VAR
Another iPhone launch—has Apple nailed it with the iPhone Air?

By Srijith KN
The iPhone Air is the talk of the season, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the buzz lasts all year. From the moment I got my hands on it, I’ve been excited. It’s thinner—and that alone makes it a delight to have one! Apple’s past few releases haven’t really excited me, but this design has just clicked! If you look at the journey from the first iPhone to iPhone 6, the devices got thinner with every release. After iPhone 6, Apple started going thicker—and that made sense, since we were in that era where companies were competing to make phones become our primary computers, and they finally succeeded.
The Air has the potential to change that pattern. It brings back the lighter, sleeker feel of the classic old-school phones in a good way without completely sacrificing modernness.
Usability in Daily Life
I’ve been using bigger phones for a while now, and honestly, I’ve even had trouble just pulling them out of my pocket. On top of that, my screen time keeps increasing, and the bigger batteries with all their mAh equations haven’t really helped much. Perhaps that’s why the iPhone Air struck me to put this write-up together. Despite its slim profile, it offers the same battery life as the 16 Pro—which is impressive. Apple claims it’s durable too, thanks to the titanium shell, and I’m willing to bet on that.
Since I’m not a big photographer, I don’t need the massive camera setups. I usually have a cameraman with me for work, so other than snapping a quick photo at the store to check with my wife and some picnic pictures, I really don’t use those big lenses. What I do need is a phone that handles music, calls, and constant calls that keeps my journalism on track—and the Air fits that bracket perfectly.
Performance & Features
The iPhone 17 Air runs on the A19 Pro chip. Heavy gamers probably shouldn’t look elsewhere, but for everyday tasks and anything more than that, it’s flawless. And if you pick up the magnetic power battery attachment, perhaps your battery anxiety will be gone as well.
The Pro has its advantages—a bigger camera lens, a larger battery, and a new cooling chamber—but it’s chunky. The Air, on the other hand, strikes a balance between practicality and aesthetics.
The Verdict
Here’s the bottom line: the Air is gorgeous, lightweight, and fun to use. Yes, it’s compromised—a smaller battery, one less camera—but it delivers exactly what it promises. For those who want power and tech-heavy features, the iPhone 17 Pro is the answer. But for anyone who values aesthetics, a minimalist feel, and a premium outlook in a lighter, smaller package, the Air is the smarter choice.
If you’re tired of carrying heavy devices and don’t care about the extra tech YouTubers hype, the iPhone Air 17 makes perfect sense as the Apple device to get right now.
Quick Take Rating
Everyday Usability: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Design: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Performance: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Battery Life: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Camera: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

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Apple Watch Series 11: Evolution, Not Revolution, But That Matters

By Srijith KN, Senior Editor
The Apple Watch Series 11 feels familiar on my wrist. It upholds the design philosophy centered on continuous wearability. At a slim depth of 9.7 mm, the profile remains consistent with its immediate predecessor, the Series 10. This lightness is paramount, specifically enabling the device to be worn comfortably 24 hours a day, a requirement for capturing the overnight and long-term health metrics that define this generation.
Same rounded-square silhouette, same slim profile, same 42 mm / 46 mm dial options. But that’s not a complaint, it’s a design that works. What’s changed are the refinements under the glass and behind the scenes that has resulted in a notably improved user experience.

Display & Durability: Subtle But Real
The new release continues to offer a choice between aluminum and the more premium titanium cases, catering to various user preferences for weight and durability. Let me start with what might sound basic, but matters every single day: the display glass.
Apple has treated the Ion-X glass on aluminum models with a new ceramic coating that bonds at the atomic level through physical vapor deposition, making it twice as scratch-resistant as the Series 10. I know that sounds like marketing speak, but here’s why it’s genuinely significant. It’s not just tougher glass; it’s peace of mind. You stop babying your watch and actually use it.
If you opt for the titanium model, you’re getting sapphire crystal instead, the most scratch and crack-resistant material you can put on a watch display. But honestly? The Ion-X glass closes the durability gap considerably, and at a more accessible price point. The Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED remains, but Apple has pushed it to 2,000 nits brightness, made the display borders 24 percent thinner and improved the viewing angles.

Battery Life: Official Numbers Undersell It
Here’s where Apple deserves genuine credit for listening. The Series 11 now offers up to 24 hours of battery life, a full six hours more than previous generations. My experience, however, suggests Apple’s figures are rather conservative. The larger 46 mm model routinely delivered between 40 and 43 hours of use in testing. It allowed me to get through a full day, track a full night of sleep, and still have a buffer for the next morning. And for a quick top-up, the fast-charge capability gets you to 80% in about 30 minutes, or a brief 5-minute charge provides enough juice for a night’s sleep tracking.
There’s also Low Power Mode, which stretches the battery to an official 38 hours time, which again is a very much conservative claim from Apple. I’m being realistic here, you won’t use it daily unless you’re the type who obsesses over battery percentages. But it’s genuinely useful for specific scenarios: overnight travel, a weekend hiking trip, or when you’re running late and forgot to charge overnight. You lose some fitness features and continuous health monitoring, but the core functionality remains. Although I never needed it, knowing it’s there was reassuring.
Fast charging provides eight hours of battery life in just 15 minutes, so a quick top-up while you shower is all you need. Is it multi-day for a heavy user usage? No. But 24 hours is the sweet spot where the watch becomes genuinely convenient rather than another device demanding consistent attention. And the Low Power Mode is your safety net when life gets unpredictable.

5G: More Than a Spec Bump
I was skeptical about 5G on a watch. How much data are you really downloading on your wrist? Turns out, quite a bit; and the difference is noticeable. The Series 11 features an upgraded cellular antenna covering more bands, and can simultaneously engage both system antennas when needed, significantly increasing signal strength. Translation: music streams without stuttering, and podcast episodes are downloaded in seconds instead of minutes.
The real win is reliability. The dual-antenna system on the Series 11 maintains a connection in places. I travel frequently, and this means stronger, more stable coverage, validating the Watch’s role as an indispensable safety device and a reliable lifeline when I intentionally leave my iPhone behind.

Hypertension Monitoring: A Potential Life-Saver
The Apple Watch uses its optical heart sensor to quietly track how your blood vessels respond to each heartbeat, running an algorithm in the background over 30 days to look for signs of hypertension. I haven’t been wearing it long enough for that full 30-day cycle yet, so I haven’t seen any results. But once it’s had enough data, it’s supposed to alert you if it detects patterns that might point to chronic high blood pressure — basically telling you to double-check with a proper cuff and talk to your doctor.
watchOS 26: The Liquid Glass Era
The software deserves its own recognition. watchOS 26 introduces Liquid Glass, creating a vibrant, expressive experience across the Photos watch face, Smart Stack widgets, notifications, Control Center, and navigation. It’s a visual refresh that makes the watch feel premium and modern.
Two new standout features that I found the most attractive, useful and innovative:
Wrist Flick Gesture: My number one favorite new feature. I’ve come to love the new Wrist Flick gesture. It allows me to instantly dismiss notifications or silence alarms with a quick twist of the wrist. This isn’t a clumsy accelerometer trick; the Neural Engine uses machine learning to interpret “messy motion data” , so it knows the difference between an intentional flick and me just randomly moving my arm.
Smart Stack Hints: Think of them as little nudges from your watch. The right information or app suggestion pops up just when it might be useful. The Series 11 watches your routines, movement, location, and even sensor data, then predicts what you might need before you even ask for it.

The Ecosystem Advantage: Where Apple Watch Shines Brightest
It’s in day-to-day life that the Series 11 shines. Quick glances at the wrist replace phone-checking rituals. Notifications feel natural rather than disruptive, and built-in GPS means workouts don’t tether you to your iPhone. Cycling, walking, or even scootering, the Watch feels like a personal assistant that anticipates needs without demanding attention.
Should You Buy/Upgrade?
If you own a Series 10: Probably skip it unless 5G and longer battery life address specific pain points for you. The improvements are meaningful but might seem incremental for you.
If you own a Series 6, 7, 8, or 9: This is a substantial upgrade. The display durability, battery life, 5G connectivity, and new health features justify the upgrade; especially if you’re bothered by battery anxiety or accumulated scratches.
If you’re new to Apple Watch: The Series 11 is the most refined, capable, and user-friendly version Apple has made. At 1,599 AED, (the titanium model starts at 2,799 AED) it’s a meaningful investment, that pays dividends daily if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.
Pricing & Color Options
Aluminum – Available in Space Gray (New), Silver (New), Rose Gold and Jet Black
42 mm (GPS) – AED 1,599 46 mm (GPS) – AED 1,719
42 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 1,999 46 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,119
Titanium – Available in Natural, Gold and Slate
42 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,799 46 mm (GPS + Cellular) – AED 2,999
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CMF Unveils Headphone Pro: Its First Over-Ear Headphones with Modular Design

Today, CMF announced the launch of the CMF Headphone Pro, its first set of over-ear ANC Headphones. The new CMF Headphone Pro brings a pop of color to the legacy over-ear Headphones Category. The headphone is the earliest of personal audio, and today CMF reimagines this legacy category to bring the beauty of cutting edge engineering in a wonderfully designed form factor that is sure to bring joy and smile to the faces of anyone who gets to play around with it. CMF brings a touch of true personalisation, starting from the customisable cushion design to the Intuitive on-device controls and sound personalisation using the Nothing X app.
Remix Everything with CMF Headphone Pro
Headphone Pro features a unique modular design which brings both the beauty of modern playful aesthetics with the three fun colorways, Light Grey, Dark Grey and Light Green, but adds on to the modularity with swappable ear cushions that can allow users to completely change the look of their headphones and to customise sound according to their personal needs. What makes the Headphone Pro truly standalone are the intuitive controls on the headphones. The feeling of physical buttons that respond to your actions is irreplaceable, and hence we’ve implemented that on the CMF Headphone Pro in the shape of a Roller that helps control volume, ANC, and Play and Pause. Along with this comes for the very first time an Energy Slider which helps you switch between varying levels of Bass and Treble that can be adjusted based on the energy of the song that you’re listening to. These along with a customisable Button makes the CMF Headphone Pro a truly unique visual and tactile experience.

It brings Active Noise Cancellation implemented with a comfortable seal and highly power efficient chip. The Hybrid ANC brings up to 40dB of noise cancellation. CMF’s engineering teams have implemented adaptive noise cancellation that detects the level of ambient noise and adjusts ANC accordingly to provide the best experience.
CMF Headphone Pro brings high fidelity sound in the palm of your hands, with a custom-made 40mm driver along with Hi-res and LDAC. The whole setup is powered by custom-made 40mm Nickel Plated Drivers providing a high-fidelity, low distortion listening experience. CMF Headphone Pro also brings Personal Sound that adapts itself to each individual’s ear canal shape to provide a truly personalised experience.
CMF’s engineering teams have attained an incredible feat with the CMF Headphone Pro, bringing an unparalleled power efficiency to the battery. The Headphone Pro can provide up to 100 hours of playback on a single charge. Allowing for a worry-free listening experience that can last for days on end.
Modular Design
Interchangeable Cushions
CMF Headphone Pro brings personalisation to the forefront with interchangeable ear cushions that lets every listener make it truly their own. More than just a functional detail, this design transforms headphones into an extension of the user’s personality – giving them the freedom to adapt colours, reflect moods, and create a look that’s uniquely theirs.
Tactile Controls
Headphone Pro puts precision at your fingertips with intuitive, responsive controls. The Energy Slider lets you shape sound in real time, adjusting between bass and treble levels to match your mood. The Roller makes volume, playback, and noise control seamless with simple scrolls and presses. And with a customisable Button, you can access features like Spatial Audio or one touch access to AI instantly – smart control designed around you.

Immersive listening
Hybrid Adaptive ANC
Hybrid Adaptive ANC automatically adjusts to your surroundings, shifting between three levels of noise control. With up to 40 dB noise reduction it cuts chatter and everyday distractions so every detail comes through with clarity and comfort, all while reducing listening fatigue.
Spatial Audio
Spatial Audio makes movies and music feel more real by surrounding you with sound. Cinema mode widens the stage for clear dialogue and effects, while Concert mode brings the depth and energy of live music.
Precision Sound
LDAC + Hi-Res Certified Audio
Stream music in high resolution, wired or wireless. LDAC ensures highest fidelity Bluetooth audio up to 990 kbps, and dual Hi-Res certifications ensure consistent clarity and precision across formats. Every note sounds detailed and true.
40mm Custom Drivers
CMF Headphone Pro uses 40 mm drivers with nickel-plated diaphragms for reduced distortion and sharper clarity. A 16.5 mm copper voice coil, precision bass duct, and dual-chamber design deliver deeper, fuller sound with rich texture and punch.
Personal Sound
Everyone hears differently – not just in preference, but in the way each individual’s ear canal is shaped and their hearing sensitivities affect sound perception. That’s why CMF Headphone Pro uses Audiodo technology to build a Personal Sound profile unique to you.

100 Hour battery
Headphone Pro delivers up to 100 hours of playback and up to 50 hours of talk time on a single charge. Even with ANC on, you’ll get up to 50 hours of playback, giving you long-lasting performance without interruptions.
Charge on the go
A quick 5-minute charge gives up to 4 hours of listening, while a full recharge takes under 2 hours via USB-C. You can even top up directly from your smartphone on-the-go, simply connect your smartphone with the CMF headphone pro using a type-c to type-c cable, keeping Headphone Pro ready with zero downtime.
Price & Availability:
CMF Headphone Pro will be available in three color variants, Dark Grey, Light Green, and Light Grey for AED/ SAR 369 in all key retail partners such as SharafDG, Jumbo, Jarir Bookstore, Lulu Hypermarket, Al Haddad and many more.
VAR
CMF smartwatch: Watch 3 Pro is a smarter move

The CMF smartwatch Watch 3 Pro launches with intelligent coaching, precise tracking, and a bold design for everyday movement. Built for casual fitness and daily life, CMF smartwatch features help you train smarter, stay organised, and look sharp—without complicating your routine.
CMF smartwatch essentials: why Watch 3 Pro stands out
First, it upgrades accuracy. A new dual-band five-system GPS locks on faster and holds signal in crowded cities or open trails. Consequently, route data feels cleaner, and pacing is more reliable. Next, 131 sports modes keep training fresh, while a personalised running coach adapts plans to your level and goals. Meanwhile, a four-channel heart-rate sensor improves precision across skin tones and intensities. With Active Score (powered by MET data), you get a simple weekly snapshot that nudges consistency.
Train, recover, repeat with CMF smartwatch AI tools
After each workout, AI-powered summaries unpack training load, recovery time, and even 5K/10K predictions. Forget to press start? The watch auto-detects seven core activities, so your effort still counts. Beyond exercise, daily wellness stays in view: SpO₂, stress tracking, guided breathing, hydration, and inactivity reminders, sleep insights, and women’s health support provide a fuller picture of your day.
CMF Watch 3 Pro: Your on-wrist smart companion
Because life moves fast, CMF adds helpful tools. ChatGPT integration lets you ask questions, set reminders, and get quick facts with natural-language voice prompts. Additionally, a voice recorder with auto-transcription captures ideas on the go, while an Essential News digest curates updates by interest. Bluetooth calling, gesture shortcuts, and 140-character quick replies keep communication simple, and an extra microphone improves call pickup.
Expressive hardware, immersive display
Style matters. Dark Grey, Light Grey, and Orange straps pair with a precision-milled metal body that feels premium yet discreet. Up front, a vibrant 1.43-inch AMOLED with ultra-thin bezels supports Always-On Display and delivers a 10% higher screen-to-body ratio than Watch Pro 2. Moreover, you can choose from 120+ watch faces, including video, photo, and AI-generated options via Watch Face Studio. Add full-screen or mini widgets for fitness, weather, music, or reminders to make it yours.
Built for real life
Rated IP68, the watch handles sweat, dust, and surprise downpours. Battery life impresses, too: expect up to 13 days with typical use, around 11 days with heavier tracking, and about 4.5 days with Always-On enabled. A full charge takes roughly 99 minutes. Under the hood, improved motion monitoring and a 6-axis accelerometer—a 50% boost over Watch Pro 2—bring smoother tracking to indoor and outdoor sessions alike.
Nothing X: one app for more control
All CMF smartwatches, including earlier models, are transitioning to the Nothing X app. You’ll see steadier syncing, a refreshed UI, and smarter health tools. Crucially, the platform supports Strava, Apple Health, and Google Health Connect, so your workout data and daily metrics flow where you need them—without juggling multiple apps.
Price and availability
In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, CMF Watch 3 Pro is priced at AED/SAR 369 at leading retail partners across e-commerce, electronics, and carrier channels. Open sales begin soon (date TBC). If you want one device that covers training, wellness, and day-to-day smarts, this is the easy pick.
Bottom line
The CMF Watch 3 Pro combines accuracy, coaching, and character. It encourages small, doable wins—today, tomorrow, and the day after. Put it on, set a goal, and move smarter.
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