Gadgets Weekly: Asus Vivobook 14 Flip and more

Technology companies Asus, Samsung, Urban and others launched laptops, smart watches, accessories, and more this week (February 10-16, 2025).

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

Asus Vivobook 14 Flip

Asus Vivobook 14 Flip.

It features a sturdy aluminium body in Matte Gray. Its 360-degree hinge allows versatility between laptop, tablet, tent, and stand modes, which makes it perfect for creative workflows.

The 14-inch Lumina OLED touchscreen promises to deliver bright colours, deep blacks, and sharp details for a better viewing experience.

Inside, it comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 (Series 2) processor, 16GB LPDDR5X RAM (8533 MHz) and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD (expandable up to 1 TB).

This laptop includes Windows Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that helps with tasks like file searching and system control. Windows Studio Effects v2 improves video calls with features like Eye Contact Enhanced and Portrait Light. The Asus StoryCube app organizes photos and videos using AI, while the Asus Pen 2.0 supports precise writing and drawing with different tip options. The Dolby Atmos 360-degree adaptive audio system enhances sound quality for movies, music, and calls. The ErgoSense keyboard and touchpad provide a smooth typing and navigation experience.

With a 70Wh battery, the Vivobook 14 Flip offers up to 28 hours of usage. It also supports USB-C Easy Charge, allowing charging with standard USB-C chargers, power banks, and airline adapters. It comes with multiple ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and a microSD reader, ensuring flexible connectivity. The laptop is military-grade and durable and features ASUS OLED Care, which helps prevent screen burn-in. The Vivobook Flip 14 (TP3407SA) prices start at Rs 96,900.

Asus Gaming V16 laptop

Asus Gaming V16 laptop.

It features a 16-inch portable battle rig built for light gaming and creative work. It comes in a Matte Black finish with a Turbo Blue keyboard backlight, transparent WASD and arrow keys, and a razor-sharp design. It boasts of US MIL-STD 810H certification, crafted for durability.

It is powered by up to an Intel Core 7-240H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU, tailor-made to deliver the best gaming and creative performance. It supports up to 32GB DDR5 RAM (5600MHz) and 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage for seamless multitasking.

It also boasts Asus IceCool thermal technology, which ensures optimal cooling with dual heat pipes and a 79-blade fan, maintaining 70W total wattage in Performance Mode.

Other highlights include a 1080p full HD camera with a privacy shutter, Dirac-tuned speakers with AI noise cancellation, and ASUS Smart Gestures on a large 150x99mm touchpad. With USB-C Power Delivery, HDMI 2.1, and Asus-exclusive Wi-Fi Master technology, the ASUS Gaming V16 is a versatile, performance-packed laptop built for users who want speed, style, and efficiency. The Gaming V16 (V3607) price starts at Rs 84,990.

Nothing’s upcoming Phone (3a) series to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon

Nothing Phone (3a) to come with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

Without fully revealing the Phone (3a)'s chipset, Nothing has announced that the upcoming device will be powered by Qualcomm silicon.

It promises to deliver 25 per cent faster CPU, and a 72 per cent faster NPU per cent over the predecessor.

The company also revealed that the new Android phone is being assembled at a supply partner's plant in Chennai. It has over 500 employees with 95 per cent of the employees being women.

Nothing Phone (3a): Here's what we know so far

As per the official teaser, Phone (3a) features an LED-laced camera module for the upcoming device. Like its predecessor, it is expected to feature a unique see-through design language.

The upcoming device will also feature a bigger 6.88-inch full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a triple-camera module, compared to the dual sensors in the Phone (2a) series. It will feature a 5,000mAh battery and be offered in two variants: 8GB RAM + 128GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage.

The new Phone (3a) series will be unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 event in Barcelona on 4 March at 3:30 PM IST.

Urban's new watches for women

Urban Onyx series.

Urban launched two new watches-- Stella and Onyx-- for women in India.

The new Urban Stella features a 1.2-inch super AMOLED Display with 1,000 nits max brightness. It comes with a diamond-cut bezel and a premium metal strap with a golden finish.

It also has a multi-functional rotating crown to navigate through the user interface of the watch.

It supports female health tracking, a dedicated Breathe Mode for meditation, sleep monitoring and hydration alerts.

It also supports voice assistant and Bluetooth-based voice calling (when paired with ca ompanion phone) and the users get 100 plus customisable watch faces.

The new Urban Onyx boasts a bigger 1.32-inch super AMOLED Display with an Always-on feature, 1,000 nits peak brightness, AI-based voice assistant.

It also boasts advanced health sensors for heart rate tracking, Blood pressure, Blood-Oxygen saturation (SpO2) and monitoring sleep.

Further, it supports multiple sports modes to track every activity, and Bluetooth calling with a premium speaker and mic. Both the devices cost Rs 3,499.

YouTube is investing in AI tools to support creators, says YouTube CEO

YouTube logo.

As YouTube turns 20, Neal Mohan outlines its future, emphasizing AI-driven content creation, expanding creator opportunities, and the platform's role in shaping global culture, entertainment, and production innovation.

YouTube's CEO Neal Mohan has this to say:

YouTube as Cultural Epicenter: YouTube remains central to cultural trends, fueling global fandom through diverse content like music videos, Shorts, podcasts, and live events. YouTube is now the most frequently used service for podcasts in the U.S., with 45 million viewers watching election-related content in 2024.

Creator Startups: YouTubers are adopting a startup mentality, building studios and new production models, creating a new entertainment ecosystem with diverse revenue opportunities. Over 40% of creators experienced an increase in channel memberships, and more than 50% of channels earning five figures or more made money from sources other than ads and YouTube Premium.

YouTube as 'New Television': TV has become the primary device for YouTube viewing in the US by watch time. YouTube has over 1 billion hours of content watched daily on TV. The platform is redefining TV with interactive features, live commentary, and growing subscription services—YouTube TV has over 8 million subscribers, and YouTube Music & Premium has over 100 million.

AI Integration: YouTube is investing in AI tools to support creators, enhance production, and improve accessibility. AI-powered features like auto-dubbing have made videos in multiple languages more accessible, with over 40% of watch time coming from dubbed languages. New AI tools help creators in their day-to-day work, including video ideas, titles, and thumbnails.

Enhanced Community Engagement: YouTube is expanding features for creators, like channel memberships and new tools for fan interaction. These efforts contributed to a 40% increase in channel memberships last year. The platform is also introducing safeguards to protect creators and young users, including supervised accounts and machine learning tools to estimate user age for safer content.

Samsung hosts Galaxy Empowered event for educators in Delhi

[From Left to Right] Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India, Abhinav Bindra, Chief Guest and 2008 Olympic Gold Medallist and Aditya Babbar, Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India at Galaxy Empowered 2025 event in Delhi.

Samsung earlier this week hosted 'Galaxy Empowered', a community-led programme designed to bring change to how education is delivered in India.

The programme is designed to help educators bring creative ways to teach students through recurring on-ground and online learning events.

Over 2,700 teachers have been awarded certificates across India via live training sessions since December 2024 under the umbrella of “Galaxy Empowered”.

The programme now aims to empower 20,000 teachers across India by the end of 2025. For the Delhi phase, Samsung has successfully conducted the 'Galaxy Empowered' programme in 250 schools. Apart from partnering with Mahattattva Educational Advisory and STTAR for the first phase, specialized trainers and academicians have been appointed to help the teachers through the programme.

Also, Samsung is offering special discounts on a wide range of products, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and consumer electronics, exclusively for educators and school leaders who participate in the “Galaxy Empowered” programme. Additional perks include extended warranties, free insurance, and access to exclusive time-limited deals.

The 'Galaxy Empowered' programme not only benefits educators but also supports schools in becoming leaders in education innovation.

Canon launches free PC App for colour matching between remote and main Cameras

Canon Camera Colour Matching PC app.

The new Canon Camera Colour Matching PC app helps in colour matching between the main camera, which provides the basis for colour tones, and the Canon 4K remote camera[3] acting as a secondary camera.

The app easily corrects the differences in image colour and brightness between the main camera of the user’s choice and the Canon remote camera used as a secondary camera. The colour-matching process is simple.

First, a user captures a still image of an identical colour chart respectively with the main and sub-cameras. The app then generates a 3D LUT from the images which is applied to the cameras, completing the match.

2025 OnePlus Photography Awards

2025 OnePlus Photograhy Awards.

Like the previous years, OnePlus is hosting annual photography awards (February 7-June 30, 2025). The 2025 theme, 'Make the Moment,' is centred around celebrating the fleeting beauty of everyday life.

Participants can submit entries across three categories: Movement, Night and Low Light, and Faces.

The competition includes two groups: the OnePlus Group, exclusive to OnePlus users, and the Public Group, accessible to all smartphone users worldwide. The judging panel, featuring OnePlus founder Pete Lau, Hasselblad ambassadors, and renowned photographers, ensures diverse and fair evaluations.

The top winner will receive $10,000, while all winners will be awarded the flagship OnePlus 13 and potential collaboration opportunities with OnePlus.

Additionally, winning entries and photographers' stories will be showcased on global platforms like OnePlus and 500px, offering participants worldwide exposure and community engagement.

“At OnePlus, we believe in empowering our users to create and share memorable moments with their smartphone cameras,” said Emily Dai, Head of Global Brand and Marketing at OnePlus. “The 2025 OnePlus Photography Awards are a testament to the endless possibilities of mobile photography and the global creativity it inspires. Together, we’re building a gallery of stories and emotions that transcend borders and connect us all.”

The “Movement” category invites photographers to capture the essence of motion, from the energy of speed and adventure to the subtle moments of everyday life.

The “Night and Low Light” category showcases the magic of the world after dark, highlighting vibrant cityscapes, starlit skies, and dynamic low-light scenes.

Lastly, the “Faces” category invites participants to capture the emotions and stories behind every face, from joyful smiles to heartfelt moments, turning portraits into powerful expressions of life.

Photography competition is now live and will conclude on June 30, 2025.

Samsung TV Plus gets five new channels from Warner Bros Television

Samsung TV Plus.

Samsung TV Plus is a free streaming service that comes pre-installed on Samsung Smart TVs, offering a wide range of channels, including news, sports, entertainment, and more.

Now, it now offers House of Crime, Foodie Hub, Wild Flix and Wheel World.

House of Crime: A gripping destination for crime enthusiasts, offering a mix of intense dramas and intriguing investigative series in Hindi.

Foodie Hub: A haven for culinary adventurers, featuring popular food shows, recipes, and gastronomic journeys, presented in Hindi.

Wild Flix: A heart-warming gateway to the wonders of the animal kingdom, showcasing captivating insights into zoo life, and awe-inspiring animal rescue stories in Hindi.

Wheel World: A high-octane destination for automobile enthusiasts, featuring exhilarating car and bike shows, and restoration stories from the best garages, presented in English.

XXtreme Jobs: An adrenaline-pumping exploration of the world’s most daring professions, unearthing extraordinary workplaces and fearless individuals behind them, presented in Hindi.

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.