Hybrid, gaming laptops in demand at Gitex

Visitors get to know about the latest laptops and other gadgets at the Gitex Shopper that offers unbeatable deals and bargains.

Laptop enthusiasts in the UAE are slowly shifting their focus away from traditional laptops and leaning more towards hybrid convertible and gaming laptops that double as their home and work PCs.
Experts at Gitex Shopper 2016 revealed that there has been an increase in demand for hybrid and gaming laptops especially in the past three quarters, and that retailers in the region are expanding their product lines to meet the demand.
"The traditional laptop is on the decline," said Avinash Shanbhogue, director of exhibitions at the Dubai World Trade Centre. "Brands such as Lenovo and HP are taking the lead when it comes to the new two-in-one convertibles category. These are laptops which you can flip into a tablet, and are proving to be extremely popular, especially with operating systems that offer a touch screen experience. In the last three quarters, this sub-category has started taking over the laptop segment."
Convertible laptops aren't a new addition to the market, but their popularity has soared as companies shift their focus to providing several different options for users with different budgets. Like the convertibles segment, the gaming laptop segment has also witnessed a steady run, especially with the popularity of cross-platform gaming resonating with gamers. "A couple of years back ago, the lines were very clear in the gaming industry - either you are a PC gamer or a console gamer. Console gaming was dominated by three brands: the Sony Playstation, Microsoft's XBox and Nintendo. On the other hand, you had PC gamers who took the time to build their own rigs. Over the years, the lines between them have blurred. Nowadays, thanks to cross-platform gaming, you can enjoy the same experience on a PC that you would on a console," Shanbhogue explained. Hunter Cheng, a product manager at the msi stand at Gitex, spoke about how users are increasingly preferring the newer gaming laptops due to their performance and mobility. Msi, which is taking part at Gitex Shopper for the first time this year, is expanding its reach in the region by reaching interested parties through events such as Gitex. Cheng noted that the demand for high-performance laptops had steadily increased over the years, and that the demand in the region would continue to grow. "Nowadays, it is possible to get the same experience on a gaming laptop that you would on a PC. You can get the ultimate and complete gaming experience on a laptop, and you can take it with you wherever you want."
- rohma@khaleejtimes.com