Gadgets Weekly: Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and more

Technology companies Asus, Samsung, Sony and others, launched handheld gaming consoles, smartphones, earphones, accessories and more this week (October 6-12, 2025).

DH's Gadgets Weekly edition lists the latest personal technology products and related events to keep you abreast of everything happening in consumer electronics.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X

Asus ROG Xbox Ally.

Both the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X controllers sport contoured grips inspired by Xbox Wireless Controllers to offer all-day comfort, and they come with impulse triggers for enhanced control.

It also features ABXY buttons, D-pad, L & R impulse triggers, L & R bumpers, Xbox button, View button, Menu button, Command Center button, Library button, 2x assignable back buttons, 2x full-size analogue sticks, HD haptics and 6-Axis IMU.

They run Windows 11 Home OS, support WiFi 6E (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.4, 60Wh battery, and feature a 7-inch full HD (1080p) IPS display, 500 nits with 16:9 aspect ratio, 120Hz refresh rate, AMD FreeSync Premium (Variable Refresh Rate) and the screen comes with Corning's DXC anti-reflection coating in addition Gorilla Glass Victus shield. The retail box comes with a 65W charger.

The standard ROG Xbox Ally comes with AMD Ryzen Z2 A chipset, 16GB LPDDR5X-6400 RAM, 512GB M.2 2280 SSD storage, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4/ Power Delivery 3.0, one UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC) and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X series.

Whereas ROG Xbox Ally X is powered by AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor and features 24GB LPDDR5X-8000 RAM, 1TB M.2 2280 SSD storage, 80Wh battery, one USB4 with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, one Thunderbolt 4 compatible, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 / Power Delivery 3.0, one UHS-II microSD card reader (supports SD, SDXC and SDHC; UHS-I with DDR200 mode) and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

The new ROG Xbox Ally is priced at Rs 69,990, and the ROG Xbox Ally X costs Rs 1,14,990. As part of launch offers, Asus is offering limited-time rewards worth Rs 499 for ROG Ally X and Rs 1,499 for ROG Ally X buyers, respectively.

Oakter 65W GaN charger

Oakter 65W GaN Charger.

Oakter earlier this week launched the new 65W GaN charger in India.

It comes with Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, which promises a high-efficiency, compact, and lightweight design while delivering fast and reliable charging.

A notable aspect of the Oakter charger is its India-specific 3-pin plug. It is designed for a secure and stable fit. Unlike most chargers being sold in India that use two-pin plugs and often slip out or fail to engage safety shutters, the Oakter GaN charger offers enhanced stability and durability during everyday use, ensuring safe, firm, and reliable charging.

It also boasts of a special capacitor system that reduces the risk of shocks or vibrations often experienced with metal-body devices.

Oakter 65W True GaN Charger supports an input voltage of 100–240V. On the output side, it delivers PD 3.0 output of 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, and 20V, along with PPS output of 3.3–21V/3A. With a maximum wattage of 65W, the charger is capable of fast-charging devices at peak performance. It costs Rs 1,399. The retail box also comes with a 1.5m USB-C cable.

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G

Samsung Galaxy M17 5G.

Samsung earlier this week launched the new budget Android phone Galaxy M17 in India.

It features a 6.7-inch full HD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display, supports 90Hz refresh rate, and up to 1100 nits peak brightness. The screen is protected by Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus shield, and the device comes with IP54 water-and dust-resistant rating.

It features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a Type-C port, and a hybrid dual SIM (nano + nano or microSD card).

Inside, it houses Samsung's 5nm class Exynos 1330 5nm octa-core processo, Mali-G68 MP2 GPU, Android 15-based One UI 7.0, 4GB / 6GB / 8GB RAM, 128GB (expandable 2TB), triple camera module-- main 50MP (f/1.8, AF OIS), ulra-wide 5MP (f/2.2) and a 2MP (f/2.2) macro camera with LED flash on the back, 13MP (f/2.0) front camera and a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging capability.

It is available in three configurations-- 4GB RAM + 128GB storage, 6GB RAM + 128GB storage and 8GB RAM + 128GB storage-- for Rs. 12,499, Rs 13, 999 and Rs 15,499, respectively. It comes in two colours-- moonlight silver and sapphire black.

Sony RX1R III compact camera

Sony X1R III.

It features a 61MP full-frame camera with Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS image sensor and the BIONZ XR image processing engine, which promises to deliver high resolution and sensitivity, with low noise and a wide dynamic range. The sensor surface features AR (Anti-Reflection) coating and omits the optical low-pass filter to achieve superior image quality.

The AI processing unit of the Sony camera can accurately recognise the shape and movement of subjects, the position of eyes, human bodies, and heads, tracking subjects even when their faces are not visible, and is available for both still images and videos. The image sensor's capture area covers approximately 78% (for still image shooting) with up to 693 densely arranged phase-detection AF points. It costs Rs 4,69,990.

Portronics Toad Ergo 4 series mouse

Portronics Toad Ergo 4 series mouse.

It comes with an ergonomic design for right-hand usage. It can reduce wrist twist, muscle strain, and even conditions like carpal tunnel, especially during extended office or WFH sessions.

It boasts triple-mode connectivity for seamless multitasking. The mouse can pair with up to three devices simultaneously through Dual Bluetooth 5.3 and a 2.4GHz USB dongle. Users can move between laptops, desktops, and tablets instantly without the hassle of reconnecting every time, supporting Windows, Mac, and Android platforms.

It also features a built-in rechargeable battery with Type-C charging. It offers reliable, long-lasting performance and up to 10 meters of stable wireless range.

It comes equipped with six buttons—including a DPI switch, scroll wheel, left/right click, and forward/back buttons—allowing users to navigate faster and perform tasks efficiently across applications like Chrome, Excel, Photoshop, and more. Portronics Toad Ergo 4 is now available in white colour for Rs 899.

MakeMyTrip teams up with Google Cloud to improve travel planning and booking experience

FILE PHOTO: A person takes a photo of the Google Cloud logo, during the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, March 4, 2025. REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

With Google Cloud’s advanced AI capabilities, MakeMyTrip plans to improve its travel booking platform. With this, the company will also be able to refine personalised itineraries based on travellers’ preferences and requirements, drawing on reviews, maps, and other grounded sources of information, with greater accuracy and efficiency than current chatbot-based planners.

MakeMyTrip's Myra platform will be able to help travellers discover new destinations based on their unique travel preferences and the 'vibe' they would like to indulge in during their trips – such as adventure, romantic, wellness, tranquillity, pilgrimage, and more.

With Google Cloud service, MakeMyTrip has developed its own custom AI models and algorithms to help travellers plan their daily itineraries using a combination of Google’s advanced family of models, including Gemini, light-weight and open models like Gemma, and state-of-the-art image and video generation models like Veo and Imagen.

HMD Touch 4G Hybrid phone

HMD Touch 4G Hybrid phone.

The new HMD Touch 4G phone comes in a compact form factor with an IP52 dust-and-water-splash-resistant rating. It sports a 3.2-inch QVGA touch display, Unisoc T127 processor, 64MB RAM, 128MB storage (expandable up to 32GB), RTOS Touch OS, triple slots (nano + nano + microSD) and a 1,950mAh battery, which can last for 30 hours.

It also features a 2MP rear camera with flash and a VGA (0.3MP) front camera for selfies and video calling. It also comes with 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio (wired/wireless), and an MP3 player.

The company offers access to video, social and utility apps – including cricket scores, news, weather updates, and HTML5 games like Tetris and Sudoku – streamed directly to the device.

It is available in Cyan and Dark Blue colours for Rs 3,999.

QCY unveils new speakers and earphones

QCY earphones, headphones and speakers.

QCY's H3 Pro Hi-Res LDAC ANC Headphones promise studio-quality sound with dual-chip processing and 40mm titanium drivers, delivering deep bass, crisp mids, and detailed highs. Priced at Rs 5,999, these headphones also feature 3-mic ENC, 3D spatial audio, 60ms low latency, 55-hour playtime, 10-minute fast charge, and dual pairing for ultimate convenience.

QCY’s new SP7 speaker system boasts 40W Hi-Fi stereo sound powered by a quad-driver setup, including a 30W silk-dome tweeter, dual woofers, and a 10W racetrack mid-lows driver for deep bass and crystal-clear highs. Priced at Rs 5,999, the SP7 also features TWS multi-speaker pairing, dynamic RGB lighting, IPX7 waterproofing, and 14 hours of playtime.

On the other hand, QCY's SP2 offers HD sound, EQ, RGB lights, TWS pairing, and can last for 17 hours. It costs Rs 2,999.

QCY also launched the T17 Pro. It features a unique fabric-textured finish, AI-powered noise reduction, and can offer up to 35 hours. It is priced at Rs 1,299.

Priced at Rs 1,499, the T13X Pro features a glossy premium design and is equipped with a four-microphone system utilising patented wind noise cancellation technology. Users can choose from nine EQ modes via the Smart App. It supports deep bass, dual pairing capabilities, and with a full charge, it can last up to 30 hours.

HT05 Pro sports a premium leather-textured finish in a compact 25.5mm build. It houses six microphones and 45dB adaptive hybrid ANC capable of reducing noise by 97 per cent, it offers four noise-cancelling modes plus a natural transparency mode. It is priced at Rs 2,499. The bio-diaphragm dynamic driver, the QCY Smart App supports nine preset and custom EQ modes ,rounding out its feature set.

Tecno kicks of Deepavali festive offers in India

Tecno kicks off Deepavali festive offers in India.

As part of the Tecno Tyohar campaign (from 22nd September to October 31, 2025), prospective Tecno smartphone buyers stand a chance to enter a lucky draw and win a host of exciting prizes, including the 2025 Mahindra BE6, gold vouchers worth 1G and 0.5G, and extended warranties of three, six, and 12 months.

Additionally, One Time Screen Replacement protection of three and six months.

Reliance Jio introduces Safety-First features to JioBharat phones

JioBharat phone.

Reliance Jio earlier this week launched a new safety-first solution for JioBharat Phones in India.

The security feature allows parents to monitor the location of their kids with live location sharing capability.

Also, the guardian can control who calls or messages their kids' phones. They can block unknown numbers and restrict access to unwanted distractions.

They even get real-time insights into the device's battery and network strength to ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

It should be noted that the JioBharat Phone can offer up to seven days of battery life. The device is available for Rs 799.

Samsung announces strategic partnership with OpenAI

Lee Jae-yong, Executive Chairman of Samsung Electronics with Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI.

Earlier this month, Samsung's multiple divisions-- Samsung Electronics, Samsung SDS, Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries announced a letter of intent (LOI) for their strategic partnership with OpenAI to accelerate advancements in global AI data center infrastructure and develop future technologies together in relevant fields.

Samsung Electronics will work with OpenAI as a strategic memory partner to supply advanced semiconductor solutions for OpenAI's global Stargate initiative.

Also, Samsung SDS will collaborate with OpenAI to jointly develop AI data centres and provide enterprise AI services.

Samsung C&T and Samsung Heavy Industries will work closely with OpenAI to advance global AI data centres, with a particular focus on the joint development of floating data centres.

Elista's new Amrit and Shudh series alkaline water purifier

Elista Amrit (left) and Shudh (right) series alkaline water purifiers.

Elista earlier this week launched new alkaline water filters-- Amrit and Shudh series.

Besides hydration, Alkaline water is known to improve health such as enhancing immunity, better digestion, reviving the skin, and aiding natural detoxification.

It also aids in maintaining a healthy weight and fortifying muscles and joints, making it a perfect choice for daily consumption by health-oriented homes.

In addition to filtration system, UV (ultraviolet) and UF (ultra filtration) technologies, they boasts of an Intelligent Membrane Flushing System for optimised water quality.

The Immunity Enhancing System (IES) with a 5-in-1 mineraliser restores essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc, while the Active Copper Chamber (ACC) enriches the water with copper ions for added health benefits.

The Amrit series alkaline water purifier boasts of a 9-stage filtration system incorporating UV and UF technology coupled with an Intelligent Membrane Flushing System for optimised water quality. The purifier comes with an Instant Hot Water Dispenser that can provide instant hot water to the temperature of up to 95°Celsius along with a child lock for protection.

A digital display shows both TDS levels and temperature, and the unit includes an 8-liter normal water tank and a 1-liter hot water tank. The Immunity Enhancing System (IES) with a 5-in-1 mineralizer restores essential nutrients such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and zinc, while the Active Copper Chamber (ACC) enriches the water with copper ions for added health benefits.

The Shuddh alkaline water purifier come in compact form factor featuring 7-stage purification with UV protection, a 4-litre tank, and Active Copper-Induced Alkaline Water with a healthy pH of 8.2. It also features a TDS display, Intelligent Membrane Flushing, and a sleek, space-efficient design with a toughened glass front, making it an elegant addition to modern Indian kitchens.

The Amrit and Shuddh water purifiers come with a one-year warranty for Rs 19,999 and Rs 14,999, respectiveyly on Amazon and partner retail outlets across India.

Jio Institute develops AI Classroom for JioPC subscribers

AI Classroom developed Jio Institute.

JioPC was launched in July in India. It can turn any TV monitor into a smart computer.

It comes with a set-top box (with a quad-core processor, Ubuntu Linux OS and 8GB RAM) and needs to be connected to a television or any regular display monitor. And, users need a keyboard and a mouse to operate the TV as a computer. For video calling, the user has to buy a webcam accessory.

Jio Institute, a multidisciplinary higher education institute, has developed an AI classroom feature for JioPC.

It offers a structured 4-week learning course covering basics, creativity, communication, and project-building AI fundamentals. It also gives practical assignments to students and culminates in an AI-powered capstone project, ensuring participants build skills they can use for work.

JioPC comes with a subscription plan starting at Rs 400 per month (for a limited time only). With this, users get a 1-month free trial and get access to Jio Workspace, Microsoft Office (browser) and 100 GB cloud storage.

Samsung registers record sales of phones and home appliances this festive season in India

The logo of Samsung.

Samsung posted record sales across smartphones, premium televisions, and home appliances.

“The sale of premium Galaxy smartphones, priced upwards of Rs 30,000, jumped 1.4 times versus the corresponding period last year. Samsung is confident that its premium AI smartphones will continue to do well in the run-up to the auspicious Diwali festival," Samsung India spokesperson said.

Samsung had announced attractive festive deals on its premium smartphones, including on Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy S24 FE, in the run-up to the Navratri sales that started on September 22.

The company said that the Galaxy smartphone sales rose 40 per cent amid improved consumer sentiment, while premium television sales doubled, and home appliances, including air conditioners, grew 30 per cent, driven by GST rate cuts and festive offers.

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