the largest trade shows in the world dedicated to mobile technology. From new handsets to infrastructure to 6G (and I'm not even kidding), there were announcements, keynotes, and hardware aplenty to take in. One notable brand that typically sits out of the show, though, is Apple.
Also: This robotic camera phone is going viral at MWC, and I can see why
The Cupertino company didn't come to Barcelona, Spain, even though it had hardware to show off. But just because Apple didn't attend the trade show doesn't mean it wasn't there in any capacity. In fact, Apple's presence was felt in every corner of the show floor, and I found four notable examples of Apple showing up, even when it didn't.
1. The cameras recording us all
One of the first things I noticed at MWC was a camera crew running around, grabbing footage of the event for the show Mobile World Live, but when I looked closer, I saw something super interesting. At the beating heart of this camera rig is none other than an iPhone 17 Pro Max, with all manner of attachments enabling a production style similar to what we've seen at recent Apple events.
Adam Doud/ZDNET
Sure, it takes a truckload of accessories, including a harness, lights, a USB hub, a microphone, and more, to make this machine work, but it's all built around the same phone you and I could carry in our pocket. It's the first time I'd seen a professional production rig using Apple hardware, and if I had to guess, it won't be the last.
2. Sneaking into the walled garden
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