Tech roundup: New Anker chargers, a solar-powered laptop, realme 14 and other March gadget releases
March is shaping up to be an exciting time for tech.
Earlier in the month, the Mobile World Congress was held in Barcelona, showcasing the latest innovations and concepts from different companies. Apple also recently unveiled its newest MacBook Air with an M4 chip.
Want to stay in the loop with all things tech? Here are some of the coolest releases this March.
Anker Prime Charger
Anker recently refreshed its Prime chargers to deliver more power while saving space, time, and energy.
The Anker Prime 250W and 200W chargers are sleek yet powerful machines that feature a multi-port concept. You can power multiple devices from a single hub to reduce clutter and keep your workspace neat and tidy.
With a total 250W output, you can fuel up to six devices simultaneously—even a laptop. Anker says it can power an M3 MacBook Pro from 0% to 50% in just 25 minutes.
Additionally, there's a smart power adjustment knob so you can adjust power levels and prioritize certain plugged devices. You can also control the charging process wherever via the Anker app.
Meanwhile, the more compact 200W Anker Prime charger fits even smaller workspaces and still power up to six devices like laptops, tablets, and other accessories.
The Anker Prime Charger (250W, six ports, GaNPrime) is available for P10,495, while the more compact 200W version is priced at P4,995.
A solar-powered Lenovo laptop
What if you could charge your laptop without needing to plug it in? At MWC, Lenovo introduced a unique device: a solar-powered laptop.
The Yoga Solar PC concept features 84 solar cells integrated into the laptop's lid. 20 minutes of exposure to direct sunlight gives the device enough power for one hour of video playback. The tech company says that even in low-light conditions, the panel still generates power and sustains a charge when the PC is idle.
Lenovo also showcased the ThinkBook Flip, a laptop with a flexible display that can be extended to 18.1 inches.
Honor X8c
Eyeing a budget-friendly smartphone upgrade? This March 11, HONOR is launching the new X8c, an entry-level phone designed for students and young pros in mind.
This device comes with a 6.7-inch display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 chip, 5,000mAh battery, 6GB of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage.
It's good for shooting photos as well, as it boasts a 108MP main camera and a 5MP wide shooter. In front, there's a 50MP camera for snapping selfies.
Other details, like its price, have yet to be revealed.
realme 14 series
Smartphone maker realme is also refreshing its smartphone lineup later in the month. On March 20, the realme 14 series 5G will debut in the Philippines.
The phones will come with the "first cold-sensitive color-changing" back panel, which comes in Pearl White. When temperatures go below 16 degrees Celsius, its rear cover will turn a blue hue.
As for other specs, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G comes with a 6.83-inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, up to 12GB RAM, up to 256GB storage, triple rear cameras (50MP+50MP+8MP), a 32MP front shooter, and 6,000mAh battery with 80W wired charging.
On the other hand, the realme 14 Pro 5G features a smaller 6.77-inch screen, MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Energy chip, dual rear cameras (50MP+monochrome lens), 16MP front camera, and 6,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging.
Apple Mac Studio
Other than the MacBook Air, Apple bumped up the specs of the Mac Studio—it now comes with the M4 Max chip and new M3 Ultra chip.
The tech giants called the new computer a "powerhouse for AI," as it's capable of running large language models with over 600 billion parameters.
The M4 Max chip can come with up to 16-core GPU and up to 40-core GPU, making it 3.5x faster than the Mac Studio with an M1 Max chip.
The Mac Studio (M4 Max) starts at P142,990 with the following specs: 14-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 36GB unified memory, 1TB SSD, two USB-C ports and SDXC card slot in front, and four Thunderbolt 5 ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, 10Gb Ethernet port, and headphone jack at the back.
ASUS ZenBook A14
On March 19, ASUS Philippines unveiled the new Zenbook A14, which the brand boasts as the lightest AI laptop in its line.
The machine is a 14-inch PC that weighs under 899g—great for frequent travelers who take their work everywhere. But don't let its size fool you as it is powered by a Snapdragon X Series processor and comes with a 48Wh battery for over 23 hours of video playback on a single charge. It also has dual lightweight fans and a heat pipe to keep the laptop cool.
As for AI features, this laptop offers Copilot+ PC that can give real-time insights, optimize performance, and enhance responsiveness for multi-tasking.
The ASUS Zenbook A14, which comes in Zabriskie Beige and Iceland Grey, is priced at P65,995. Each purchase includes a complimentary Ofice 2024 Home free lifetime license and a free one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Basic.
Xiaomi 15
Those looking for a new smartphone to use as their daily driver have a new option: the Xiaomi 15. This device packs power in a compact form with its 6.2-inch display that the brand says will fit comfortably in its user's grip.
Powering the flagship phone is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, allowing users to effortlessly switch between apps, edit photos, and play the most popular mobile games.
Its other specs include a 50MP AI camera, a 5,420mAh battery with 90W charging, 12GB RAM, and up to 512GB storage.
The Xiaomi 15 starts at P45,999 for the 12GB+ 256GB version, and P49,999 for the 12+512GB version.
