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Review: Linksys Atlas Pro 6 Dual-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (3-Pack)

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Linksys is a brand that has been known for top-notch networking products for years. The company was also the innovator of the mesh Wi-Fi system in early 2017. A few weeks ago, the company sent us the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 for a test drive, and we were so impressed by the overall performance, that we handed it the Gadget Voize Editors’ Choice award.

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is powered by the company’s own Velop Intelligent Mesh system. The variant we received was a 3-pack system – and each node is a dual-band WiFi 6 router that simultaneously delivers much-needed uninterrupted bandwidth for streaming, gaming, and even video calls to more than 30 devices with coverage up to 2,700 square feet per node.

That means, the 3-pack system we received can technically provide connectivity to over 90 devices and can offer coverage for an area of 4-5+ bedrooms – now, that’s huge!

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is designed to be an affordable alternative to the Velop AX4200 Mesh System, even though the top speed it can offer 5.4Gbps, compared with the 4.2Gbps of the Velop. There is a major difference between the two, though – while the Atlas Pro 6 uses a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 system, the Velop uses a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 system.

Each of the Atlas Pro nodes comes packed with a 2.4GHz radio rated at 600Mbits/sec and a 5GHz radio, which is capable of sending and transmitting data at up to 5.4Gbps. It also uses the 160MHz channel width, which allows the maximum amount of data to be transferred at once.

In terms of design, the nodes of the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 are a bit similar to the original Velop. The I/O ports are now at the rear of the nodes – these include three gigabit LAN ports and an “Internet” port, which can be used as a fourth LAN connector for the second and third nodes in the 3-pack variant.

There is also a single LED up top – now this glows purple when setup is required, blue when everything’s fine, and red when there’s a problem. On the bottom of each of the nodes, you get the WPS and reset buttons, and an on/off switch. All in all, the devices offer a minimalist design that will go well with any decor.

Inside the box, you get the three nodes, three power adaptors, a LAN cable, a documentation CD and the quick start guide. Setting up the devices is a walk in the park. Download the Linksys app from your favourite app store, and follow the onscreen instructions.

First, you will need to connect one of the nodes to a power outlet and then use the LAN cable to connect the node to your router. Next, switch on the device and follow the onscreen instructions to create a Wi-Fi network and complete the setup process.

Once everything is completed properly, the LED indicator on the top of the node should glow in blue. The app further allows you to connect additional nodes to the mesh network you just created. With the app, you will also be able to decide on the best place to place the node all over your house.

The Linksys smartphone app does a brilliant job of detecting and configuring the Atlas Pro 6 system. Inside the app, you also get Parental Control settings – this can be used to set access schedules for individual devices. In addition, you can also block specific devices from accessing specific websites.

Once you connect to the web interface of the admin panel of the nodes, you will also be able to configure your DHCP settings, set up port forwarding and MAC filtering, and nominate up to three devices for traffic prioritisation. It also offers a built-in channel chooser, which scans the airwaves to find the clearest radio frequencies for your network. In addition, you also get remote access capabilities to check on your network, when you are not home.

In order to test the performance of the Linksys Atlas Pro 6, I placed one node in the living room, one in the first bedroom, and one in the second bedroom, of our 2BHK apartment. We have a wide range of devices connected to our home network, including two NAS devices, both of which are placed in the second bedroom, which also doubles up as my home office. Usually, the connection in the second bedroom, with our existing setup is a bit erratic and we use extenders to extend the connectivity.

To test out the performance, I started copying a mix of files that included Word files, spreadsheets, videos, audios, zipped files, and so on. While the files were being copied to my laptop from the NAS, I started moving around the house to check whether there was a drop in the speed or in the connection. I am happy to report that the connectivity was very strong with no drops whatsoever. I was able to experience consistent connectivity and speeds, which is what users want today.

Our household has two NAS devices, a smart TV, four laptops, three tablets, four smartphones, a wireless doorbell and security system, a printer, a gaming console, a desktop PC, and a few IoT devices such as smart assistants, robotic vacuum cleaner, smart bulbs, a smart air fryer and so on. Considering such a setup, you would require a very stable home wireless network in order for it to endure connectivity and bandwidth requests.

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 held its ground when it came to sheer performance. If your household has lots of devices competing with each other for connectivity and bandwidth, the Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is for you. The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 thus walks away with the Gadget Voize Editors’ Choice award!

Price: AED 1699 (3-pack variant)

Linksys Atlas Pro 6: Dual-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (3-Pack) AED 1699
  • Final Rating
4

Summary

The Linksys Atlas Pro 6 is powered by the company’s own Velop Intelligent Mesh system. The variant we received was a 3-pack system – and each node is a dual-band WiFi 6 router that simultaneously delivers much-needed uninterrupted bandwidth for streaming, gaming, and even video calls to more than 30 devices with coverage up to 2,700 square feet per node.

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Displays

CORSAIR Launches XENEON 27QHD240 OLED Gaming Monitor

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CORSAIR has announced an exciting new addition to its lineup of high-performance gaming monitors, the XENEON 27QHD240 OLED. Combining the latest in LG OLED display technology with trademark CORSAIR style and performance, the XENEON 27 OLED offers superb black levels, self-lit OLED pixels, and blistering 240Hz refresh rate, all in a 2560×1440 27in package ready to display everything your PC has to offer at its best.

Continuing the close partnership between CORSAIR and LG Display, the XENEON 27 OLED boasts a cutting edge 3rd generation OLED panel with META Technology featuring Micro Lens Array (MLA).

This innovative new technology places a focal lens to enhance brightness in front of every pixel, boosting brightness far beyond previous generation OLED panels and delivering breathtaking color vibrancy. HDR10, 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio, a peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits and 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut ensure that the brightest highlights, darkest details, and most nuanced colors are presented beautifully, whatever you’re playing, watching or creating.

The XENEON 27 OLED boasts rapid response times that leave previous generation gaming monitors behind. Up to 240Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time and 0.01ms Pixel on/off time all-but eliminate motion blur, for class-leading gaming performance compatible with both NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium.

The Xeneon 27 OLED also offers a wide range of customization options. With 60° of swivel, 22° of tilt, 100mm (3.94in) of height adjustment, the ability to rotate 90° on its stand in either direction, or to be mounted on a monitor arm via its standard VESA mount, it’s easy to integrate the XENEON 27 OLED into an existing setup, or make it the showpiece of a new one.

Whether your setup is PC first, or console inclusive, the XENEON 27 OLED has all the connections you need. A pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB Type-C DP Alt-Mode input allows it to be connected to 4 different devices at once (and two displayed simultaneously with picture in picture or picture by picture), while a USB 3.1 Type-C port and four USB 3.1 ports make it easy to connect the XENEON 27 OLED to full-equipped computers.

The front accessible controls also include an innovative proximity sensor to guide you to the correct button for Power ON/OFF, Input Select as well as the On Screen Display (OSD) joystick controller. As with its stable-mate, the XENEON FLEX 45 OLED, the XENEON 27 OLED features an array of burn-in protection techniques to maintain a clean image, even following extended overlay, UI or operating system use, backed by a comprehensive three-year Zero Dead Pixel and Zero Burn In warranty.

Bringing the transformative leap forward in performance and image quality of OLED to a 27in display, XENEON 27 OLED shows everything your PC can do at its best. The new CORSAIR XENEON 27 OLED is on display throughout PAX East 2023 at the CORSAIR booth, Booth #18031. Customers will be able to order the XENEON 27 OLED from the CORSAIR webstore and select channel partners in May 2023.

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Gadgets

Review: Acer Swift 5 (2022)

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The Swift 5 is Acer’s ultraportable laptop, which is slim, lightweight, visually appealing, and has adequate performance for most day-to-day computing needs. The laptop weighs 1.2 kg, measures 0.59 inches in thickness, and boasts a robust aluminum construction.

Open up the lid and you come face to face with a 14-inch IPS WQXGA touchscreen display that offers a resolution of 2560-by-1600 pixels. The display itself is protected by an antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass.

In terms of IO ports, you get a USB-A, full-sized HDMI, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left edge. On the right, you’ll find another USB-A along with a 3.5mm headphone/microphone port and a Kensington lock port.

Although the keyboard’s appearance may seem ordinary, it provides a satisfying typing experience due to its firm structure and ample key travel. The colour-coordinated lettering adds an aesthetic touch. The power button, meanwhile, doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which functions flawlessly.

Under the hood, the Swift 5 comes packed with a 12th Gen Intel Core i7-1260P processor running at a clock speed of 2.10 GHz. You also get 16GB of RAM and 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage. Graphics are handled by Intel Iris Xe, while wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

The island-style keyboard on the Swift 5 features a dual-tier backlight, which allows you to adjust the keyboard’s illumination to your liking or switch it off entirely by tapping F11. The keyboard is nice to type on, with a stiff lattice and plenty of key travel.

Constructed from recycled ocean-bound plastics, the trackpad has a texture that closely resembles that of a glass trackpad. It operates smoothly and boasts a moderately-sized surface area. While the click function may require slightly more pressure than we’re accustomed to, overall, it performs excellently.

The Acer Swift 5 that we tested comes equipped with an Intel Core i7-1260P processor, 16GB of RAM, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 1TB SSD. The Core i7-1260P is part of Intel’s Alder Lake-P lineup of 28-watt mobile processors, featuring a new hybrid architecture that combines both performance and efficiency cores. It boasts four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and a total of 16 processing threads.

So, in terms of performance, the Acer Swift 5 did a great job. In the PCMark 10 test, it clocked 5698 points, while in our HandBrake tests, it got 1675 points. In Cinebench, another CPU-intensive test that renders a complex 2D scene over a short period of time, the Swift 5 clocked an overall 1762 points, with single thread clocking in at 247 points. All of these benchmark results indicate a very good performing ultraportable.

The battery life of the device is decent, providing approximately 9-10 hours of usage when performing simple tasks such as web browsing and basic productivity work. However, if you engage in demanding activities like gaming or video editing, the battery life will significantly decrease.

The USB-C charging is a plus and Acer includes a sleek and compact charger in the package. The 65W fast charger is capable of providing approximately four hours of additional battery life within just 30 minutes of charging, which is brilliant. And you can use the same charger to charge your smartphone.

The Acer Swift 5 offers an excellent design and build quality, comes packed with good specs and an excellent keyboard, and has a great selection of ports. Definitely check it out if you are in the market for a brilliant ultraportable.

Price: AED 5999

Acer Swift 5 (2022) AED 5999
  • Final Rating
3.5

Summary

In terms of IO ports, you get a USB-A, full-sized HDMI, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports on the left edge. On the right, you’ll find another USB-A along with a 3.5mm headphone / microphone port and a Kensington lock port.

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Features

HONOR Announces “Memories Together” Ramadan Campaign and Great Discounts on its Best-Selling Gadgets

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In an interview, Daniel Wang, the MEA President at HONOR Middle East Africa, speaks about the company’s new campaign for Ramadan

Tell us about HONOR’s “Memories Together” Ramadan Campaign.
As Muslims worldwide celebrate the holy month of Ramadan and its spiritual values, HONOR has launched the “Memories Together” Ramadan Campaign. This campaign aims to foster a sense of togetherness and strengthens social ties, while also highlighting the tremendous ways that HONOR products offer to perfectly capture Ramadan moments and memories together.

We are encouraging users to get creative during Ramadan and try out new ways to capture and record the moment with a wide range of innovative features and camera capabilities of HONOR’s smartphones. The advanced vlogging options of HONOR smartphones can inspire users to create stunning and high-quality content during the blessed month.

Are you also running any special promotions on your products during Ramadan?
Yes, as part of the “Memories Together” campaign, customers can enjoy up to AED 800 savings on their favourite HONOR products. Customers can also enjoy massive bundles with up to 60% off at HONOR Online Store, making it the perfect time to upgrade their tech devices. In addition, customers will also receive free gifts worth up to AED 161 with their purchases, making it an even more exciting and rewarding shopping experience.

Where will these special offers and discounts be available?
HONOR’s Ramadan Offers will be available through the HONOR Online Store and through our partners such as Axiom, Emax, Jumbo, lulu, KM Trading, Nesto, Sharaf DG, noon, Amazon, Etisalat by e&.

How can customers use HONOR’s devices to capture their best moments during Ramadan?
HONOR’s smartphones have always been known for their innovative camera features, and HONOR 70 5G and HONOR X9a are no exception. HONOR 70 5G comes with the industry’s first Solo Cut Vlog Mode allows multiple videos to be produced simultaneously, including a dedicated video of the subject being spotlighted alongside the original video featuring all subjects, which can be a great way to record Ramadan moment in a creative and unique way.

With HONOR X9a’s multi-video recording option and in just one take, users can use the front and rear camera at the same time or choose from the different modes to vlog their Ramadan experience and social gatherings from different angles, making their videos even more engaging and creative.

Tell us about the specific offers you would like to highlight.
The HONOR 70 5G (8+256GB) will be available during Ramadan for AED 1599 instead of AED 1799. That’s an AED 200 discount for our customers. The HONOR X9a (8+128GB) will be available for AED 1199 and customers will get a free HONOR CHOICE portable Bluetooth speaker worth AED 129 with the smartphone purchase. The HONOR X9a (8+256GB) will be available for AED 1299 and customers will get a free HONOR CHOICE portable Bluetooth speaker worth AED 129.

We are also offering great discounts on other smartphones from the HONOR X Series lineup, including the HONOR X8a, HONOR X7a, HONOR X8 5G, HONOR X6, as well as other models. The brand new HONOR X8a will be available for AED 899 with an exclusive gift from HONOR, while the HONOR X7a will be available for AED 599. The HONOR X8 5G will be available for AED 749, the HONOR X7 for AED 549, and the HONOR X6 for AED 449.

If you’re looking for a smartphone that can capture the beauty and magic of Ramadan, the HONOR Magic4 Pro with its advanced camera features could be a great choice. With its high-quality camera features, including the 50MP wide camera, 50MP 122o ultra-wide camera, and 64MP periscope telephoto camera, users can capture beautiful and detailed photos and videos of their Ramadan experiences. The HONOR Magic4 Pro will be available for AED 2999, with AED1000 off exclusively on the HONOR online store.

Tablets and laptops can be a great way to watch content during Ramadan, especially due to their large screen size and great audio quality. Hence, we are also offering some great discounts on our latest tablets and laptops. The HONOR Pad 8 will be available for AED 999, with AED 100 off and a free Keyboard worth AED 161. The HONOR Magicbook X14 will be available for AED 1899, with AED 800 off the price tag.

And to celebrate HONOR Online Store’s 1st anniversary, HONOR will offer a flash sale for a limited time with extra discounts. During this limited-time flash sale, customers can enjoy incredible discounts of up to 50% off on audio and wearables, as well as AED 300 off on HONOR X9a. But that’s not all – when users make a purchase during the anniversary celebration, they will also have the chance to win extra gifts.

And for those who want even more peace of mind with their purchase, selected products will come with exclusive services such as a 24-month warranty or 6 months of screen protection. Users also will enjoy free COD delivery, and they will also have the option to return their purchases within 7 days for free. This campaign is an excellent opportunity for customers to take advantage of unbeatable offers and get the latest technology to enhance their lifestyles.

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