CES used to be king when it came to device launches. While the annual show in Las Vegas still attracts a huge audience, most of the flagship device launches have departed from the show. Instead, we’re seeing many major flagships being launched at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

2016 is no different, with Samsung, Sony and LG all coming out to announce their latest flagships at the show. While all of them are interesting in their own ways, all of us inevitably come to choose our own personal favorite.

The LG G5 is the most intriguing device from Mobile World Congress.

LG has spent years trying to carve its own niche into the smartphone market. The company has tried numerous different approaches, with some striking gold and others failing to impress. Nonetheless, LG hasn’t given up and this year’s flagship, the LG G5, shows that the company isn’t afraid to separate itself from the pack and try something entirely different.

LG has designed the G5 as a study in conceptual technologies. The G5 differentiates itself primarily in regards to its modular design, making it one of the first phones of its kind. At this early point in the device’s life, LG has already shown three uses for the G5′s modular body. Users can swap the battery, add advanced camera controls and a dedicated grip, or give the device a Hi-Fi audio chip.

The bottom of the G5′s metal body functions much like a gun clip, simply sliding out when you press the release mechanism. Users can then slide in a new piece, changing the functionality of the device.

While fully modular phones such as Project Ara are currently being prototyped, the LG G5 brings the concept of modular design into the mainstream market. Modular designs are a relatively new technology, which means that most manufacturers are playing things safe and holding off until they can be assured that modular designs will bring in a profit.

LG, however, isn’t afraid of ushering in the new tech. The company is drawing a distinct line of separation between itself and its competitors. It’s taking the initiative and trying something new. There’s no guarantee that the implementation will be flawless, but the fact that LG is willing to branch out speaks volumes about the company and its forward-thinking approach.

Perhaps the most important feature of the modular design is that LG is essentially taking a new step into future-proofing its devices. It’s unclear how many uses are possible for the G5′s modular design, but LG could have more than a few tricks up its sleeve for expanding the phone’s future capabilities.

Perhaps most interesting of all is that the modular design is only one part of the G5′s new features. LG is also toying with other concepts such as an always-on display, dual-camera setup and a slew of accessories designed to enhance and improve the capabilities of the LG G5.

In essence, LG is throwing a hodge-podge of new technologies into the LG G5 and its accompanying accessories, testing and experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t.

In doing so, LG has created the most intriguing device of Mobile World Congress. The G5 is a compilation of hardware and software that knows no bounds and isn’t afraid to step outside of the comfort zone that manufacturers have created. It doesn’t aim to appeal to everyone, but instead aims to move the market forward, prompting others to take risks and bring concepts to reality.

In truth, the LG G5 is just what the market needed, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.

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