VAR
HUAWEI Mate XT ULTIMATE DESIGN Remains the Trifold Benchmark
The evolution of smartphones took a new trajectory in the summer of 2024. After months of speculation and rumours, as Huawei unveiled the first-ever commercially available trifold to the world, it was praised universally. It proved that there is still room for groundbreaking innovations in smartphones. The HUAWEI Mate XT was so ahead of its time, it took the competition over a year to release a viable triple fold.
People now use their smartphones for way more. Smartphones have replaced a multitude of gadgets for everyday things like cameras, televisions, music players, and, to some extent, laptops. You no longer have to scramble for a laptop to send an urgent email or fumble with paper maps to navigate a strange city. Officially called the HUAWEI Mate XT ULTIMATE DESIGN, Huawei’s trifold smartphone was an answer to the growing demand for smartphones capable of multitasking and more immersive media consumption. Offering users the largest smartphone screen experience with a single 10.2-inch display that folds down into a convenient regular smartphone form factor, it expands the possibilities of smartphone interactions and multitasking.

Now, Huawei is expanding the Mate XT line with more colour options. Previously only available in Red and Black, the phone will be available starting next week in the white vegan leather finish. This new finish gives the device a more refined, minimalist aesthetic.
Despite widening competition, the Mate XT is still the benchmark for what a trifold smartphone can be. The Mate XT’s ingenious Z-shape folding method, where one side folds inward and one outward, has a unique benefit. It uses a single continuous display that unfolds into a tablet, and when folded to a regular smartphone size, one-third of that same screen becomes the outer display. It’s a cleaner, more coherent experience.
Trifold experiments from other brands also fall short of Mate XT in charging speeds, battery capacity and screen resolution. Even a whole year and few months after the initial release, the Mate XT is still the slimmest and lightest trifold in the market. Performance and durability follow the same pattern. The groundbreaking Advanced Precision Hinge System, made of ultra-strong, high-strength steel, offers a smooth, effortless and precise opening and closing experience.
A year on, the Mate XT remains the trifold smartphone others measure themselves against. It’s a category that Huawei created, defined, and continues to push forward while everyone else is still trying to catch up.
VAR
WHOOP RAISES $575 MILLION AT $10.1 BILLION VALUATION TO ADVANCE GLOBAL HEALTH PLATFORM AND FURTHER GCC EXPANSION

WHOOP, the human performance company, today announced it has raised $575 million in Series G funding at a $10.1 billion valuation, advancing its global expansion and long-term vision for personalized health. The round was led by Collaborative Fund and includes strong participation from GCC-based investors, including 2PointZero Group, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), and Mubadala Investment Company, alongside global investors Abbott, the Mayo Clinic, Macquarie Capital (entities administered by Macquarie Capital), Glade Brook, B- Flexion, IVP, Foundry, Accomplice, Affinity Partners and Bullhound Capital, as well as prominent global athletes and individual investors.
Individual investors in the round include notable figures with strong ties to the GCC, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Karen Wazen. Other individuals investing in the round include LeBron James, Rory McIlroy, Reggie Miller, Niall Horan, Virgil van Dijk, and Shane Lowry, underscoring the brand’s growing cultural relevance across the region and deep connection to elite performance, health and global culture.

This funding comes at a defining moment for WHOOP and the future of health. Chronic disease is rising globally, while many healthcare systems remain built for reactive care. At the same time, advances in AI and continuous biometric data are enabling a fundamentally new approach that predicts risk, guides behavior, and improves health in real time. WHOOP has spent over a decade building toward this moment. With this investment, the company will accelerate global expansion and scale its platform as a new standard for personalized, preventive health.
“We are building the personal health platform that people use to improve their health and livelihood,” said Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WHOOP. “The GCC is one of the most forward-looking regions in the world when it comes to health, performance and longevity. We’re building real momentum on the ground, expanding our local teams and growing our retail footprint in multiple markets. We’re also developing meaningful partnerships across the region to integrate WHOOP into broader health and performance ecosystems. We’re committed to investing here for the long term. We’re especially proud to be joined by so many investors from the region.”
Accelerating International Growth
WHOOP is experiencing rapid global momentum amid an extraordinary period of growth:
- The company now has over 2.5 million members around the world
- In 2025, bookings grew 103% year-over-year, exiting the year at a $1.1B run rate
- In 2025, WHOOP operated cash flow positive
- WHOOP is hiring for over 600 new roles around the world this year to support research and development and international expansion
Proceeds from this Series G financing will fuel international expansion across the GCC, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Building the Preeminent Global Health Platform
This financing will accelerate WHOOP in building the world’s leading personal health platform – an intelligent, unified system designed to extend healthspan, optimize performance, and prevent disease before it begins.
As part of its international expansion, WHOOP is scaling its presence across the GCC to deepen research and innovation capabilities while contributing to the region’s rapidly evolving performance science ecosystem. In the coming months, WHOOP will open WHOOP Labs Doha, the company’s first international performance research and development facility, marking a significant milestone in its global growth. Alongside this, WHOOP is advancing a series of initiatives across the UAE and Qatar designed to accelerate adoption and establish WHOOP as a leader in health and human performance across the region.
Powered by more than 24 billion hours of physiological data and purpose-built AI models, WHOOP delivers predictive, personalized health insights. Members open the app an average of over eight times per day – almost three times higher than other screenless wearables – to understand how they slept, whether they are recovered, how hard to push or pull back, and how daily behaviors like training, nutrition, and stress are impacting their performance and long-term health. These insights go beyond sleep and fitness, helping members identify early warning signs, reduce risk, and take action that can prevent serious health events. From world leaders and executives to elite athletes and artists, WHOOP has become an essential platform for those committed to performing and living at their highest level.
“WHOOP has become one of the most important tools I use to support my long-term health,” said Cristiano Ronaldo, a WHOOP investor and global ambassador. “I am proud to participate in this round because I believe in the future we are building together. No other company has created a health platform this powerful that people are proud to wear.”
Trending
HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro: The Return of a Flagship Powerhouse
The Mate series once represented the pinnacle of smartphone innovation. Now, the series returns to the global stage after a brief hiatus. Building on the Mate series’ strong tradition of pioneering technology, the Mate 80 Pro sets new standards in imaging authenticity, durability, performance, and intelligence. At a time when innovation among standard slab smartphones appears to have stalled, the Mate 80 Pro emerges as a serious contender for the best flagship smartphone of the year.
Capturing Reality with True Fidelity
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro revolutionises mobile photography with its True-to-Color Camera System. Compared to the previous generation, this system achieves a 43% improvement in colour reproduction to guarantee authentic, professional-grade results in any scenario. The system is powered by a premium 50 MP Ultra Lighting Main Camera featuring a large 1/1.28-inch sensor. This flagship main sensor captures significantly more light and detail than those of previous generations, providing superior low-light capabilities and lifelike textures.
The true strength of the Mate 80 Pro lies in its True-to-Color Camera. This camera system boasts 96% better light intake to offer more accurate, true-to-life detail in low-light conditions. Additionally, DCG HDR technology enhances dynamic range by 300% when compared to the previous generation, preserving details and contrast even in strong backlight scenarios.
The Mate 80 Pro’s 48 MP Ultra Lighting Telephoto Macro Lens supports 4x optical zoom and a minimum focus distance of 5 cm, unlocking effortless close-up and long-range shooting to support stunning clarity and enchanting bokeh. For capturing wide canvases, there is the 40 MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
Built to Endure Adventures
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro features the Super Durable Architecture, providing comprehensive protection without compromising elegance. The 2nd Generation Kunlun Glass offers 20x greater drop resistance than conventional glass, safeguarding the display from accidental falls. In addition, the ultra-durable vegan fibre back panel boosts impact resistance by 5x, all while maintaining a silky scratch- and wear-resistant texture.
The device also has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance (up to 6 m depth) and an IP69 rating for high temperatures and high-pressure jets, offering a multi-layer shield against spills, rain, and dust. This makes the Mate 80 Pro an ideal companion for splash days, workouts, or rainy commutes.
Powerful Performance
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro supports all-day usage thanks to a huge 5750 mAh battery, which can be rapidly recharged through 100 W wired SuperCharge or 80 W wireless SuperCharge. The device also comes equipped with the industry-first SuperCool Dual Phase Change Heat Dissipation System, capable of boosting thermal conductivity by 16% and reducing temperature rise by 33%. This allows the phone to remain 1°C cooler during gaming and 2.5°C cooler during HD streaming compared with the previous generation—ensuring smooth, lag-free performance under heavy loads.
Dual space ring design
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro introduces a Dual Space Ring Design with a symmetrical aesthetic. The Mate 80 Pro is available in three colours inspired by nature: Gold, Green, and Black. Paired with a silky, ultra-durable vegan fibre back panel, the phone offers a premium feel.
A Smarter Experience
The HUAWEI Mate 80 Pro integrates innovative AI features for exceptional creativity. With AI Remove, users can effortlessly erase unwanted elements like passers-by or clutter, after which backgrounds are seamlessly reconstructed. AI Best Expression is capable of analysing burst shots and then merging everyone’s best faces into a single image, creating timeless group photos. In addition, AI Composition provides real-time framing guidance for professional-level shots, while Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation filters ambient noise for crystal-clear calls in noisy environments.
Cover Story
Nothing launches the Phone (4a) and Headphone (a) in UAE and Saudi

Nothing, has launched the Phone (4a) in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, marking a major leap forward for its smartphone lineup. Nothing has also announced the launch of the Headphone (a), a playful addition to its over-ear audio lineup, designed for a generation that requires tech products that look, sound and feel different.
The new Phone (4a) redefines the mid-range segment, blending refined premium design, bold colour options, flagship-grade cameras with an advanced periscope telephoto lens, and powerful Snapdragon performance. Built on the latest Nothing OS, it reflects the technical warmth of Nothing’s hardware design while delivering a fast, fluid, and highly personal user experience.
The Middle East smartphone market grew 13% in 2025, with the UAE recording 13% year-on-year growth, driven by strong consumer demand for capable mid-tier devices and a wave of high-profile product launches supported by the region’s leading retail partners. With upgrade cycles accelerating and consumers increasingly seeking flagship-grade features at accessible price points, the Phone (4a) makes for the perfect choice.
The launch of Nothing’s Phone (4a) builds on the momentum of the Nothing Headphone (a) available across the UAE now and in Saudi Arabia from 18 March 2026, priced at AED 599/SAR 699. The Headphone (a) comes in four bold colour options; Pink, Yellow, White and Black and is packed with new features including an industry-leading five day battery life on a single charge.
“We’ve been incredibly encouraged by the global response to the Phone (4a) and the positive feedback,” said Rishi Kishor Gupta, Regional Director for Middle East and Africa at Nothing. “Following record-breaking Day-1 sales in India we’re very excited to continue that momentum in the Middle East. With Eid approaching, the Phone (4a), especially when paired with the new Headphone (a), makes for a thoughtful gift at an accessible price.”
The Phone (4a) is available in black, white, blue, and pink in three configurations across the UAE via key retail partners including Amazon, noon, Jumbo Electronics, and Sharaf DG.
- 8+128 GB – AED 1,199 / SAR 1,399
- 8+256 GB – AED 1,499 / SAR 1,599
- 12+256 GB – AED 1,599 / SAR 1,899.
The Phone (4a) will be available in black, white, blue and pink from 18 March 2026 in Saudi Arabia through leading retailers including noon, Amazon, Jarir Bookstore, Al Haddad Telecom, and STC, among others.
Product Specifications:
A Standout Design
The Phone (4a) evolves Nothing’s signature design, fusing human warmth with elite engineering.
Phone (4a)’s upper section of its transparent design highlights a central camera, red Recording Light, and the brand-new Glyph Bar, emphasising functionality, while the lower section reveals internal structures beneath transparent glass. Enhanced metal buttons, a reinforced camera bump, and a strengthened frame deliver greater durability, with IP64 protection and custom submersion support up to 25 cm for 20 minutes. Colour options reach new heights: transparent blue and a soft pink introduce warmth, subtlety, and individuality without compromising sophistication.
Masterful Photography
The Nothing Phone (4a) delivers a best-in-class camera system, featuring a 50MP 3.5x OIS periscope lens, a 50MP OIS main sensor, a versatile Sony ultra-wide, and a 32MP wide-angle selfie camera. Capture every detail from 0.6x to 70x zoom, from expansive landscapes to true-to-life portraits. Powered by the flagship TrueLens Engine 4, Phone (4a) brings cutting-edge computational photography with AI, including Ultra XDR photos co-developed with Google, enhancing highlights and shadows for natural contrast, now also supported in motion photos and directly shareable on Instagram. A fully reimagined camera experience includes expert-designed presets, finely adjustable professional settings, AI Photo Eraser to remove unwanted objects, and seven new Nothing watermarks for creative expression.
The Latest Snapdragon® 7 Series Platform
Powered by the latest Snapdragon® 7s Gen 4, the Phone (4a) offers 7% faster CPU and graphics, and 10% better power efficiency than its predecessor. Combined with LPDDR4x and UFS 3.1, it delivers significantly faster data speeds. Its AI performance is up to 92.5% faster than the Phone (2a), utilising the Snapdragon Neural Intellect and 6th-gen Qualcomm® AI Engine. Gamers benefit from smooth performance, with BGMI running at 120 Hz and PUBG at 90 Hz.
The Evolution of the Glyph Interface
The Nothing Glyph Interface is more than just lights; it’s a functional and playful visual language that is designed to reduce distraction and avoid you having to turn your phone over:
The Nothing Phone (4a) introduces a refined Glyph Bar with 63 mini-LEDs in 7 square light zones, each square precisely controlled for pure, uniform illumination up to 3500 nits, 40% brighter than theGlyph Interface on Phone (3a). Leveraging three patented technologies, including dual-colour injection-moulded lampshades, the design ensures zero light leakage, no yellow edges, and smooth diffusion, keeping notifications clear even in bright sunlight. The Glyph Bar can also double as a gentle fill light for photos or videos. Smarter notifications come to life with progress-based cues for calls, messages, charging, timers, and more. Custom light sequences for contacts and notifications, paired with Nothing’s signature sounds, turn essential alerts into expressive, playful patterns—all while reducing screen distractions.
Nothing OS
Nothing OS is calm, intentional and genuinely helpful. It looks beautiful without being loud, moves fast without feeling rushed, and adapts to you without adding effort.
Nothing OS 4.1, based on Android 16, delivers a cleaner, more intuitive interface with redesigned icons, a refreshed lock screen, and a deeper dark mode. Multitasking is easier with floating apps and resizable Quick Settings, while widgets are more flexible than ever. The AI Dashboard gives precise control over AI features, under-the-hood optimisations make the system smoother and faster, and camera and gallery apps are enhanced. Customisation now includes hiding apps and creating lightweight widgets via the Playground, helping you stay productive, creative, and in control every day.
NOS 4.1 introduces a more vibrant, customisable lock screen, two relaxation-focused widgets, upgraded Live Notifications across the screens and Glyph Interface. Polished animations, and faster app launches make every swipe and interaction effortless and highly intuitive. NOS 4.1 builds on Nothing OS 4.0 with a smarter, smoother, and more personal experience that keeps you informed, relaxed, and fully in control.
3 years of Android updates and 6 years of security patches.
Nothing AI makes life simple, organised, and inspired.
Nothing’s Essential AI tools streamline daily life: Essential Search provides instant, multi-app access to information with a keyword. Essential Memory personalises results based on your activity and saved Memories. Furthermore, the Playground allows users to build and share their own no-code Essential Apps on the home screen, using AI to bring ideas to life. Nothing AI makes your phone smarter, more personal, and infinitely intuitive.
For the first time on the Phone (4a), Essential Space supports cloud access, enabling seamless cross-platform use across phones, desktops, laptops, and more.
A Flagship Display
The Nothing Phone (4a) features a 6.78″ AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution (1224 × 2720) and 440 PPI, delivering exceptional detail across every inch. With peak brightness of 4500 nits (HDR) and 1600 nits (HMB), content remains clear even under direct sunlight, while Ultra HDR photos and videos shine with brilliant highlights and deep AMOLED blacks. A 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate and 2500 Hz touch sampling ensure smooth interactions and instant responsiveness, while 2160 Hz PWM dimming reduces eye strain. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, twice as scratch-resistant as previous-generation cover glass, and survives a 1-meter drop, letting users place the phone face down without worry and fully enjoy the transparent design and Glyph Bar.
Listen, Watch, Create, and Play
The Nothing Phone (4a) is powered by a 5080 mAh battery, supporting up to 17 hours of mixed use for music, video, gaming, and messaging. Rapid 50W Fast Charging refills the battery to 60% in just 30 minutes—nearly 10% faster than the previous Phone (2a) Series. Advanced battery health management ensures over 90% capacity retention after 1,200 charge cycles, equivalent to more than three years of daily charging.
Lowest Carbon Footprint Yet
The Nothing Phone (4a) sets a new benchmark for sustainable manufacturing, with a carbon footprint of 51.13 kg CO₂e, the lowest ever for a Nothing device. 30 components use recycled materials, including 30% recycled plastic, 100% recycled aluminium and tin, and 80% recycled steel. Over 99% of the packaging is plastic-free, and the final assembly process uses 100% renewable energy.
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