Bigger, better, faster gadgets

Consumers in the UAE want the very best for their homes, and they aren't afraid to pay for it. Shoppers at Gitex don't just go for the best deals, but also the latest products that are making a splash in the market, retailers say.
Gamers, that are passionate about grabbing the latest that the market has to offer, are increasingly looking at high-end PC systems. While movie and TV show enthusiasts, driven by the popularity of online streaming services that offer Ultra HD videos, are also looking at high performance TVs for their living rooms. These TVs are also favoured by young console gamers, as it provides them with the ultimate gaming experience.
Catering to the growing gamer segment in the UAE, Dell UAE has unveiled a slew of award-winning products, including the XPS 13 2-in-1, and the Alienware 13, 15 and 17 laptops, at the ongoing Gitex Shopper 2017 exhibition. In addition, the company is also showcasing the new Inspiron 15 7000 gaming laptop. The new launches are part of the brand's drive towards expanding its portfolio of gaming products for dedicated PC gamers in the UAE.
As the world's smallest 13-inch 2-in-1, the XPS 13 2-in-1 is designed to give consumers optimal performance when they need it with Dynamic Power Mode technology. With 7th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, the XPS 13 2-in-1 delivers amazing performance and responsiveness for increased productivity, and the in-built solid state drive fires up within seconds. It's 360-degree hinge also means that it can convert into four, flexible positions - tablet, tent, laptop and stand mode - so you can watch, work or surf the way you want.
In addition, the new Alienware 13, 15 and 17 gaming laptops portfolio includes an optional OLED screen and VR capabilities, wrapped in a slimmer design. They include the Tobii Eye Tracking software technology that anticipates a gamer's action based on their attention and presence, without their hands ever leaving the keyboard. The laptop series also offers new NVIDIA graphics, SSD technology and optional 99WHr batteries on the Alienware 15 and 17 laptops, delivering up to ten or more hours of battery life.
Lastly, the Inspiron 15 7000 gaming laptop, with up to 7th Gen Intel Core i7 H-series Quad Core processor combined with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti discrete graphics and 4GB of GDDR5 memory, has proven to be a popular draw for gamers that are into resource-intensive games.
"Our all new next generation XPS 13 2-in-1 device and our updated Alienware gaming laptop portfolio are a testament to Dell's commitment to continue the tradition of leading innovation in mobile devices. By expanding the iconic XPS and Alienware family with these two performance-driven series, Dell aims to address the need for more versatility, when consumers demand the utmost in performance and reliability in PC systems," said Raghav Koorich, regional manager, consumer category and brand manager for the UAE at Dell.
Its no fun investing in a paid online streaming service that offers videos in HD and Ultra HD quality, and then finding out that your TV does not support that option. The popularity of Ultra HD videos and online streaming services such as Netflix is helping to drive the demand for large UHD TVs in the UAE, noted Priyam Agrawal, GM of EMax Electronics.
"Curved screens and bigger screens are very popular right now, especially those that are in the 55-inch and bigger category," says Agrawal. "Smart TVs that can automatically pair with a number of devices, including smartphones, are also proving to be very popular. Brands have revised their prices a bit to attract a greater number of consumers. We expect these bigger and curved screens to drive the video and TV segment in the coming months."
Gitex shoppers looking to upgrade
A number of shoppers at the Gitex Shopper 2017 exhibition aren't looking to buy anything super extraordinary, as much as they are simply interested in upgrading the devices that they already have, retailers say.
Brand loyalty means that consumers simply want to trade in their old device for a newer and faster model. This is especially true in the case of popular smartphones such as iPhones. Many shoppers noted that there is nothing wrong with their current devices, but that they were simply excited about having the newest model in the market with the latest features.
Deepak Nair, a shopper from Dubai, who was at the exhibition with his wife, said that he was looking to buy a newer smartphone model for himself, and perhaps one for his wife as well if a particular deal caught his eye. "There are a lot of places that offer buybacks so I want to get the latest iPhone. My wife also likes the new red iPhone, so lets see if we can find a good deal on that.
Pankaj Kumar, vice president of the UAE region at Sharaf DG, also spoke about the popularity of buyback options from retailers in the region. "We have introduced a buyback policy for our customers across the mobile phone segment, so if there are shoppers out there that want a newer model, we want them to know that we have that option for them."
Asma Malik, a resident from Sharjah, was also at the exhibition for a new phone. "I have an old Samsung Galaxy and have been thinking about getting another one for a long time. Its easy to use so I am going to get an S6 or an S7 with a better camera."
Smartphones reign supreme
News of the new Samsung Galaxy S8 has caused a stir among smartphone enthusiasts in the UAE, with many hoping that the launch of the new smartphone will affect prices of current models available in the market.
Retailers at Gitex Shopper 2017 have revealed that while several consumers have expressed an interest in pre-ordering the new device, many are also content with purchasing the current models available in the market, and waiting for the new device to officially launch in the UAE. Samsung confirmed the Galaxy S8 release date as April 21 for the US, and April 28 for the rest of the world including the UK.
Jumbo Electronics is predicting smartphones to be one of the biggest selling categories at the exhibition. Apart from the extremely popular iPhone 7 & 7Plus and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, in the smartphones category, Jumbo will be displaying and selling highly anticipated new models such as the Samsung A (2017) Series, Huawei Mate 9 Porsche, Huawei Mate 9 Pro, HTC U Ultra and Motorola G5.
"Over the past few years, smartphones with key features such as better cameras, long lasting battery life, vivid screen resolutions and software functions have been leading the market, and this trend has visibily continued into 2017," said Nadeem Khanzadah, head of omnichannel retail at Jumbo Group.
The Middle East and Africa are among the fastest growing mobile markets in the world and according to Global Media Intelligence Report by eMarketer, mobile phone penetration in the UAE is forecasted to reach 82.1 per cent in 2017.
Pankaj Kumar, vice president of the UAE region at Sharaf DG, also noted that smartphone sales on the first day of the exhibition have been promising. However, he declared Apple to be the shopper favourite in the smartphone segment.
"Apple's share in the segment has been growing in the past few months," he said. "We have seen an increase of 3-4 per cent in the category. Samsung has also been performing very well, with the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge proving to be extremely popular with consumers."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com