Author: Sohil Nikam

itel has expanded its entry-level smartphone portfolio in India with the launch of the new A100, positioning it as a durable yet affordable device aimed at mass-market users. The latest offering from itel focuses on longevity, practical features, and aggressive pricing, targeting consumers who rely heavily on their smartphones for everyday use. A key highlight of the itel A100 is its military-grade durability. The smartphone comes with MIL-STD-810H certification, designed to withstand tough usage conditions and accidental drops, a feature rarely seen in this price segment. The device also introduces itel’s Ultralink technology, which enables limited connectivity even in areas…

While reviewing storage devices in 2026, there’s no doubt that we will all be forced to address the rather large elephant in the room. I’m talking, of course, about the spike in prices of these products. RAM units and storage devices of all shapes and sizes have seen almost a twofold increase in their prices. And the Kingston Dual Portable SSD with 1TB of storage isn’t immune to that. That said, this new product is clearly aimed at a very specific audience. It features a Type-C connector on both ends, neatly solving compatibility issues whether you’re working with smartphones, tablets,…

Qualcomm has marked a major milestone in advanced semiconductor design with the successful tape-out of its 2nm chip, a development that sharply underscores India’s growing role in shaping next-generation global technology. Achieved through close collaboration with its engineering teams in Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, the breakthrough highlights the depth and maturity of India’s semiconductor design ecosystem. The 2nm tape-out is among the most advanced achievements in chip engineering worldwide and reinforces Qualcomm’s long-standing commitment to India as a core pillar of its global operations. With its largest engineering workforce outside the United States based in India, Qualcomm has steadily expanded…

IWC Schaffhausen has teamed up with George Russell to create two limited-edition Pilot’s Watches that translate the Formula One driver’s racing identity into high-performance watchmaking. Developed in close collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team star, the collection includes a chronograph and an automatic model, both crafted in black zirconium oxide ceramic. Visually, the watches stand out for their bold yet restrained aesthetic. Black dials are accented with printing and Super-LumiNova in Russell’s unmistakable signature blue, a colour long associated with his helmet design and personal racing brand. The same blue extends to the integrated rubber straps, creating a…

Audi has introduced a new in-vehicle digital experience called My Auras, aimed at transforming traditional vehicle ownership into a more personalised and lifestyle-oriented offering. The feature aims to integrate multi-sensory cabin controls into a single interface designed to enhance comfort, emotional engagement, and convenience during daily drives. The My Auras feature is available through the MyAudi Connect platform and is integrated directly into compatible Audi vehicles. It allows users to simultaneously adjust several cabin elements such as ambient lighting, temperature, seat ventilation, massage settings, aromatization, and music playback through a single tap. The system also supports integrated streaming via Apple…

Optoma has taken a significant step forward in India’s premium home cinema space with the debut of its most advanced projector yet, the UHR90DV. Currently being showcased at Listening Labs in Mumbai through an invite-only viewing experience, the projector marks several first, not just for the brand, but for the global home theatre market. The UHR90DV is Optoma’s first RGB triple-laser home cinema projector and notably the world’s first to carry both Dolby Vision and IMAX Enhanced certifications. And although a price tag hasn’t been disclosed yet, representatives have informed the press that it could be upwards of ₹15 lakh.…

There was a time when a smartwatch didn’t need to scream tech to feel desirable. The original Moto 360 nailed that balance perfectly, and for many of us, it was the watch that made Wear OS feel aspirational. The new Moto Watch isn’t a spiritual successor in terms of software ambition, but it clearly borrows from that same emotional playbook. This is a watch that leans heavily on nostalgia. It’s got a round dial, clean aesthetics, and a sense of restraint that feels refreshing in a market obsessed with feature overload. At ₹5,999, the Moto Watch isn’t trying to compete…

Royal Enfield is taking its most iconic community ride format beyond the Himalayas for the first time, announcing the Moroccan Odyssey 2026, a 12-day, nearly 2,000-kilometre expedition that cuts across some of North Africa’s most dramatic landscapes, from the High Atlas mountains to the heart of the Sahara Desert. Scheduled from March 27 to April 4, 2026, the ride is being positioned as the next chapter in Royal Enfield’s long-standing “Odyssey” legacy, a format that has historically represented more than just long-distance touring. The Himalayan Odyssey, in particular, has earned cult status over two decades as a rite of passage…

In a move that could dramatically lower the barrier to digital creativity in India, Bharti Airtel has partnered with Adobe to offer Adobe Express Premium at no cost to its entire customer base of over 360 million users. The offer, valid for one year, is available to all Airtel customers across mobile, Wi-Fi and DTH services, and can be activated directly through the Airtel Thanks app without any payment details. At a time when content creation is no longer limited to influencers and agencies, this partnership targets a much broader audience, which includes students, small business owners, first-time job seekers…

India Bike Week 2025 felt different even before the gates opened. The ride itself set the tone. Rolling out of Mumbai on a Royal Enfield Super Meteor 650, the journey to Panchgani was a reminder of why long-distance riding remains the soul of motorcycling. Chilly mornings demanded layers and patience, afternoons were pleasantly warm, evenings felt soothingly calm, and by nightfall, the energy shifted gears entirely. It was the perfect backdrop for what would turn out to be one of the most memorable editions of India Bike Week yet. New Trails The biggest talking point heading into IBW 2025 was…

The VLF Mobster 135 is oddly named. I’m not talking about the word “mobster” in its name. That’s actually a great choice, given the bike’s distinct personality. I’m talking about the “135” in its name, despite having just a 125cc engine inside it. Turns out this is also a strategic decision to emphasise that the way this scooter has been built makes it feel more powerful than other 125cc scooters. And it also comes with a bold price tag to boot. ₹1,30,000 (ex-showroom) is not that big a leap from what you’re paying for the top models of other premium…

Motorcycle gear reveals its true character not in product shoots or spec sheets, but on the road, when conditions change, plans stretch, and fatigue quietly sets in. My ride from Mumbai to Panchgani for India Bike Week 2025 offered exactly that kind of test bed. Long highway stints, early-morning chill, afternoon heat, winding hill roads, and two full days of festival chaos made it the perfect environment to live with Raida’s touring-oriented gear rather than merely review it. Over the course of the trip, three Raida products became constant companions: the Compass K16 Tank Bag, the Hydration Bladder paired with…

Motorola Signature. One has to admit that the name has a ring to it. I mean, in a market filled with iterative models bearing alphanumeric combinations that keep getting replaced every six months, having a name as simple as this gives you a fair degree of novelty. Of course, there are other, more important aspects to this device that grab your attention as well. Like the fact that it’s got four 50MP cameras (three on the back, one at the front), military-grade durability, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 CPU, and IP68/IP69 protection. But there’s seemingly a reason why Motorola has…

Amazon has expanded its smart display lineup in India with the launch of the Echo Show 11 and the fourth-generation Echo Show 8, bringing larger screens, improved audio, and more advanced sensor-based automation to its Alexa ecosystem. The new devices are designed to function as central hubs for daily tasks, entertainment, and smart home control. Both smart displays are powered by Amazon’s AZ3 Pro custom silicon and feature the company’s Omnisense sensor platform, which uses a combination of motion, presence, temperature, ultrasound, Wi-Fi sensing, and camera-based inputs to enable more contextual smart home routines. These sensors allow the devices to…

The UltraProlink Jot Pencil 2 is positioned as a universal, no-fuss stylus aimed at users who want writing and sketching support across multiple tablets and phones without paying premium-brand prices. With support for a wide range of iPads and Android tablets, quick charging, and no Bluetooth pairing requirements, it targets students, casual creators, and productivity users looking for simplicity and broad compatibility rather than advanced creative controls. Design At just 13.3 grams, the Jot Pencil 2 is extremely lightweight and comfortable to hold for long sessions of note-taking or casual sketching. The cylindrical shape and matte finish provide decent grip…

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has formally entered India’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) segment with the launch of the all-electric Urban Cruiser Ebella, marking a significant shift for a brand that has so far focused largely on hybrid technology in the country. The new model is positioned as a compact-to-mid-size electric SUV and is derived from Toyota’s global Urban SUV Concept, reflecting the company’s broader move toward expanding its electrified portfolio in India. The Urban Cruiser Ebella is built on a dedicated BEV platform and aligns with Toyota’s global “multi-pathway” strategy, which supports multiple powertrain technologies—hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen and full electric—rather…

At its annual CES showcase, Samsung Electronics outlined a broad vision for how artificial intelligence will shape everyday consumer technology over the next few years. Presented at The First Look event during CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the company framed AI not as a feature set, but as an underlying layer connecting its phones, televisions, appliances, services and health platforms. Opening the event, TM Roh, CEO and Head of Samsung’s Device eXperience division, positioned AI as the connective tissue of Samsung’s ecosystem. With hundreds of millions of SmartThings users worldwide, the company believes it has the scale to move beyond…

I drove the new petrol-powered Tata Harrier and Safari on a quiet Delhi NCR morning, starting out at Faridabad before gradually letting traffic, flyovers, and real roads dictate the pace. There was no test track, no perfectly scripted route; just the kind of conditions these SUVs will actually live in. Later that afternoon, the Safari took on a very different role: a casual drive into South Delhi’s New Friends Colony for a shawarma run at Al Bake, with four people on board and no agenda beyond hunger. That contrast, from early morning solitude to city chaos, is where Tata’s new…

ViewSonic today expanded its lamp-free projector portfolio in India with the launch of the LSD400 Series high-brightness laser projectors (LSD400W, LSD400HD, and LSD400HD-ST) and the LSD300W-ST short-throw LED projector. Designed to meet the diverse needs of Indian classrooms, coaching centres, and higher-education institutions, these new models combine long-life light sources, lower running costs, zero mercury, and sealed optical engines, looking to deliver sustainable projection that is both budget-friendly and future-ready. “With rapidly growing adoption of digital classrooms across Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India, schools and colleges are actively looking for reliable, low-maintenance, and eco-friendly display solutions,” said Muneer…

The OnePlus Pad Go 2 has entered the market with a clear objective: to offer a capable, do-it-all tablet at an accessible price point. The company’s plan is to strike this balance using the MediaTek Dimensity 7300-Ultra chipset, a mid-range processor that promises efficiency and dependable performance without pushing costs too high. Priced at ₹26,999, the Pad Go 2 positions itself as an attractive option for students, professionals, and casual users who want a large-screen Android tablet without stretching their budget too far. On paper, it ticks many of the right boxes. The real question, though, is simple. Does it…

Nothing has unveiled the Phone (3a) Community Edition, a limited-run smartphone shaped as much by fans as by the company’s own teams. The device is the outcome of the brand’s latest Community Edition Project, an initiative that moves beyond crowdsourced feedback to active co-creation, giving emerging creators influence over hardware design, software, accessories, packaging, and marketing. This year’s program received more than 700 submissions across four disciplines, underlining how deeply Nothing’s community wants to participate in product-making rather than merely observing it. The four winners, namely Emre Kayganacl (hardware and packaging), Ambrogio Tacconi and Louis Aymond (accessory), Jad Zock (lock…

The Philips STH5030 Handheld Steamer from the 5000 Series is positioned as a convenient wrinkle remover designed for quick touch-ups and sanitisation. It targets users who prioritise speed and ease over precision ironing. After extended use, it becomes clear that this device caters to a very specific use case: reviving clothes that are already clean but need to look and feel fresher before being worn again. If your goal is to remove storage wrinkles from folded or hung garments before stepping out for an event, this steamer fits that role well. However, if you expect it to replace your iron…

There’s something quietly refreshing about the OnePlus Pad Go 2. In a market where tablets swing between dirt-cheap mediocrity and premium excess, OnePlus has planted its flag squarely in the sensible middle. Set to launch in India on December 17, the Pad Go 2 doesn’t pretend to replace your laptop or compete with iPads costing twice as much. Instead, it tries to get the basics spectacularly right, and that restraint is what makes it compelling. The Screen Is the Selling Point The centrepiece here is undoubtedly the display. A 12.1-inch 2.8K panel with 284PPI, Dolby Vision support and a claimed…

I’ve always believed that CNG cars were sensible, efficient, and cheap to run, but never something you’d actually want to drive. So when I picked up the Tata Altroz CNG for a week, I fully expected a predictable, slightly underpowered, mileage-first experience that would get the job done and nothing more. And then, I drove it. No, the Altroz CNG doesn’t suddenly transform into a hot hatch. But what surprised me was just how normal it felt. Tata has somehow taken one of the most utility-focused fuel types and packaged it into a car that looks good, drives decently, and…

India’s hardware startup ecosystem sees plenty of ambitious ideas, but few that take on engineering-heavy challenges. Chiltier, a Made-in-India deep-tech startup, is attempting exactly that with a patent-pending wearable vest and pod system that can cool or heat the body on demand. The company is currently in its pre-launch phase, but its approach brings together thermoelectric (Peltier) technology, modular hardware, and a lightweight vest designed for people who spend long hours outdoors. Bikers are seemingly the main target, but this apparatus also sounds ideal for travellers and outdoor professionals who often face extreme temperatures. The Core Idea At the centre…

For years, Google Search has been the fastest way to check a cricket score. Type in “IND vs SA” during a high-voltage T20 or ODI, and you instantly know who’s batting, the asking rate, and whether a collapse is unfolding. But when it came to Test cricket, the premier format of the game that unfolds over five days with shifting narratives and slow-burning drama, Google’s simple scorecards often felt painfully inadequate. A Test match is not a highlight reel sport. It is a novel. And trying to understand it through a stripped-down search card always felt like reading only the…

Apple’s decision to roll out its Hypertension Notifications feature in India is more than just another software update; it’s a meaningful moment in the growing intersection of technology and personal health. With watchOS 26, the Apple Watch becomes not just a device you wear, but one that quietly watches out for you. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” for a reason. It shows few obvious symptoms, yet it fuels some of the most devastating health conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. According to global estimates, over a billion adults live with undiagnosed high blood pressure. In India,…

After six months of daily use, the Synology DiskStation DS925+ has become much more than just another NAS in our office space. It’s quietly become the backbone of Exhibit Magazine’s content production workflow. What started as a compact storage upgrade has turned into the system that keeps our video and photo teams in sync. Whether we’re moving 50GB of raw footage or sharing edited photos with our design desk, the DS925+ has made collaboration smoother, faster, and far less chaotic. Compact System Handling Heavy Workloads The DS925+ doesn’t look imposing, but it’s been handling serious workloads without a hiccup. Our…

At 6 degrees Celsius, Chandigarh has a way of waking you up without warning. The kind of cold that cuts through your jacket before you’ve even thought of coffee. And yet, on this particularly chilly morning, it wasn’t the weather that got the city buzzing. It was the car. The Tata Sierra, parked quietly at our shoot location, had already begun attracting a crowd. Chandigarh’s love affair with cars is well-known, but what stood out was not just the attention; it was the quality of it. Instead of the inevitable “kitne ki hai?”, I was met with questions about drivetrain…

In continuation with its practice of extending its design language beyond motorcycles and into lifestyle gear, Royal Enfield has created VALLON Moto Aviators, a limited-edition eyewear collection inspired by the brand’s Classic family of motorcycles. Unveiled globally at Motoverse 2025, the collection marks another step in the brand’s push to deepen its lifestyle and community-first identity. The Moto Aviators draw inspiration from three motorcycles that define Royal Enfield’s modern retro movement, namely the Classic 350, Classic 650, and Goan Classic. While each bike represents a different interpretation of the Classic ethos, they all share a common visual and emotional thread:…