Huawei held a product launch event in Dubai, introducing the HUAWEI Pura 80 Series smartphones and the HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 tablet. The company also announced the return of its XMAGE Awards to the Grand Palais in Paris for Paris Photo 2025.

The event, themed “Fashion Next,” showcased Huawei’s latest products and highlighted its approach to technology and design.

HUAWEI Pura 80 Series
The HUAWEI Pura 80 Series, positioned as the imaging flagship of the Pura Series, was a central announcement. The HUAWEI Pura 80 Pro and Ultra models feature a 1-inch Ultra Lighting HDR camera. This camera is paired with the Ultra Chroma Camera, which includes pixel-level color calibration for clarity and color reproduction.

The HUAWEI Pura 80 Ultra also incorporates a Switchable Dual Telephoto Camera, designed to offer versatility in capturing images at various distances. The series’ design integrates elements described as “eastern and western aesthetics,” featuring hues inspired by monochrome glaze and a glazed texture finish.

HUAWEI MatePad 11.5
The HUAWEI MatePad 11.5 was presented as a device for both students and professionals. It is equipped with an 11.5-inch HUAWEI FullView Display, offering 2.5K resolution. The tablet includes a PaperMatte Display with technology aimed at eye comfort. Its design features a 6.1 mm frame and a 10,100 mAh battery. The device supports the HUAWEI M-Pencil (3rd generation) with magnetic wireless charging. Software enhancements include upgraded HUAWEI Notes and the GoPaint app.

XMAGE Awards 2025
Huawei formally announced the XMAGE Awards 2025, with global submissions opened on June 11. This marks the eighth year for the photography competition, which serves as a platform for Huawei mobile users to showcase their work. The 2025 competition includes eight categories: So Far So Close, Colour & Shade, Good Night, Faces, A Heartwarming World, Experimental Lab, Storyboard, and Action. A new “XMAGE 100” competition format has been introduced, alongside an expanded judging panel. Submissions will be evaluated based on photographic technique, emotional resonance, social relevance, and artistic merit.

Huawei stated that the XMAGE Awards 2025 Ceremony and Annual Exhibition, titled “The World, You and Me,” will be held at the Grand Palais in Paris during Paris Photo 2025. Huawei Consumer Business Group (CBG) operates in over 170 countries and regions and maintains fourteen R&D centers globally. The company states its commitment to digital inclusion, sustainability, and innovation through user-centric products.

The Lenovo ThinkVision P49w-30 is a high-end ultra-wide monitor designed for professionals needing a large, high-resolution display for demanding workflows. It boasts a 49-inch Dual QHD screen with a 32:9 aspect ratio, offering a massive workspace comparable to two 27-inch QHD monitors side-by-side. Its In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and wide viewing angles. With features like Thunderbolt 4, multiple USB ports, and KVM switch, it offers versatile connectivity and efficient multitasking.

Design
The ThinkVision P49W-30 sports a minimalist and professional design that seamlessly integrates into any modern office or home setup. The bezels are remarkably thin on three sides, contributing to an almost edge-to-edge viewing experience, which is crucial for a monitor of this size. The stand is sturdy and offers excellent ergonomic adjustments, including height, tilt, and swivel, allowing users to find their optimal viewing position. Cable management is thoughtfully integrated, helping to keep the workspace tidy. The overall aesthetic is understated yet premium, reflecting its business-oriented focus.

Build Quality
Lenovo has a strong reputation for build quality, and the P49W-30 lives up to it. The monitor feels solid and well-constructed, with no creaking or wobbling. The materials used, primarily high-quality plastics and metal for the stand, contribute to its robust feel. The adjustment mechanisms are smooth and precise, indicating durable components. This monitor is clearly built to last and withstand the rigors of daily professional use.

Features
The P49W-30 is packed with features tailored for productivity and connectivity. Key highlights include:

1. Extensive Connectivity: It boasts a comprehensive array of ports, including two Thunderbolt 4 ports (one upstream with 100W power delivery, one downstream with 15W), DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, multiple USB-A ports, and an Ethernet port. This makes it a true docking station replacement.
2. KVM Switch: The integrated KVM switch is a standout feature, allowing users to control two different computers with a single keyboard and mouse connected to the monitor. This is incredibly useful for those who switch between a desktop and a laptop.
3. Picture-by-Picture (PbP) and Picture-in-Picture (PiP): These modes enable displaying content from multiple sources simultaneously, effectively turning the single ultrawide screen into two or more virtual monitors, enhancing multitasking capabilities.
4. Integrated Speakers: While not audiophile-grade, the built-in speakers are adequate for basic audio needs like video calls and system sounds.
5. Webcam: An optional modular webcam can be attached, offering convenience for video conferencing.

Display Specs
The core of the P49W-30’s appeal lies in its display specifications. This 49-inch monitor features a 32:9 aspect ratio and a sharp 5120 x 1440 (DQHD) resolution, providing an expansive workspace. It utilizes an IPS (In-Plane Switching) panel, known for its wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction. For general use, it offers a 60Hz refresh rate and a 4ms (GtG) response time. The display achieves a typical brightness of 350 nits and a contrast ratio of 1000:1, covering 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% of sRGB. Additionally, it supports HDR content with DisplayHDR 400 certification.

Display Quality
The display quality of the ThinkVision P49W-30 is excellent for its intended use. The DQHD resolution on a 49-inch panel provides an incredibly sharp and detailed image, making text crisp and images vibrant. The IPS panel ensures wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for creative professionals working with graphics or video. The factory calibration is generally very good, offering impressive color accuracy out of the box. Brightness is sufficient for most office environments, and the DisplayHDR 400 certification provides a slight boost to contrast for HDR content, though it’s not a true HDR experience given the limited local dimming zones. The sheer amount of horizontal space significantly boosts productivity, allowing multiple windows to be open side-by-side without feeling cramped.

Video Quality During Gaming
While the ThinkVision P49W-30 is not marketed as a gaming monitor, its performance in this area is acceptable for casual gaming. The 60Hz refresh rate means it won’t offer the buttery-smooth experience of high-refresh-rate gaming monitors. The 4ms GtG response time is decent, reducing motion blur to a tolerable level for non-competitive titles. The ultrawide aspect ratio is immersive for supported games, providing a panoramic view that can enhance the gaming experience. However, competitive gamers will find the refresh rate and response time limiting. There’s no adaptive sync technology like FreeSync or G-Sync, which can lead to screen tearing if your GPU’s frame rate isn’t perfectly synced with the monitor’s refresh rate.

Overall Setup
Setting up the ThinkVision P49W-30 is straightforward despite its large size. The stand attaches easily, and the monitor isn’t excessively heavy for one person to handle. Thanks to its extensive connectivity, connecting peripherals and multiple computers is a breeze. The KVM switch and PbP/PiP functions are intuitive to configure through the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu, which is navigated using physical buttons on the monitor. The USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 single-cable solution for power, video, and data is a significant convenience, simplifying cable management and reducing desk clutter.

Overall Performance
The overall performance of the Lenovo ThinkVision P49W-30 is outstanding for its target audience. As a productivity powerhouse, it excels in providing an expansive, high-resolution workspace that dramatically improves workflow for tasks like coding, data analysis, video editing, and graphic design. The robust connectivity, particularly the Thunderbolt 4 and KVM features, makes it an ideal central hub for multiple devices. Colour accuracy and image clarity are top-notch for professional applications. While not a dedicated gaming monitor, it handles casual gaming adequately, offering an immersive experience in compatible titles. Its stability and ergonomic adjustments further enhance the user experience.

Verdict
The Lenovo ThinkVision P49W-30 is an exceptional ultrawide monitor for professionals and power users who demand maximum screen real estate, premium build quality, and extensive connectivity. Its stunning DQHD IPS panel, comprehensive port selection, and integrated KVM switch make it a highly versatile and productive display. While its 60Hz refresh rate and lack of adaptive sync mean it’s not the ideal choice for serious gamers, it performs admirably for casual gaming and excels in every other professional application. If you’re looking for a top-tier ultrawide monitor to boost your productivity and streamline your workspace, the ThinkVision P49W-30 is a highly recommended investment.

Price: AED 10000 (approx.)

Sony announced the release of its new ECM-778 shotgun microphone and high-speed CFexpress Type A memory cards and reader in Dubai on July 10, 2025. The ECM-778 shotgun microphone is designed for content production requiring high audio quality, such as films, dramas, and documentaries. It features a new microphone capsule, a brass acoustic tube, and a specially designed electronic circuit board for sound quality.

The microphone is compact, measuring 176 mm in length and weighing 102 g, and offers good forward directivity. It can be mounted on boom poles or attached to cameras with XLR terminals, including Sony Cinema Line and Alpha mirrorless cameras. Its design aims for clear high frequencies and stable mid-low frequencies, capturing frequencies beyond 20 kHz for expansive audio recording. The acoustic tube design suppresses sound from the sides and rear, achieving sharp forward directivity to reduce surrounding noise.

The microphone maintains consistent sound quality across various recording distances. It incorporates film capacitors and metal film resistors in the signal path for clear sound, and conductive polymer aluminum solid capacitors for stable power. The machined aluminum exterior helps suppress vibrations and electrical noise. A built-in low-cut switch reduces wind noise and vibration. Two types of windscreens (foam and fur) are included for different environments. The microphone has a robust machined aluminum exterior for durability.

Sony collaborated with film sound engineers during the development of the ECM-778. Kenichi Fujimoto, a sound engineer who won the Japan Academy Film Prize for Best Sound Recording, commented on the ECM-778, “We recording engineers forge our sonic preferences over years, recording and listening to countless projects with a vast array of microphones, starting from our days as assistants. When we step into the lead role, we choose the mic that perfectly matches our cultivated taste. Right now, this is the single best choice available. In filmmaking, the shotgun mic for dialogue is the most critical tool – it’s the axis around which everything else turns. The ‘ECM-778’ is that new axis. It strikes an exceptional balance with its length and weight, its clarity and solid core deliver a palpable sound pressure, and it provides that ‘little something’ that has always been missing in other microphones. It is, simply put, a microphone that lets you create a truly cinematic sound.”

Sony also introduced CFexpress Type A cards, the CEA-G1920T (1920 GB) and CEA-G960T (960 GB), and the MRW-G3 CFexpress Type A card reader. These products are compatible with CFexpress 4, with the cards achieving read speeds over 1800 MB/s and write speeds of 1700 MB/s, which is more than twice as fast as earlier models. The cards have capacities up to 1920 GB and adhere to the VPG 400 standard for stable video recording at 400 MB/sec.

The CFexpress Type A cards meet TOUGH specifications, offering enhanced resistance to drops, bending, dust, water (IP57), temperature, X-rays, static, and UV. The MRW-G3 card reader supports CFexpress 4 and USB 40Gbps for high-speed data transfer. It is compatible with computers, smartphones, and tablets and features a heat dissipation design.

The ECM-778 shotgun microphone will be available in the UAE starting August 2025. The new CFexpress Type A cards (CEA-G1920T and CEA-G960T) and the MRW-G3 card reader will also be available in other Middle East markets by August 2025.