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.

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.

Kingston Digital has announced the expansion of its NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD lineup with a new M.2 2230 form factor. This addition joins the existing 2280 model, offering a high-speed, low-power NVMe storage upgrade for compatible laptops and handheld gaming consoles.

The Kingston NV3 PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2230 SSD features a compact, single-sided M.2 2230 (22x30mm) design, providing storage expansion up to 2TB for systems with limited space. Powered by a Gen 4×4 NVMe controller, the NV3 2230 boasts read/write speeds of up to 6,000/5,000MB/s, promising a more responsive system capable of handling diverse workloads.

“We are happy to expand our offerings with the NV3 2230 SSD allowing users to upgrade not just their devices but their experience, whether for work or play,” said Tony Hollingsbee, SSD business manager, Kingston EMEA. “NV3 2230 delivers speed and reliability making it ideal for creators and gamers ready to see improved performance.”

Available in capacities ranging from 500GB to 2TB, the NV3 2230 offers ample storage for various applications, files, and games. Each NV3 SSD also includes a 1-year free license for Acronis True Image for Kingston software, alongside the Kingston SSD Manager application, enabling users to monitor drive health, disk usage, update firmware, and securely erase data.