Gadgets
Video: Review of the PlayGo BH70 Headphones
There are hundreds of noise-cancelling headphones available on the market and PlayGo is the latest entrant into that category in the UAE market. The company recently announced the PlayGo BH70 Active Noice Cancelling Wireless Headphones on the market and we just received a test unit for an unboxing and review.
The headphone comes in a very good packaging that includes a carry case, the warranty info, and the user guide. Open the carry case and you will see the BH70 headphones inside it. You also get a Type-C charging cable, which is one of the first we have seen on wireless headphones.
The overall build quality of the headphone is quite good since the headband has some heft to it. However, the build quality of the ear cups could have been better – it feels a bit plasticky for now. The headphone itself has a dual-tone shiny finish in brown and grey colours.
Under the left ear cup, you will find the active noise cancellation button, along with the power button and the USB Type C charging port. The ANC button on the left allows you to cycle through three modes. This includes the active noise cancellation on, active noise cancellation off, and transparency.
Under the right ear cup, you will find the volume rockers along with the play/pause button between them. Pressing the play/pause button twice will invoke voice assistants on the device the headset is connected to. This includes Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri.
Once the headset is out of the box, it is better to charge it fully before you start using it. It takes around four hours to completely charge up. One of the features of the PlayGo BH70 is its Smart Touch & Talk feature.
This feature detects human voices and increases their volume while temporarily lowering the sound of music. In order to activate this, all you need to do is simply cup the left earphone. You also get the Auto Pause and Play feature.
So when you take the headphones off, the music stops. And when you put then back on, the music resumes. With the PlayGo BH70, you also get a Transparency mode that makes sure you are able to listen to your surroundings in situations where the environment noise needs to be heard.
This means if you are walking down the side of a road while listening to music, it makes you aware of the surroundings if a car passes by, for example. PlayGo also has an app on the Play Store and the App Store.
Once you download the app, which is called PlayGo App, you will be able to choose from a wide range of equalizer presets. These include Pop, Rock, Jazz, and so on. And if you want to create your own preset, you can do so using the custom equalizer setting.
During the review period, I was able to use the PlayGo BH70 on my Xiaomi Mi 9 smartphone and my MacBook Pro. The audio quality is pretty good and the features such as Smart Touch & Talk and the Transparency mode worked very well.
Since the headphone is powered by the Qualcomm aptX codec, you get the best out of all kinds of music. The performance of the active noise cancellation feature was also good. On a full charge, I was able to get a full day’s worth of battery life on continuous usage.
For a price of AED 899, the Playgo BH70 is a competitively priced wireless headphone that comes with premium features such as active noise-cancelling, custom equalizers through the app, Transparency Mode, Auto Pause and Play, and Smart Touch and Talk, among others.
If you are on the market for quality wireless active noise-cancelling headphones at a pocket-friendly price, you can check out the PlayGo BH70.
Price: AED 899
Gadgets
Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Expands With S24 FE in the UAE
Samsung Gulf Electronics today announced the availability of the Galaxy S24 FE in the UAE, the latest addition to the Galaxy AI ecosystem that delivers premium mobile experiences to more users. Powered by the AI-based ProVisual Engine and Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist features, Galaxy S24 FE showcases an enhanced camera setup that empowers users to be more creative. It’s the perfect device for gaming on the go with a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, a long-lasting 4,700mAh battery, and a powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset. The Galaxy S24 FE offers premium Galaxy AI tools and ecosystem connectivity to enhance communication, productivity and creativity — all housed in an iconic design and protected by robust Samsung Knox security.
Fadi Abu Shamat, Senior Director and Head of Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said, “Our vision is to bring cutting-edge AI technology to all our users in the UAE. The introduction of Galaxy AI is revolutionizing how people in the region connect, express themselves, and boost their productivity. With the Galaxy S24 FE, we’re extending the advanced features and Galaxy AI capabilities of our flagship S24 Series to a wider audience across the UAE, ensuring more users can experience the future of mobile innovation.”
Galaxy S24 FE makes it easy for anyone to shoot stunning photos and videos. Its premium camera setup features a 50MP wide lens and 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom — both supported by optical image stabilization (OIS) — plus a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 10MP selfie camera. The camera system’s capabilities are further elevated by Samsung’s dynamic ProVisual Engine, an AI-driven camera engine that takes visual quality to incredible heights. Making its debut in the FE Series, ProVisual Engine features vastly improved technology that leverages advanced AI algorithms to deliver breathtaking detail and remarkably subtle textures:
- Nightography with AI image signal processing (ISP) to improve low-light performance, enabling beautiful night portraits
- Works with the wide camera’s 50MP Adaptive Pixel Sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x in addition to the optical 3x zoom. AI zoom also provides enhanced image quality at distances between digital zoom lengths. Object-aware engine to recognize scenes and optimize colours in Super High Dynamic Range (HDR), ensuring vibrant and lifelike photos and videos
When it is time to edit, Photo Assist features breathe life into ideas. Since its introduction with the Galaxy S24 Series devices, Galaxy AI has become invaluable for editing images and expressing creativity:
- Generative Edit reassembles the world through object moving and removal capabilities, allowing more creative freedom
- Portrait Studio reimagines selfies as cartoons, comics, watercolour paintings, or sketches to add flair to online profiles
- Edit Suggestions quickly remove pesky flaws, such as reflections, with the press of a button
- Instant Slow-mo immortalizes every second of life’s important moments in a snap
The powerful Exynos 2400 series chipset enables an uncompromised gaming experience compatible with cutting-edge features such as Ray Tracing. In a world where every bit of speed and efficiency counts, the Galaxy S24 FE utilizes several key features to stay ahead of the competition:
- A 1.1x larger vapour chamber improves cooling to maintain peak performance for longer durations
- A bigger 4,700mAh battery allows for long, worry-free gaming sessions
- A 6.7-inch adaptive Dynamic AMOLED 2X display – the largest display ever used in the FE Series – with up to 120Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and stunning viewing experience
- Vision Booster optimizes colour and contrast for clear and comfortable gaming even in sunlight
The Galaxy S24 FE incorporates the same advanced AI experience as the Galaxy S24 Series. Designed to enhance work, simplify communication, and increase connectivity, Galaxy AI on the S24 FE offers tools that unlock new possibilities:
- Circle to Search with Google satisfies curiosity with unprecedented ease by offering instant search results with just a long press of the home button and circle
- Interpreter instantly translates in-person conversations, lectures, or any other type of presentation, even when offline
- Live Translate breaks down communication barriers on phone calls and is now being extended to a selection of popular third-party apps
- Composer from Samsung Keyboard generates suggested text based on simple keywords for email and supported social media apps
- Note Assist streamlines the note-taking process and automates formatting and translation. In Samsung Notes, you can get transcription, translation, and summarizing of voice recordings directly. Texts in PDF files also can be translated and overlaid through PDF overlay translation
Every Galaxy AI-enhanced experience becomes even more useful when the Galaxy S24 FE is connected to Samsung’s expansive mobile ecosystem. It seamlessly transfers files, quickly sets up extended displays, and effortlessly executes complex creative ideas through intuitive inputs. In this hyper-connected Samsung Galaxy ecosystem, the Galaxy S24 FE enables experiences that increase productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Building on the innovative legacy of the S Series, the Galaxy S24 FE is fortified with strong security. Samsung Knox, Galaxy’s multi-layer security platform that safeguards critical information and protects against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection.
As a continuation of the S24 Series tradition of sustainable design, the Galaxy S24 FE has been made to do more with less when it comes to the planet’s resources. It features a wide variety of recycled materials, including recycled plastics, aluminium, glass, and rare earth elements in both internal and external components. It also features seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates and comes in a packaging box made from 100% recycled paper material.
Customers who purchase the breakthrough Galaxy S24 FE will receive a complimentary bundle of value-added services from premium Gulf brands worth up to AED 598. This exclusive package includes offerings from Samsung Entertainer, Anghami, VIU Premium and Starzplay Sports, providing customers with an extensive suite of entertainment and dining options to elevate their lifestyle.
The Galaxy S24 FE is available in retail stores and online starting October 3rd. At launch, customers can enjoy double the storage — a 256GB variant for the same price as the 128GB, starting from AED 2,399. The Galaxy S24 FE is available in Blue, Graphite, Gray, and Mint colours.
Gadgets
HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2″ Debuts in UAE with Stunning 2000-Nit Tandem OLED PaperMatte Display
Huawei’s latest tablet, the HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2”, is officially hitting shelves in UAE. Featuring a stunning Tandem OLED PaperMatte Display, innovative digital art tools, and an all-new HUAWEI Glide Keyboard, this latest offering from Huawei is designed to cater to both productivity and creativity. With advanced anti-glare technology, a powerful battery, and luxurious craftsmanship, the MatePad Pro 12.2″ is set to become a must-have device for users seeking a seamless blend of style and substance.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2” is now available for purchase through Huawei’s online store and select retailers in UAE starting at AED 2999. It is available in two elegant colour options: Golden Silk and Black. To provide a worry-free experience, Huawei is offering the HUAWEI Care+ Service, which can be purchased alongside the new tablet.
At the heart of the device is the standout Tandem OLED PaperMatte Display, which delivers an extraordinary viewing experience that remains sharp and clear—even under the brightest sunlight. The 12.2-inch display, capable of reaching up to 2000 nits of brightness, provides stunning HDR visuals with vibrant colours, ideal for streaming, graphic design, and more. This level of brightness is complemented by sophisticated anti-glare technology, including anti-sparkle and nanoscale etching, ensuring that reflections and glare are kept to a minimum. The display’s magnetron nano-optical layers also help reduce light interference, allowing users to enjoy their content in any environment.
One of the most impressive features of the display is its PaperMatte finish, which mimics the look and feel of paper. This thoughtful design offers users a comfortable and natural viewing experience, whether they’re using the device for extended work sessions or enjoying a casual read. The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2″ introduces the all-new HUAWEI Glide Keyboard. This redesigned keyboard case integrates stylus storage and charging. By simply placing the HUAWEI M-Pencil into the slot, the stylus pairs and charges automatically. The keyboard itself boasts stain-proof materials, making it durable enough to withstand common spills and smudges. The Glide Keyboard also makes it easier to switch between different modes. It’s now as easy as flipping open a laptop and doesn’t require multiple steps.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2″ comes with the GoPaint app, introducing a suite of groundbreaking digital art tools. Among these are the new Splatter and Fluid brushes, designed to unlock new levels of creativity. The Splatter brushes allow users to create mesmerizing ink splatters by hovering the M-Pencil over the screen and double tapping. The GoPaint app features 15 different Splatter brushes, each inspired by real-world splatters like spray paint, scattered tree leaves, and the iconic works of Pollock. Fluid brushes, meanwhile, recreate the blending effects of liquid pigments, offering an authentic watercolour and ink experience.
Huawei has paid just as much attention to the design of the tablet itself and it’s evident in the Golden Silk colourway. This mesmerising finish is the result of painstaking craftsmanship, with each device undergoing over 1,000 rounds of polishing. The final product is a tablet that not only performs at the highest level but also stands out with its luxurious, silky finish that subtly glows under light.
With all of this power comes incredible battery life. The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2” is equipped with a massive 10,100 mAh battery, offering up to 14 hours of continuous video playback. For those in need of a quick charge, the tablet’s 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge technology means it can go from zero to 100 per cent in just 55 minutes. Thanks to Huawei’s Smart Power Conserve, the tablet can also remain on standby for up to 380 days.
The HUAWEI MatePad Pro 12.2” is now available in UAE, offering consumers a tablet that combines performance, design, and creativity.
Foldables
HONOR Magic V3 Reduces Eye Strain with AI Defocus Display Technology
HONOR has introduced a groundbreaking innovation in eye care technology with its AI Defocus Display. This cutting-edge feature, first seen in the HONOR Magic V3, aims to mitigate the rising prevalence of myopia, particularly among smartphone users.
Traditional methods of addressing myopia, such as wearing glasses, often offer temporary solutions but may inadvertently contribute to the progression of the condition. HONOR’s AI Defocus Display takes a different approach, inspired by defocus glasses. By simulating controlled defocus on the display, the technology helps prevent the elongation of the eye’s axial length, a key factor in myopia development.
HONOR has conducted extensive scientific tests to substantiate the effectiveness of the AI Defocus Display. According to the tests, the feature is effective at reducing transient myopia by 13 degrees on average in a 25-minute session. Testing results also showed that the thickness of the central choroid increased after completing a visual task for 24 minutes with the AI Defocus Display function enabled. These findings provide compelling evidence of the transformative potential of this cutting-edge technology in myopia control and improving overall eye health.
Additionally, the HONOR AI Defocus Display has garnered recognition and endorsement from esteemed experts from Beijing Tongren Hospital (which is affiliated with Capital Medical University), and the Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center (SEDPTC). These experts have thoroughly evaluated and supported the development of this innovative technology. Their expertise and endorsement serve as a strong validation that the AI Defocus Display is a cutting-edge solution that adheres to the highest standards of eye care technology.
With the AI Defocus Display, HONOR is at the forefront of the smartphone industry, offering a unique and effective solution to combat myopia and promote healthier vision. As the prevalence of myopia continues to rise, HONOR’s technology provides a promising avenue for mitigating its impact and improving the quality of life for millions of individuals.