Logitech G, a brand of Logitech has launched the Logitech G ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset and Base Station in the GCC, the fifth generation of the critically acclaimed ASTRO A50 Series console gaming headset. The new ASTRO A5O X is designed to deliver the ultimate console headset experience. With breakthrough innovations in audio and connectivity, the ASTRO A50 X LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station features:

• New PLAYSYNC technology for easy connectivity and switching between the XBOX, PS5 and PC via a single button press
• PRO-G Graphene Audio Driver technology for high-performance gaming audio
• 24-bit LIGHTSPEED Wireless technology for pro-grade performance on the console

“Over the last decade, the A50 has become an icon in gaming headsets due to its focus on gamer-centric design, premium sound, and superior comfort and durability,” said Dana Zebian, Logitech G’s Marketing Manager for the Middle East. “Our new A50 X elevates this beloved headset with an unmatched level of performance by combining the A50’s award-winning design with several new features and advanced technologies that truly revolutionize gameplay.” Comfort, sound, connectivity, communications and compatibility are the keys that gamers look for in an audio solution. The A50 X combines the design of the original A50, a favourite of console gamers everywhere, with four breakthrough innovations in the console headset market.

Bringing all systems together, PLAYSYNC Technology is an industry first that allows gamers to connect their Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC/MAC all at once and seamlessly switch between all three gaming systems with the simple ‘one-click’ of a button on the A50 X headset. When switching between Xbox and PS5 consoles, PLAYSYNC will change what the gamer views on their TV and what is heard in their headset. When switching to PC, PLAYSYNC will change what is heard in the gamer’s headset. Allowing gamers to decide and easily switch to the gaming experience they want to enjoy at any moment.

A50 X is a two-part Base Station and Wireless Headset system that works directly with high-performance game consoles as well as 4K UHD Televisions using HDMI 2.1 technology. Using HDMI, the Base Station directs audio wirelessly to the A50 X Headset while passing the console’s video through to the TV without impacting the source’s intended fidelity and features such as 4K 120Hz HDR, VRR, and ALLM. The result is high-performance and ultra-low latency video.

Audio signals are also intelligently routed on A50 X; with the headset docked to the Base Station, audio signals along with video will be passed through to the connected TV. When gamers undock the headset, audio signals will be rerouted to the headset automatically, improving convenience and versatility between open or private listening experiences.

With sound being such a critical component in gaming, the A50 X’s PRO-G GRAPHENE Audio Driver has been precision-engineered with a 40 mm graphene diaphragm featuring a live edge suspension, to deliver superior audio performance like never before. The new driver delivers improvements in sound reproduction accuracy, time to signal accuracy and distortion reduction, allowing players to identify audio objects more clearly, and more quickly discern their location as objects move relative to the player.

Graphene is a breakthrough material for audio clarity, detail, and spatial timing accuracy. With unprecedented harmonic rigidity, these audio drivers reduce distortion while delivering soaring highs, clear mids and rich bass. Optimized for the multi-platform player who requires the highest levels of audio and visual fidelity, and demands both style and design excellence, the A50 X headset system is purposefully designed to work with high-performance game consoles using HDMI 2.1 & USB-C connectivity, allowing A50 X to deliver uncompressed audio at up to 24-bit fidelity. The integrated LED status info panel and the click-in magnetic charging cradle of the A50 X Base Station keeps the headset battery topped off and always at the ready.

Logitech G’s award-winning 24-bit LIGHTSPEED wireless technology is a continuously improving pro-grade solution for quality of sound, reliability in connectivity, and efficiency for epic battery life. The Base Station also features simultaneous Bluetooth® connectivity allowing gamers to mix Discord chat with game audio or listen to music while playing.

The A50 X is Logitech G’s first headset that comes equipped with an integrated high-resolution 16-bit 48 kHz LIGHTSPEED microphone, this additional bandwidth lets the microphone capture a much broader spectrum of sound delivering unrivalled performance, clarity, and quality in a boom microphone. A50 X lets players control the Game/Chat mix on Xbox, PC—and even their PS5, and balance volume between game and chat with on-ear controls.

Gamers can optimise and fine-tune the gaming audio experience with G HUB on PC and the Logitech G App on iOS/Android devices. Control headset EQ presets or dive deep into the fully parametric EQ. Take advantage of the extended resolution of the microphone and dial-in broadcast-quality EQ settings while controlling their environment with noise reduction. Gamers can set up stream output audio mixing, specify sidetone amount, save custom presets, and more.

The Logitech G ASTRO A50 X Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station is available now in key retailers across the GCC.

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is the latest entrant in the increasingly crowded fitness tracker market. Following the success of its predecessor, the Watch Fit 3 builds upon the core strengths of affordability, comfort, and design while introducing some notable upgrades.

Design and Comfort
The Watch Fit 3 retains the sleek rectangular form factor of the previous model, albeit with some design changes. On the right edge of the watch dial, you will find two buttons – a standard Function button and a rotating crown. It boasts a vibrant 1.82-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 408-by-408 pixels. You also get a pixel density of 347 PPI. The rectangular design offers good real estate for displaying data and notifications.

The display is bright, crisp, and easily readable even under direct sunlight. The included silicone strap feels comfortable and lightweight, making the watch suitable for all-day wear, including workouts and sleep tracking. The watch comes in a variety of vibrant colours and strap options, allowing you to personalise it to your heart’s content.

Features
The Watch Fit 3 offers a decent selection of smartwatch features. You can receive and view notifications from your phone, control music playback, and access weather information. It also comes packed with sensors such as a 9-axis IMU sensor (Accelerometer sensor, Gyroscope sensor, Magnetometer sensor), an optical heart rate sensor, and an ambient light sensor.

The watch runs on Huawei’s HarmonyOS 4.2.0 operating system. The overall user interface is very user-friendly and navigation is smooth. There are also a good number of pre-loaded watch faces to choose from, and the customisation options are good, too.

What’s more, the Watch Fit 3 is also 5 ATM water-resistant. This means the watch has a water resistance rating of 50 meters under ISO standard 22810:2010. So it can be used for shallow-water activities such as swimming in a pool or ocean. However, they should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing, or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depths.

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 also offers Bluetooth calling features right from your wrist. Another highlight of the watch’s performance lies in its battery life. Huawei claims up to 10 days of typical use, and our experience aligns with this. This is a significant advantage over many smartwatches that require nightly charging.

Fitness Tracking and Health Monitoring
The Watch Fit 3 shines when it comes to fitness tracking. It boasts over 100 workout modes to keep your exercise routine fresh, and can automatically detect six common activities. Plus, the all-new Track Run mode uses built-in GPS to precisely measure your lap distances and map your running routes. The watch also offers continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and SpO2 (blood oxygen) monitoring.

The Watch Fit 3 also comes with a high-performance PPG sensor, that sends timely alerts on potential A-fib and premature beat risks. There’s also an easy-to-use monthly calendar that lets you track your menstrual cycle and record physical changes from beginning to end. This insightful view helps you gain a deeper understanding of your body’s rhythms. Plus, you’ll receive helpful reminders about your upcoming period, ensuring you’re always prepared.

The accompanying Huawei Health app provides detailed insights into your fitness data, allowing you to track your progress over time. The app also offers guided workouts and training plans, which can be helpful for beginners or those looking for a structured exercise routine.

Verdict
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 delivers on its core strengths of affordability, comfort, and design. It boasts a vibrant display, a comfortable strap, and a lightweight design that makes it perfect for all-day wear. The 10-day battery life is a major selling point, putting it ahead of many competitors. The fitness tracking features are robust, covering a wide range of workout modes with accurate GPS tracking for outdoor activities. Sleep and SpO2 monitoring offer additional insights into overall health.

The Huawei Watch Fit 3 sits comfortably in the affordable fitness tracker segment, priced at AED 529. The Watch Fit 3 is available in a range of colour options, including Midnight Black, Nebula Pink, Green, White, Space Grey, and White (Leather). This competitive price point, coupled with its long battery life, comfortable design, and comprehensive fitness tracking features, makes the Watch Fit 3 a compelling option for budget-conscious fitness enthusiasts.

Price: AED 529

Photography by Ryan Chris

Does your current smartphone feel like a relic from the ancient times? Plagued by stuttering videos, crashing apps, and a battery that quits faster than a toddler’s attention span? If yes, you’re already due for an upgrade. But upgrading your smartphone is no small deal. It’s a commitment, an investment of both money and time spent adjusting to the new quirks. They’re how we bank, navigate, stay connected, and sometimes, how we escape from the present. So, you deserve something amazing.

Navigating the smartphone market is a jungle of jargon, though. We have to look past the marketing gimmicks, hyperbolic commercials, and pointless features. So, let’s cut through the noise and focus on smartphones that offer a truly transformative experience, with a dash of “wow” mixed in for good measure. Here is the cream of the crop in 2024.

HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra
Starting with the design, the Pura 70 Ultra features a stunning Starry Pattern back panel that is sure to turn heads. Its Starry Pattern back panel shimmers with an intricate texture, while an embossed plaid texture adds a unique tactile dimension. The luxurious vegan leather further enhances its sophisticated style. The XMAGE label and red-ringed primary camera add tasteful accents.

But the real star of the show is the camera system. The headline feature, the 1-inch Ultra Lighting pop-out camera, is a first for any smartphone. When shooting, the lens smoothly extends out with a satisfying mechanical whir. This retractable design allows the phone to pack a massive 1-inch sensor and an f/1.6 aperture into a body that’s just 8.4mm thick.

The 1-inch sensor is significantly larger than what you’ll find on most smartphones. This translates to better light-gathering ability, improved low-light performance, wider dynamic range, and a shallower depth of field for that beautiful bokeh effect. Combined with HUAWEI’s XD Fusion Pro image processing engine, the results are simply stunning.

With the HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra’s Ultra Speed Snapshot feature, you can capture fast-moving subjects with stunning clarity. The Ultra Speed Snapshot feature can lock onto fast-moving subjects and snap tack-sharp pictures, even at speeds up to 300km/h. Also, the Ultra Lighting Macro Telephoto Camera can capture highly detailed macro shots from just 5cm away, with up to 35x magnification.

Huawei has done a phenomenal job of improving the durability of the Pura 70 Ultra with Crystal Armor Kunlun Glass. This nanocrystalline material is both harder and more flexible and dramatically boosts scratch resistance by 300%, while also improving drop resistance. The Pura 70 Ultra also features 100W wired and 80W wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge. You can top up the 5200mAh battery to 50% in just 15 minutes, whether you’re plugged in or going cord-free.

The HUAWEI Pura 70 series now offers an enhanced and optimized AppGallery experience, bringing convenience and efficiency to your fingertips. Users can rest assured that all their favorite apps, including social media, banking, shopping, video streaming, and navigation, are readily available. With just one click, you can download essential apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Careem, Youtube and Maps directly from the HUAWEI AppGallery.

iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max maintains the familiar silhouette but introduces a new material – titanium. This material offers a significant leap in durability compared to traditional stainless steel, providing exceptional scratch and dent resistance. You’ll also immediately notice the phone’s lighter weight compared to the 14 Pro Max. In addition to the new material, there are subtle refinements like slightly thinner bezels and a redesigned camera module. And, of course, a new range of colour options.

Another notable change is the absence of the iconic silent switch. Instead, the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a new Action button, which can be programmed to perform a variety of functions, including activating the silent mode. So, it basically adds more flexibility than before.

There are some not-so-insignificant camera upgrades, as well. The main 48MP rear camera features a new, larger sensor, offering improvements in low-light performance. The 12MP periscope telephoto lens allows for optical zoom up to 5x, enabling users to capture distant subjects with exceptional clarity. Also, it lets you shoot video in ProRes, which gives you a tonne of latitude in postprocessing if you are into that. The 12MP ultrawide shooter also lets you take close-up macro shots.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max addresses one of the primary concerns of power users – battery life. It can last a full day even with heavy-handed usage. The main reason behind this improvement is the A17 Pro chip, which delivers unmatched performance while being remarkably power-efficient.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The Galaxy S24 Ultra carries forward the legacy of the S series. There are sleek design refinements, an improved camera system, and a few other changes. The Galaxy S24 Ultra builds on Samsung’s established design language. It feels distinctly Samsung.

Samsung has reinforced the S24 Ultra’s frame with titanium. This provides greater protection from accidental drops and everyday wear and tear. Curved edges soften the look and enhance comfort in hand. Smaller bezels maximize the expansive display while maintaining a sleek, modern aesthetic. Also, there is the S Pen, which is a surprisingly capable tool for drawing and sketching. Even though the Ultra model belongs to the S24 Series, it is in a league of its own. From its curved glass slab design to materials and the inclusion of a stylus, it’s the most distinctive phone in the entire series.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra camera system is designed for enthusiasts as well as content creators. The primary rear camera uses a massive 200-megapixel sensor, providing incredible details and cropping flexibility. This time, Samsung takes night photography to the next level with improved astrophotography. Moreover, the S24 Ultra deepens its integration with Samsung’s Expert RAW app, giving even more control over image parameters if you crave true manual control and professional-level editing.

Samsung seems to have taken a step backwards with the zoom, though. Instead of the 10X optical zoom found on the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra only has a 5x optical zoom. Nonetheless, the results look promising. You are more likely to use the 5x zoom in everyday situations, so it’s hard to call this a downgrade.

While the wired charging speed of 45W is a bit on the slow side for a 2024 flagship, the 15W wireless charging is long overdue for an upgrade. That said, the 5000mAh battery is quite capable and gives you plenty of battery life.

Which one to choose?
You can’t go wrong with any of these smartphones. They are all great in their own right. But we have a soft spot for the HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra for good reason. Firstly, it’s a bold statement about the future of mobile imaging and design. Its pop-out camera, equipped with a large 1-inch sensor and the Ultra Speed Snapshot feature, sets the HUAWEI Pura 70 Ultra apart from its competitors. In fact, this smartphone might just be the one that finally allows you to leave your bulky DSLR or mirrorless camera at home.