Gadgets
ASUS Republic of Gamers Brings New ROG Strix SCAR 18 to the UAE
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce the new ROG Strix SCAR gaming laptop, brand-new designs come to the ROG Strix SCAR 18. The full-fledged gaming laptop now features an updated chassis and a new panel option. The new 16:10, 18” Nebula display laptop is equipped with Intel’s new i9 processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 40 series graphics power. The powerhouse is cooled by ROG Intelligent Cooling’s latest solutions which ensures the laptop runs cool under load.
As ROG’s highest-performing laptops, the Strix series is powered by the latest and greatest chips from Intel and NVIDIA. The Strix SCAR 18 feature up to an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor with 24 cores and 32 threads, alongside up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU capable of up to 175 watts, for a total system power of 240 W (with Dynamic Boost and Manual performance modes). A MUX Switch with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus intelligently ensures optimal framerates when plugged in, and better battery life when untethered, with no manual intervention needed.
The redesigned 18-inch Strix laptop allows for an all-new Intelligent Cooling suite, featuring ROG’s Tri-Fan Technology first introduced on the 2022 Flow X16. In addition, the full-width heatsink is taken from the Flow X16 and enlarged it for the 2023 Strix SCAR 18. This larger heatsink increases surface area for heat dissipation by up to 92.23% compared with 2022 models, and paired with our new full-surround vents, ensures next-level airflow for the powerful components inside. Combined with Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU with 7 heat pipes, ROG’s new solution allows for higher-than-ever TGPs for this year’s next-gen CPUs and GPUs.
2023’s new 18-inch Strix machines don’t just feature larger 16:10 panels. Every model is also available with one of ROG’s groundbreaking Nebula displays, ensuring a fast, bright, vivid image that surpasses typical gaming laptops for a truly immersive experience. Nebula displays require high refresh rates with a response time of 3ms or less, at least 500 nits of brightness, and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, so users don’t have to wade through spec pages to know their display is top-notch.
ROG Strix laptops were conceived for gamers that demand the absolute best in portable performance, alongside showstopping design with endless customization. Armoury Crate’s performance modes allow users to pick from silent, low-powered computing to turbo-charged gaming, or tweak voltage and fans manually for a completely fine-tuned experience. Plenty of RGB lighting adorns the chassis of each Strix machine, including an all-new full-width light bar along the vents on the back of the Strix SCAR 18. With Aura Sync, users can keep their laptop’s lighting coordinated with their peripherals, or even design their own complex lighting effects with Aura Creator.
Spacious keyboard layouts make for more comfortable gaming, alongside customizable hotkeys that control volume, microphone, or toggle performance modes for on-the-fly gaming. A larger glass touchpad gives more precision, and the chassis’ anti-fingerprint coating ensures a clean look no matter how active a user’s lifestyle. A semi-translucent keyboard deck on the Strix SCAR pulls the sporty design together, along with a new customizable Armor Cap design that allows users to flex their own style.
ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2023) will be available on 8th February 2023 in UAE from Virgin Megastore, Sharaf DG, Jumbo, Emax, Noon, Amazon, Computronic, HyperX, and ASUS eshop. The pricing starts from AED 17,099
Gadgets
Corsair Introduces K70 PRO TKL
CORSAIR has unveiled the K70 PRO TKL, a tenkeyless keyboard that redefines the standards of gaming performance. Powered by CORSAIR’s innovative MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches and featuring cutting-edge technologies like Rapid Trigger and FlashTap, the K70 PRO TKL is designed to dominate the competitive gaming scene.
The K70 PRO TKL introduces CORSAIR’s MGX Hyperdrive magnetic switches, which utilize Hall-effect sensors for lightning-fast activation. Combined with Rapid Trigger, these switches accelerate actions by registering and resetting keypresses instantly, surpassing the capabilities of traditional mechanical switches. The customisable actuation distance, ranging from 0.1mm to 4.0mm, allows gamers to tailor the keyboard to their specific preferences.
The K70 PRO TKL also offers FlashTap, a revolutionary SOCD system that enables esports-grade character movement. By prioritizing the first or last keypress, FlashTap significantly enhances in-game movement, particularly for rapid-strafing and move-mirroring techniques.
The wired-only K70 PRO TKL boasts 8,000Hz hyper-polling, ensuring ultra-fast keystroke registration. CORSAIR’s AXON hyper-processing technology further minimizes input lag and delay, giving gamers a decisive edge in critical moments.
The K70 PRO TKL delivers a premium gaming experience with its pre-lubricated MGX Hyperdrive switches, which offer a consistent and wobble-free keystroke. The keyboard’s sound-dampening foam reduces unwanted noise, creating a quieter and more immersive gaming environment.
Gadgets
ASUS Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of NUC Portfolio
ASUS has announced that it has made significant achievements and launched groundbreaking AI innovations following its official takeover of the NUC portfolio from Intel in October 2023. In October 2023, ASUS undertook the significant task of taking over Intel’s NUC portfolio and continuing the 10-year legacy of NUCs, which have been deployed to millions of customers worldwide. This marked the first time that ASUS has been involved in such a large-scale industry transition. Over the past year, ASUS seamlessly and successfully transitioned customers from the legacy Intel NUC portfolio to the ASUS NUC portfolio.
ASUS NUCs are now synonymous with top-tier performance, exceptional quality, and reliability. These attributes ensure that ASUS NUCs stand out in the market, offering an alternative to traditional desktops in a compact, mini-sized package, providing users with superior computing solutions that are both innovative and dependable. Whether for professional workloads, gaming, or AI applications, ASUS NUCs deliver the power and stability required for even the most demanding tasks and ensure that users thrive in this new AI era.
“As we celebrate our first anniversary of the successful takeover of the NUC portfolio from Intel, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering cutting-edge technology to our customers,” said Jackie Hsu, Senior Vice President and Co-Head of the Open Platform Business Group and AIoT Business Group. “The introduction of the world’s first AI mini PC and a seamless transition for existing NUC users underscore our dedication to maintaining our leadership position in the industry.”
ASUS continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the computing industry with the introduction of the AI NUC – the world’s first AI mini PC powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor (Series 2) with Microsoft Copilot+. These AI-enabled NUCs feature the latest NPU, GPU, and CPU architectures, enabling customers to design for the future of AI. ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI, which was recently unveiled at IFA 2024, allows users to experience the next level of AI performance, unlocking new possibilities for advanced computing tasks. This compact powerhouse offers a mini PC alternative to laptop AI PCs, providing more flexible options for AI-driven computing.
In addition, the ROG NUC/NUC 14 Performance is a new expansion of the ASUS AI NUC offering. The ROG NUC and NUC 14 Performance mark significant strides in ultra-small form factor computing. These devices are tailored for both gamers and versatile commercial use, integrating high-performance components into compact designs.
Gadgets
Nothing Shows Off Industry’s First Co-Created Smartphone
Nothing today unveiled the outcomes of The Community Edition Project. The Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition is Nothing’s first co-created product, where some of its most talented followers worked directly with the Nothing Team. From hardware to wallpapers, packaging to marketing, this smartphone has been entirely shaped by the imagination of Nothing’s community.
Nothing is pioneering a new way of working that seeks to erase the barrier between company and community. The project generated significant excitement, with over 900 entries from 47 countries around the world. The Community Edition Project is Nothing’s first major pilot to cocreate hardware, software, and content with its community, marking a key step towards shaping the future of the business together.
Winners Astrid Vanhuyse & Kenta Akasaki, Andrés Mateos, Ian Henry Simmonds and Sonya Palma, collaborated closely with Nothing’s Design Studio, Creative, Brand and Marketing teams in London to further refine their winning concepts. The result of this collaboration between the Nothing team and the community is Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition, a glow-in-the-dark interpretation of the popular Phone (2a) Plus.
Stage 1 – Hardware Design
Astrid Vanhuyse & Kenta Akasaki collaborated with Nothing’s Design Director Adam Bates and CMF Designer Lucy Birley, experimenting with a variety of materials and colours to bring their “Phosphorescence” concept to life, all while preserving the device’s core Nothing identity. Using green-tinted phosphorescent material finishes, elements of the back of the phone emit a soft glow in dark environments. This feature is purely analogue, requiring no power source, and can last for hours before gradually fading until it recharges by daylight.
Stage 2 – Wallpaper Design
Building on the hardware design, Andrés Mateos used a mix of AI tools and digital design to create the “Connected Collection”. Initially tasked with developing four wallpapers, Andrés, along with Nothing’s Software Design Director Mladen M Hoyss and Software Designer Ken Giang, decided to expand the final collection to six wallpapers.
Stage 3 – Packaging Design
Ian Henry Simmonds reinterpreted Nothing’s packaging design with his “Less is More” concept – a graphically bold, yet simple super-macro crop. The final packaging includes reflective elements which glow in dark environments to complement the winning hardware design.
Stage 4 – Marketing Campaign
Sonya Palma brought all the elements together with her intimate and powerful campaign concept, “Find your light. Capture your light”. This compelling campaign echoes Nothing’s very first product launch where “pure instinct” was at the campaign’s centre. Both allude to the idea that we all have an inner power that deserves to be explored. Sonya worked with Nothing’s Creative Team to develop a suite of elevated assets, including a film campaign and digital assets that supported the launch of the product.
According to Nothing, co-creation is at the core of the company’s mission. While Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition is the Community Team’s largest project to date, Nothing says it is constantly working with community members to co-develop software and content. In 2022, Nothing also introduced the role of a Community Board Observer, an elected individual who represents the community at Nothing’s Board of Directors meetings.
The Community Edition Project phone is available across all markets and has been developed on Phone (2a) Plus. Nothing will produce just 1,000 units of Phone (2a) and Phone (2a) Plus Community Edition. In GCC only 150 pieces are available for sale in both UAE and KSA. Nothing fans can get their hands on the “Community Edition” only through the Nothing Instagram page: @nothingarabia and it will be priced at: AED1,649 in UAE and SAR1,749.