Accessories

47Ronin watch straps: Where smartwatch meets Japanese art

Bridging heritage and modern technology

Published

August 1, 2020

MJ Jucutan

Japan and its culture have drawn people like moth to a flame. It’s incandescently captivating, irresistible, magnetizing. One even embraces and allows it to seep into their lives.

That’s what happened to Tong Cheuk Fung, a Hong-Kong born, Singaporean watch strap artist whose humble beginnings started in Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital.

Living in Japan made Tong love its crafts and culture, giving birth to 47Ronin — Tong’s very own watch strap brand designed and handcrafted by marrying horology, smartwatches, and Japanese art.

Japanese art on your wrists

47Ronin’s name traces back to a chronicle from over 300 years ago, where 47 Ronins — free-roaming Samurais without a master — exhibited bravado and loyalty through vengeance against the injustice committed to their late master.

The watch straps embody this tale to its designs, catering to a certain niche resembling Ronins; free-spirited individuals leading a life according to their own philosophy.

With pieces made and sourced from Japan, 47Ronin wraps the country’s history and beauty on people’s wrists through its watch straps. Most of its pieces were made from exotic materials such as leather, Kimono textile, and Katana elements — all sourced from Japan.

Where future meets history

Traditional crafts are declining; handcrafted straps are already considered a sunset industry. The advent of futuristic wearables made the younger generation prefer minimalist and sleek designs by the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Google.

For the fashion-oriented, hybrid smartwatches are the favored statement often sold by designer brands such as Fossil, Michael Kors, Frédérique Constant, and Skagen.

Yet even with a decline in demand and appreciation, 47Ronin perseveres to preserve the craftsman’s spirit and its culture. The brand cultivated designs that work with analog timepieces and smartwatches, putting the attention to the strap rather than the technology.

The traditional craft’s heritage lives on as 47Ronin forges its historic design into modern wristwatches. The Japanese-inspired Singaporean brand worked with technology companies like Mobvoi and produced bespoke designs for Apple watches.

Personalized, artisanal straps

Since 47Ronin’s watch straps are handcrafted by Tong himself, ordered pieces are instilled with the artist’s creative thoughts, and tailored to the customer’s wrist and watch’s components.

The Singaporean brand houses multiple collections, too, where customers can pick a design that resonates with their personality.

Most designs retail above US$ 200, entailing a personalized process — communicating to customize the lug width, length, and thickness, and sourcing rare materials — for four weeks and up to two months.

47Ronin certainly pushes itself as an exemplar of art rather than an accessory, creating a unique proposition among leather watch straps.

A heart for the environment and people

Nowadays, sustainability becomes an integral part of a business. 47Ronin partakes in the fight to a sustainable future through its up-cycling program.

The watch strap maker retrieves damaged watch straps and buckets to repair it, preserving an artisanal watch straps’ life. Old watch straps and buckles are also retrieved and reused to create new products.

Moreover, 47Ronin collaborated with 20 local watchmakers in Singapore as a means to lift each other up, as businesses and online sales have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Shop custom, artisanal watch straps at 47Ronin’s online store with free worldwide shipping.

Accessories

Acer PA100 portable SSD brings fast, flexible storage on the go

Up to 2TB

Published

September 4, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer is expanding its storage lineup with the PA100 Portable SSD. It’s a compact external drive designed for users who need faster storage across multiple devices.

The PA100 uses USB 3.2 Gen 1 connectivity. It reaches sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s and write speeds of up to 430MB/s. This makes it suited for everyday tasks such as transferring large files, backing up content, managing documents, and moving media between devices.

Up to 2TB of portable storage

The PA100 comes in three capacities: 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB. This gives users options depending on whether they need extra space for documents and schoolwork or larger collections of photos, videos, and project files.

Acer also designed the drive with mobility in mind. The PA100 has a slim 9mm profile and a lightweight build, while its reinforced construction is designed to withstand everyday travel and handling.

The drive comes with a 2-in-1 USB-C to USB-C and USB-A cable. This allows it to connect to compatible PCs, tablets, smartphones, and other devices without requiring a separate adapter. It also supports major operating systems and USB-C mobile platforms.

Designed for everyday use

Power efficiency is another focus. Acer says the PA100 uses less than 3W during operation, while idle power consumption can drop to as low as 0.62W.

The drive also features an optimized thermal design to help maintain stable performance during extended transfers and daily workloads.

The Acer PA100 Portable SSD is backed by a three-year limited warranty. Pricing and availability may vary by market.

Accessories

UGREEN expands MagFlow lineup with Qi2 25W chargers

Cooler wireless charging arrives

Published

September 4, 2026

GadgetMatch

UGREEN has expanded its MagFlow lineup with three new wireless charging products. The range now covers portable power, desktop charging, and travel.

All three support Qi2 25W charging. UGREEN also focuses on thermal management to keep charging cooler and more consistent.

A cooler power bank

The highlight is the UGREEN MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W. UGREEN calls it the world’s first liquid-cooled Qi2 25W magnetic power bank.

It uses UGREEN’s CryoPulse technology. A micro-pump circulates coolant around key components to draw away heat. A Cyber Window also lets users see the cooling process in real time.

UGREEN says the system can keep peak temperatures up to 18°F below the industry benchmark. The power bank also uses Dymondcell 2.0 high-density ATL cells.

A built-in smart display shows charging power, battery level, cycle count, and cooling status. UGREEN says the power bank can charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max to 50 percent in 40 minutes.

Charging three devices at once

The UGREEN MagFlow Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand 25W targets desktop setups. It can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods at the same time.

The stand uses CryoPulse TEC active cooling and an ultra-quiet 15dB fan. Its thermoelectric cooling system draws heat away from the charging surface.

UGREEN says the center of the charging surface can reach temperatures as low as 51.8°F. It can also charge an iPhone 17 Pro Max to 50 percent in 26 minutes under its internal testing conditions.

The stand has an adjustable design for easier viewing. A smart display shows charging power and temperature.

A foldable charger for travel

The UGREEN MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 25W offers dual-device charging in a compact design.

It can also work as a magnetic phone stand. Users can set it up on a desk or bedside table, or bring it along while traveling.

When folded, the charger takes on a palm-sized clamshell design that fits into a pocket or bag.

All three MagFlow products are available now.

The MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W costs USD 149.99.
The MagFlow Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand 25W costs USD 159.99.
The MagFlow 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger 25W is priced at USD 59.99.

UGREEN sells all three through its official store and Amazon.

Accessories

Acer announces 1st FHD 1000Hz gaming monitor: Predator XB253Q U1

Acer unveils new lineup of monitors across Predator, Acer Nitro, and Acer ProDesigner brands

Published

September 3, 2026

GadgetMatch

Acer has announced a full lineup of monitors for high-powered gaming and content creation, headlined by the first FHD 1000Hz gaming monitor Predator XB253Q U1.

This offering leads various releases across the Predator, Acer Nitro, and Acer ProDesigner portfolios.

The Predator XB253Q U1 monitor is a premium gaming display designed for top-tier responsiveness for fast-paced titles and esports competitions.

It comes in an optimal 24.5-inch display size for esports environments and delivers ultrafast visual response, motion clarity, and consistent performance.

It features a 1000Hz refresh rate with FHD resolution, along with Acer’s Visual Response Boost (VRB) Pro technology to reduce motion blur and ghosting for fast-moving objects.

The monitor is VESA DisplayHDR400 certified and includes Circular Polarizer technology to reduce glare and eye strain during longer gaming sessions.

Furthermore, it also offers AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible for tear-free gaming visuals.

Acer unveils new monitors

Acer also released the Predator X23 V3, which comes with a 31.5-inch QD-OLED Penta Tandem display. It has a UHD resolution with 180Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, and 99% DCI-P3 color gamut.

For a versatile option for both gaming and creative work, there’s the 27-inch Predator XB273K V7. It comes with up to a 500Hz refresh rate, and a baseline UHD resolution at 160Hz.

Users can switch on up to FHD resolution at 500Hz for fast-paced gameplay. This option also offers AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility. An Acer Smart Dial is also built-in for remote adjustments.

Moreover, Acer has launched the 27-inch Acer Nitro XV275X P, which offers 5K resolution, 2304-zone Mini LED backlighting, and a 0.5ms GTG response time.

This variant is also ideal for creative work with 99% Adobe RGB, 99% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3 color gamuts and Delta E<2 color accuracy.

Speaking of creatives, the Acer ProDesigner PE270X P monitor is built for professional creative work.

It delivers exceptional 5K clarity at a 5120 x 2880 resolution, alongside factory calibration Delta E<1 factory calibration.

More options

For curved display enthusiasts, there’s the Acer Nitro XZ340CKR P monitor. This curved 34-inch display offers up to a 5120 x 2160 resolution at 180Hz, and up to a 360Hz refresh rate at WFHD resolution.

Features include: 0.5ms GTG response time, AMD FreeSync Premium, HDR10 certification, and 90% DCI-P3 color gamut.

Rounding out the lineup are the Acer Nitro XV275U Z2 and Nitro XV270U Z3 monitors. These 27-inch displays are designed as a single display that caters to multiple needs of modern gamers.

They can handle AAA titles and competitive esports, while providing a balance between image quality and ultra-high refresh rates.

They also both support tri-mode DFR technology, allowing users to choose among three optimized visual experiences with one click.