Gadgets
Review: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Last year, Samsung combined the Galaxy S series, which is very well known for its outstanding cameras with the Galaxy Note and the S Pen, which is known for its productivity features. In doing so, it created a new device – the Galaxy S22 Ultra, a top-of-the-line smartphone with all the features one could want. This possibly also allowed Samsung to focus on its foldable smartphones – the Fold and Flip Series, which it sees as the future.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a major departure from its predecessor, featuring almost the same design and the S Pen, in addition to the 10X optical zoom camera. However, lots have changed in terms of the camera module. It now offers a 200-megapixel main camera, promising detailed pictures and videos, and night shots.
This year, Samsung is taking a different approach, using the same powerful Snapdragon chip in all versions of the S23 Ultra, regardless of where they’re sold. This is a change from the past, where overseas versions were equipped with Samsung’s in-house Exynos chip. I believe this change is in the right direction, given that one architecture would allow Samsung to tightly integrate both hardware and software together for an outstanding user experience.
So, in the S23 series, there are three models to choose from – the S23, the S23+, and the S23 Ultra. Go for the Ultra model if you need an S Pen. If not, the Galaxy S23 Plus offers a better deal, being both cheaper and lighter. It does lack the 10X optical zoom camera, but it still has a 3X zoom camera, a similar processor, fast charging, and a slightly smaller battery. If a smaller phone is your preference, consider the Galaxy S23.
Over the past week, I have been testing the top-of-the-line flagship by taking photos and videos in and around Sharjah, really wanting to test what its 200-megapixel camera module can do. I have also been using the S23 Ultra as my main smartphone for my daily activities as a power user. And, I have to say, I am really impressed with what it can do.
- 100X Zoom
- 0.6X Zoom
- 1X Zoom
- 3X Zoom
- 10X Zoom
- 30X Zoom
So, let’s get into the specifications. The S23 Ultra comes with a 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED display that offers an adaptive refresh rate ranging from 1 – 120Hz. On top of the display, you will find a 12MP front shooter. On the right edges, you will find the volume and power buttons, while the top edge has the noise-cancelling microphone.
On the bottom edge, you will find the stylus slot, a speaker grille, a noise-cancelling microphone, a USB-C port, a second noise-cancelling microphone, and the dual SIM slot. The dual SIM slot does not offer a micro SD card slot and hence the internal storage is not expandable.
Continuing with the specifications, the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is paired with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM. You also get to choose the internal storage of either 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB. Our review unit came with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
The battery on this one is rated at 5,000 mAh and the phone supports 45W wired or 10W wireless charging. The box does not come with a charger, though a USB-C charging cable is included with the device. The phone is also rated at IP68 for dust and water resistance. The S23 Ultra is available in four colours – Phantom Black, Cotton Flower, Botanic Green, and Mystic Lilac. The one reviewed here is the Botanic Green variant.
The overall build quality and design is top-notch. The body does not attract fingerprints, which is a great thing. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts an exceptional display, exhibiting brightness and vivid colours. With a 6.8-inch QHD OLED screen having a resolution of 3088-by-1400 pixels and a maximum brightness of 1,750 nits, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the best displays on a phone.
The overall performance is mind-blowing. The S23 Ultra has got to be one of the best-performing smartphones I have tested in recent times. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, manufactured by TSMC with a 3.36GHz CPU, outperforms in everyday tasks such as email management, web browsing, and video streaming. It’s also equipped to handle demanding tasks such as 60-fps gaming (Genshin Impact and Fortnite), 4K video editing, and multitasking with GPS navigation.
The camera module on the S23 Ultra is a game changer – it performs consistently without having a worry about lighting conditions. The 200MP shooting model offers the flexibility to crop images after capturing, preserving detail while enabling a fresh perspective. The S23 Ultra now includes the ExpertRAW mode in its camera app, offering greater control than the standard Pro mode. This mode enables shooting in RAW format with multi-frame exposures, and introduces a 50-megapixel RAW option, offering more detail than the default 12MP shot while consuming less storage space compared to a 200-megapixel file.
Daytime images typically appear more defined and clear, thanks to Samsung’s enhanced processing technology. The resulting photos offer a reduced washed-out appearance and a more striking appearance. Furthermore, indoor or low light images show significant improvement, with the S23 Ultra capturing a more natural look compared to the overprocessed appearance of the S22 Ultra. The latest model also produces cleaner detail with minimal noise.
The 200MP shooting option on the Galaxy S23 Ultra allows you to crop images after capture, offering a unique perspective while maintaining detail. Although the S23 Ultra has a 12MP front camera, which is downgraded from the S22 Ultra’s 40MP, I was impressed by the improved portraits due to advanced AI and a noteworthy Night portrait mode.
- 200MP image
- 63% crop of the 200MP image
The S23 series runs on the Android 13 operating system with Samsung’s very own One UI 5.1 software running on top. The S-Pen adds a whole new dimension of productivity to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. I am a user of the Note20 5G and I know the importance of the S-Pen. Hence, the inclusion of the S-Pen on the S23 Ultra, just like the S22 Ultra before that, is a value add.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers the same high-capacity 5,000 mAh battery as the S22 Ultra. During our tests, we were able to clock almost 13 hours of battery life on a single charge. The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra should last more than a day in a real-world usage scenario.
In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an outstanding Android phone. Its 200MP camera is exceptional, offering improved low-light performance, with images rivaling even some of the best phones out there in the market. The S23 Ultra boasts impressive speed, is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip, and is the best phone for gaming that I have tested.
Additionally, the 13-plus hour battery life is a significant improvement over the Galaxy S22 Ultra. If you don’t require the S Pen, the Galaxy S23 Plus may offer better value at a lesser price, with a smaller 6.6-inch display, but the same powerful Snapdragon chip, bright screen, and 256GB storage. However, if you are one of those who seek a comprehensive phone with a 200MP camera, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is well worth the investment.
Price: AED 5963 (Pre-order Price of AED 4949 with free gifts)
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra AED 5963
Summary
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is not a major departure from its predecessor, featuring almost the same design and the S Pen, in addition to the 10X optical zoom camera. However, lots have changed in terms of the camera module. It now offers a 200-megapixel main camera, promising detailed pictures and videos, and night shots.
User Review
( votes)
Displays
CORSAIR Launches XENEON 27QHD240 OLED Gaming Monitor

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.
Gadgets
Review: Acer Swift 5 (2022)

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
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.
User Review
( votes)Features
HONOR Announces “Memories Together” Ramadan Campaign and Great Discounts on its Best-Selling Gadgets

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.