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Review: HONOR X9a 5G – The Smartphone With the Strongest Screen

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HONOR is back with a new and exciting addition to its X Series of smartphones – the brand-new X9a! The HONOR X9a boasts an impressive display, a durable battery, and a seamless user experience, all housed in a compact, affordable design.

DISPLAY
The HONOR X9a features a 6.67-inch OLED Curved Display with a screen-to-body ratio of 93%. Its rounded corners and high resolution of 2400-by-1080 pixels, support for up to 1.07 billion colors, and display brightness of 800 nits offer an immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re in a brightly lit room or a dimly lit environment, the HONOR X9a’s display delivers clear and crisp images.

The HONOR X9a has also been designed with your eye’s health in mind. It comes packed with the hardware low blue light technology, which has been certified by TÜV Rheinland. The technology reduces harmful blue light exposure. It also supports 1920Hz PWM Dimming technology, which reduces screen flickering – so you can watch your favourite content on the screen without any eye fatigue.

One of the standout features of the HONOR X9a is that its display is 0.65mm thick. Now, this is thicker than the industry average of 0.55mm, thereby helping improve its durability. The display has also undergone two tempering processes, making it able to withstand accidental drops from a height of up to 1m on marble surfaces. This makes the HONOR X9a, a smartphone with the strongest screen on the market today.

The HONOR X9a’s Daylight Screen Algorithm increases the display brightness and reduces glare in bright lighting conditions, allowing users to easily read content and view images in their true colors, even in direct sunlight. Its Night-time Screen Algorithm reduces the display brightness to as low as 2 nits in low-light environments, reducing strain on the eyes when viewing in dim conditions.

In addition, you also get a special E-Book Mode, which is perfect for users who enjoy reading on their smartphones. When activated, E-Book Mode enhances the display contrast to mimic the look of a paper reader, easing eye strain even in low-light environments. This makes it a great choice for users who want a comfortable reading experience on their phones.

The phone also comes with a Dark Mode feature, which changes the background colour from white to black and the text colour from black to white. By using a black background, the HONOR X9a’s Dark Mode reduces the blue light emission from the screen, easing eye strain. It also takes advantage of the properties of the AMOLED display to turn off individual pixels for the black background, creating deep blacks and improving battery life.

The HONOR X9a’s high screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz and touch sampling rate of up to 300Hz provide smooth, responsive visuals and reduce motion blur. Whether gaming, typing, or editing files, the HONOR X9a’s display delivers a seamless user experience.

DESIGN
The HONOR X9a has been designed to be compact and lightweight, measuring just 7.9mm in thickness and weighing just 175 grams. The overall design and build quality are top-notch.

On the rear, you get the symmetrical Matrix Star Ring camera design, which has been inspired by the iconic circular camera layout of HONOR’s flagship Magic Series. Its triple cameras module and the flashlight are evenly positioned along the Star Ring.

The HONOR X9a is available in three different colour options such as Titanium Silver, Emerald Green, and Midnight Black. The one showcased in this review is the Titanium Silver variant. The phone uses an in-screen fingerprint reader for added security.

On the right edge of the device, you get the volume rockers and the power button. On the bottom edge, you get the dual SIM tray, a noise-cancelling microphone, a USB Type-C port, and the speaker grille. On the top edge, you get the IR blaster and a second noise-cancelling microphone.

HARDWARE
Even though the HONOR X9a is incredibly slim and lightweight, it comes packed with a massive 5100mAh battery. With a single full charge, the HONOR X9a offers up to 2 days of daily use, providing uninterrupted work, play, and entertainment on the go.

Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Mobile Platform, a 6nm advanced processor with integrated Qualcomm Adreno 619 GPU and Qualcomm Kryo 660 CPU. You also get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

In addition, the HONOR X9a is equipped with HONOR RAM Turbo to convert a small portion of the internal storage into RAM. This allows users to run apps faster without having to relaunch them, thus delivering a smoother user experience. The HONOR X9a runs the latest Android 12 operating system with the company’s very own Magic UI 6.1 running on top of it.

CAMERA
On the rear, the HONOR X9a comes packed with a triple camera system. Now, this includes the 64MP Ultra-clear Main Camera offering a f/1.8 aperture, a 5MP Wide Angle Camera offering a f/2.2 aperture, and a 2MP Macro Camera offering a f/2.4 aperture.

On the front, just above the gorgeous display, you get a 16MP Front Camera with a f/2.45 aperture. The front camera is also capable of vividly rendering the subject’s facial features with facial recognition capabilities while keeping the details of the background sharp.

The camera offers a wide variety of photography and videography modes. One of the highlights of the camera modes is the Multi-Video Mode recording. In this mode, you can simultaneously capture multiple perspectives using the front camera and the rear camera at the same time. This is perfect for users who would like to record and share their memorable moments in life with their loved ones.

COLLABORATION FEATURES
The HONOR X9a features HONOR Share, which allows for fast wireless file transfer between HONOR devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets. With HONOR Share, users can easily transfer documents, images, and videos without interrupting other tasks or applications running on their devices, increasing productivity.

The phone’s Multi-screen Collaboration capabilities allow you to easily multi-task between your HONOR smartphone and an HONOR laptop or tablet. When connected, you can answer audio and video calls on all devices and easily transfer files between them for easier editing.

VERDICT
The HONOR X9a performed very well in all our tests. Whether it was gaming, watching content, or multi-tasking between multiple open app windows, the phone performed with aplomb!

The camera of the HONOR X9a also performed really well as seen in the sample shots below. Whether it was outdoors or indoors, the camera system performed consistently.

And the fact that the HONOR X9a comes with a 0.65mm thick display that has also undergone two tempering processes, durability is a given. You don’t have to worry about accidental scratches or drops as it will withstand most abuses smartphones go through on a daily basis. That makes the HONOR X9a, the smartphone with the strongest screen today.

AVAILABILITY
The pre-order for the HONOR X9a starts on January 14, 2023. The phone will be available at Axiom, Carrefour, Emax, HiHONOR, Jumbo, KM Trading, Lulu, Nesto, and Sharaf DG. In addition, online channels such as hihonor.com and noon.com will also be offering the HONOR X9a.

HONOR has also partnered with NorthLadder, the leading device trade-in player in the MEA region. Starting from January 7, 2023, you can trade in your old smartphone for new phones from HONOR for less. This includes the upcoming HONOR X9a and the iconic HONOR 70 5G. Open sales of the HONOR X9a will start on January 21, 2023, and the smartphone is expected to be priced between AED 1000 and AED 1500.

Price: Ranging between AED 1000 and AED 1500

HONOR X9a AED 1000 - AED 1500
  • Final Rating
4

Summary

And the fact that the HONOR X9a comes with a 0.65mm thick display that has also undergone two tempering processes, durability is a given. You don’t have to worry about accidental scratches or drops as it will withstand most abuses smartphones go through on a daily basis. That makes the HONOR X9a, the smartphone with the strongest screen today.

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Artificial Intelligence

Intel Unveils Next-Gen AI and GPU Innovations at COMPUTEX 2025

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Reporting from Taipei, Taiwan: At COMPUTEX 2025 in Taipei, Intel made a splash with the unveiling of new graphics processing units (GPUs) and AI accelerators aimed squarely at professionals and developers. These announcements coincide with a significant milestone: Intel’s 40th anniversary in Taiwan, a celebration of four decades of collaboration and innovation within Taiwan’s dynamic tech ecosystem around the x86 architecture. Intel emphasized the ongoing importance of x86 in accelerating innovation as high-performance AI applications demand more computational power.

Lip-Bu Tan, Intel CEO, underscored the significance of this anniversary, stating, “For the past 40 years, the power of our partnership with the Taiwan ecosystem has fueled innovation that has changed our world for the better. This week, we are renewing our commitment to our partners as we work to build a new Intel for the future. Together, we will create great products that delight our customers and capitalize on the exciting opportunities ahead.”

New Intel Arc Pro B-Series GPUs for AI and Workstation Performance
Expanding its professional graphics lineup, Intel introduced the Intel Arc Pro B60 and Intel Arc Pro B50 GPUs. Built on the advanced Xe2 architecture, these cards boast Intel Xe Matrix Extensions (XMX) AI cores and cutting-edge ray tracing units, delivering robust performance for creators, developers, and engineers.

“The Intel Arc Pro B-Series showcases Intel’s commitment in GPU technology and ecosystem partnerships,” said Vivian Lien, vice president and general manager of Client Graphics at Intel. “With Xe2 architecture’s advanced capabilities and a growing software ecosystem, the new Arc Pro GPUs deliver accessibility and scalability to small and medium-sized businesses that have been looking for targeted solutions.”

Specifically designed for demanding AI inference tasks and professional workstation applications, the Arc Pro B-Series GPUs offer AI-ready capabilities, with the B60 featuring 24 gigabytes (GB) of memory and the B50 offering 16GB. Their multi-GPU scalability provides a versatile solution for creators, AI developers, and various professionals.

These GPUs are optimized for AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) and inference workstations, ensuring stability and performance through extensive Independent Software Vendor (ISV) certifications and optimized software. Notably, the Intel Arc Pro B-Series GPUs are compatible with both consumer and professional drivers on Windows. For Linux users, they support a containerized software stack, simplifying AI deployments and promising progressive feature and optimization upgrades. By combining substantial memory capacity with crucial software compatibility, the Arc Pro B-Series presents creators and AI developers with scalable and cost-effective solutions.

Intel also previewed Project Battlematrix, a configurable workstation-class platform powered by Intel Xeon processors. This platform aims to streamline AI development by supporting up to eight Intel Arc Pro B60 24GB GPUs, enabling the training of medium-sized (up to 150 billion parameters) and accurate AI models with a total of up to 192GB of video random-access memory.

Sampling of the Intel Arc Pro B60 GPU from add-in board partners like ASRock, Gunnir, Lanner, Maxsun, Onix, Senao, and Sparkle will begin in June 2025. The Intel Arc Pro B50 GPU will be available through Intel-authorized resellers starting in July 2025.

Intel Gaudi 3 AI Accelerators Available for PCIe and Rack Scale Deployments
Further solidifying its AI strategy, Intel announced new deployment options for its Intel Gaudi 3 AI accelerators. Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe cards will support scalable AI inferencing within existing data center server environments. These cards offer the flexibility to run various AI models, from Llama 3.1 8B to full-scale Llama 4 Scout or Maverick, catering to businesses of all sizes. The Intel Gaudi 3 PCIe cards are slated for availability in the second half of 2025.

Intel Gaudi 3 rack scale system reference designs are engineered for both flexibility and scale, accommodating up to 64 accelerators per rack and providing a massive 8.2 terabytes (TB) of high-bandwidth memory. Their open, modular design aims to prevent vendor lock-in. Equipped with liquid cooling, these systems are designed for robust performance and efficient total cost of ownership (TCO).

The Intel Gaudi rack scale architecture is optimized for running large AI models and excels in real-time inferencing with low-latency performance. These configurations underscore Intel’s commitment to open, flexible, and secure AI infrastructure, supporting both custom and Open Compute Project (OCP) designs for cloud service providers (CSPs).

Intel AI Assistant Builder Now Publicly Available
Following its initial reveal at CES 2025, Intel AI Assistant Builder is now publicly available in beta on GitHub. This lightweight, open software framework enables developers to build and run custom AI agents locally on Intel-based AI PCs. With Acer and ASUS showcasing innovative solutions at COMPUTEX, Intel AI Assistant Builder empowers developers and partners to rapidly create and deploy tailored AI agents for their organizations and end customers.

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Computex

ASUS ROG Unveils New Esports Gear at COMPUTEX 2025

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Reporting from Taipei, Taiwan: At COMPUTEX 2025, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) reinforced its commitment to esports with a range of new product announcements: the ROG Falcata 75% gaming keyboard, the esports-focused ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse, the Strix Ace XG248 gaming monitor, the ROG Courser and Destrier Core gaming chairs, and the ROG Sheath II XXL mouse pad.

ROG’s “Ace” line is developed in collaboration with esports professionals, incorporating cutting-edge features to meet the demands of gamers at all levels. VALORANT Champions winner Max “Demon1” Mazanov played a key role in shaping the Harpe II Ace, influencing its design for optimal claw and fingertip grip.

“At ROG, we believe greatness in esports starts with gear that’s built to perform under pressure,” said Kris Huang, General Manager of the ASUS Gaming & Workspace Gear business unit. “Our mission is simple: to equip the next generation of champions with the tools they need to reach the top.”

ROG also announced a new brand partnership with legendary CS2 player Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, who will contribute to the testing and development of new keyboard products. ROG continues to partner with esports teams, including long-standing relationships with NRG Sports and Team Vitality, equipping the latter’s Counter-Strike and VALORANT teams.

ROG Falcata Gaming Keyboard
The ROG Falcata is a 75% split gaming keyboard designed for precision and flexibility. Its design allows users to utilize the left keyboard module to free up desktop space for their mousing hand, providing more room for mouse movement than even a 60% keyboard.

The keyboard features hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switches, offering refined keystrokes with customizable actuation points (0.1mm to 3.5mm) and 0.01mm interval adjustments. These pre-lubed magnetic switches deliver a solid feel, fast performance, and a 100-million-keypress lifespan. The switches include a polycarbonate top housing, POM plastic stem and bottom housing, and a walled stem design to enhance stability and prevent dust intrusion. A unique snap-fit mechanism minimizes key wobble.

The ROG Hall Sensor ensures accurate input detection, reduces electrical noise and interference, and increases magnetic flux tolerance. A multifunction wheel and button allow users to adjust settings like actuation point, Rapid Trigger sensitivity, volume, media playback, and keyboard lighting. A Rapid Trigger toggle enables quick switching to the fastest typing response and key repeat rates.

The Falcata offers an 8000Hz polling rate and ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology for up to 610 hours of battery life. Tri-mode connectivity allows connection to three devices simultaneously via Bluetooth®, 2.4GHz wireless, or wired USB. Integrated four-layer dampening minimizes pinging noises and provides a cushioned typing feel. Detachable silicone wrist rests enhance comfort.

ROG Harpe II Ace Gaming Mouse
The ROG Harpe II Ace gaming mouse is designed for esports, developed in collaboration with professional gamers to deliver speed, precision, and reliability.

Engineered for pro-grade performance, the Harpe II Ace is balanced for effortless movement and precision. Its bio-based nylon construction reduces weight and enhances impact resistance, while ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology delivers an 8000Hz polling rate. The mouse features a 42,000-dpi ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor with track-on-glass technology, and ROG optical micro switches with a 100-million click lifespan.

Developed with input from VALORANT star Demon1 and other esports professionals, the Harpe II Ace’s shape is optimized for control and consistency, accommodating both claw and fingertip grips. The refined silhouette, gently tapering sidewalls, and button incline promote better hand balance and stability. The side buttons are positioned and angled to minimize accidental misclicks.

The Harpe II Ace weighs 48 grams, 11% lighter than the Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition. Its bio-based nylon shell, made using castor oil, reduces its carbon footprint by 70% compared to regular nylon. The internal structure is strengthened to prevent flex, and a smooth, matte surface coating manages sweat and grease. Large PTFE mouse feet with rounded edges provide smoother glide and better control.

Featuring ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology, the Harpe II Ace is the first gaming mouse with a next-gen MCU chip to offer true wireless 8000Hz polling rate performance. Zone mode optimizes hardware settings for competitive play, pushing the polling rate to 8000Hz, ensuring heightened responsiveness, conserving battery by disabling RGB lighting, and decluttering data signals by disconnecting ROG Gear Link.

ROG Gear Link allows configuration of the Harpe II Ace via a web browser, simplifying setups for esports players. Alongside the Harpe II Ace, the ROG Strix Ace XG248 gaming monitor was also introduced at Computex. Equipped with a Super TN panel, the Strix Ace XG248 boasts an overclocked 610Hz refresh rate and a 0.8ms input lag.

ROG Sheath II XXL Mouse Pad
The ROG Sheath II XXL mouse pad measures 900 x 400 x 3mm, providing ample space for gaming gear. Its cooling fabric enhances heat dissipation, and a nonslip rubber base ensures a firm grip. Durable anti-fray edges offer a smoother feel and minimal friction.

ROG Courser and ROG Destrier Core Gaming Chairs
The ROG Courser gaming chair features a 90–155° Dynamic Synchronized Reclining system with constant back support. 360° 4D armrests and 4D Adjustable Lumbar Support allow for customized ergonomics. The chair includes a cold-pressed lumbar pad, a 58cm wide seat, a magnetic detachable headrest, premium transparent leatherette, and concealed RGB lighting.

The ROG Destrier Core gaming chair is now available in Moonlight White, complementing the ROG Moonlight White peripherals lineup. It features breathable mesh, a Nylon frame, adjustable headrest, lumbar support, padded armrests with a special elevation mode for mobile gaming, and optimal airflow.

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Computex

Acer to Unveil AI-Powered Laptops, Smart Wearables, and Gaming Gear at COMPUTEX 2025

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Ahead of Computex, Acer has made a series of announcements detailing its new and upcoming AI-powered devices, including laptops, desktops, wearables, and e-mobility solutions. For gamers, Acer unveiled the Predator Triton 14 AI gaming laptop, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. Acer highlights its use of graphene thermal interface materials (TIM) in the CPU, which it says is an industry first for laptops, aimed at improving cooling. The Predator Helios Neo 14 AI, with similar specifications, was also announced, alongside the Predator Orion 3000 gaming desktop, equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and the same NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU found in the laptops.

The Predator Triton 14 AI is set to launch in EMEA in July, with a starting price of EUR 2,999. The Predator Helios Neo 14 AI will start at EUR 1,699, and the Predator Orion 3000 desktop will be available in EMEA for EUR 1,099. Acer’s more budget-friendly Swift lineup also received updates with the introduction of the Swift X 14 AI and Swift X 14 AI Creator laptops. Both models are powered by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, emphasizing their AI capabilities and graphics performance. The Swift 14 AI is a Copilot PC, utilizing AMD Ryzen AI 300 series processors, while the Swift X 14 AI Creator features Intel Core Ultra Processors (Series 2). Both laptops boast 3K OLED displays and haptic touchpads. These Swift AI laptops are slated for a July release in EMEA, with a starting price of EUR 1,799.

In the thin and light category, Acer showcased the Swift Edge and Swift Go AI Copilot+ laptops. The Swift Go AI, constructed with a magnesium-aluminum chassis, weighs just 0.99 kilograms and claims up to 21 hours of battery life. It will be offered in 14-inch and 16-inch versions, with the latter promising 16 hours of battery life. All three Swift laptops are powered by Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors and are “eligible to receive updates to Copilot+ PO experiences.”

The Swift Edge is expected to arrive in EMEA in June, starting at EUR 1,599. The Swift Go 16 AI will have a starting price of EUR 1,200, while the 14-inch version will start at EUR 1,199. The Aspire series also sees new AI Copilot+ laptops with the Aspire 14 AI and Aspire 16 AI, offering configurations with either Intel Core Ultra or AMD Ryzen processors and Intel Arc graphics.

Acer also introduced new Predator and Nitro gaming and smart monitors. Highlights include the Predator X27U F5, featuring a 500 Hz refresh rate, and the Predator X27 X, with 4K resolution. Both support AMD FreeSync Premium Pro technology. Additionally, the company announced the Acer Nitro GA321QK P and Nitro GA341CUR W0 Google TV smart monitors, and the Acer Nitro PG271K, a 4K portable monitor with a kickstand.

Expanding into the wearables market, Acer unveiled the Acer FreeSense ring, designed for 24/7 biometric tracking and “AI-driven wellness insights.” The company also announced the Acer AI Transbuds, capable of real-time, two-way voice translation for 15 major languages, even when used by only one person.

Acer is also entering the e-mobility sector, showcasing new e-scooters and e-bikes for urban commuting and outdoor use. The lineup includes the Acer eScooter Series 4 Select, Series 5 Select, Predator ES Storm, and Predator ES Thunder, all equipped with 400W to 500W motors, adaptive braking, and suspension systems. The Acer eMobility App will allow riders to track performance and manage security settings. The Predator eRanger, a fat-tire e-bike previously shown at the 2025 Taipei Cycle Show, was also on display.

Acer has not yet released pricing details for its wearables or e-mobility devices.

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