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Table of contents iPhone 17e iPad Air M4 Everything else announced Apple kicked off the first week of March 2026 with a major hardware push, a shiftfrom centralised keynote events toward a multi-day rollout of product announcements. This “Big Week” started on Monday, March 2, 2026, through coordinated press releases and product videos on the Apple Newsroom. The physical events will take place at the “Apple Experience” sessions on March 4, 2026, across three cities: New York, London, and Shanghai, starting at 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. WAT). These are invite-only, in-person sessions giving local media a hands-on look at the hardware. The central theme for this week is “Accessible Intelligence.” Apple is bringing features previously locked behind Pro pricing into its more affordable lineup. The iPhone 17e gets the A19 chip, and the new iPad Air runs on the M4 processor, meaning the full suite of Apple Intelligence features now works across the entire 2026 product line. For buyers in Nigeria and across Africa, where the “e” series and Air models make up a significant part of the premium market, these updates are a meaningful step forward without requiring the price tag of a Pro Max or Ultra device. iPhone 17e Image source: @theapplehub on X Processor and performance A19 chip (3nm), 6-core CPU (4 performance + 2 efficiency cores) Up to 2x faster than iPhone 11 4-core GPU with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and console-level gaming support 16-core Neural Engine redesigned for large generative AI models Connectivity and battery Apple-designed C1X modem, up to 2x faster than the C1 in iPhone 16e 30% more energy-efficient than previous modems 26-hour battery life for video playback Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, USB-C Display 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED (60Hz) Ceramic Shield 2 front cover, 3x better scratch resistance than previous gen Anti-reflective coating, peak HDR brightness up to 1,200 nits Camera 48MP Fusion rear camera with 2x optical-quality Telephoto 12MP TrueDepth front camera with Face ID, 4K Dolby Vision Storage and Accessories Starts at 256GB (512GB option available) MagSafe (15W) and Qi2 support, first time in an “e” model Standout features Apple emphasised Ceramic Shield 2 and an IP68 rating make it the most durable “e” model yet Storage doubles from the previous gen at the same starting price, addressing a common pain point with high-resolution photos and 4K video MagSafe inclusion opens access to a wide ecosystem of magnetic accessories, including wallets, car mounts, and fast wireless chargers Action button now available on the “e” model for the first time, customizable for flashlight, camera, or Visual Intelligence New matte finish in soft pink, black, and white Design changes in iPhone 17e vs. iPhone 16e Same 6.1-inch form factor, but with a new matte finish that resists fingerprints Still uses a notch for TrueDepth camera and Face ID (no Dynamic Island) IP68 water and dust resistance retained An action button was added, which was previously exclusive to Pro and standard iPhone 17 models New colour added: soft pink, alongside black and white Specs summary Pricing 256GB: $599 globally 512GB: $799 globally Nigeria pricing for the iPhone 16e ranged from ₦1,200,000 to ₦1,400,000 at launch (2025) With double the base storage and the current exchange rate of approximately ₦1,370.89 per $1, the iPhone 17e is expected to retail between ₦1,500,000 and ₦1,700,000 at authorised resellers like iStore and iConnect. Availability and release date Pre-orders open globally on Wednesday, March 4, at 6:15 a.m. PT (2:15 p.m. WAT) In-store availability and shipping begin Wednesday, March 11, 2026 iPad Air M4 Image source: @theapplehub on X Chip and performance M4 chip with 8-core CPU and 9-core GPU Multi-core performance up to 30% faster than the M3 model and up to 2.3x faster than the M1 GPU supports second-generation hardware-accelerated mesh shading and ray tracing, with 3D rendering over 4x faster than M1 16-core Neural Engine, 3x faster than M1, for near-instant AI features like Image Wand and Clean Up Memory and storage 12GB unified memory, up 50% from the previous generation 120GB/s memory bandwidth Storage options: 128GB up to 1TB Connectivity Apple N1 chip enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support Cellular variants use the C1X modem, up to 50% faster cellular data than the previous model, and 30% more energy-efficient Available in Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular configurations Display Liquid Retina IPS LCD, 500 nits brightness, P3 wide colour, True Tone Available in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion) Camera 12MP front-facing camera with Centre Stage, now repositioned to the landscape edge for more natural eye contact during video calls Standout features Apple emphasised Positioned as an “AI powerhouse” with full Apple Intelligence support out of the box 12GB RAM removes the bottleneck for running large AI models and creative apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7 for significantly faster and more reliable wireless speeds C1X modem on cellular models is ideal for professionals in Lagos and Abuja relying on 5G for mobile work Landscape camera placement improves the video call experience when using a keyboard Changes vs. iPad Air M2 Jumped directly from M2 chip to M4 chip, skipping the M3 entirely in this product line RAM increased from 8GB to 12GB Front camera moved to the landscape edge (both 11-inch and 13-inch models) N1 networking chip added, replacing the previous Wi-Fi solution Maintains the same thin and light design with no exterior changes Full specs comparison Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard compatibility Fully compatible with Apple Pencil Pro: supports squeeze for tool palette, barrel roll for precise brush control, and haptic feedback Also supports the more affordable Apple Pencil (USB-C) Compatible with the Magic Keyboard for iPad Air, which includes backlit keys, a 14-key function row, a large Multi-Touch trackpad, and connects via Smart Connector (no Bluetooth pairing or separate charging needed) Magic Keyboard available in black and white to match the four iPad Air colour options: Space Gray, Blue, Purple, and Starlight Global pricing (same as previous generation): 11-inch
Read MoreSince the early 2020s, Nigeria’s tech industry has faced a wave of talent migration, which peaked after COVID-19. While the trend has raised valid concerns about brain drain, it has created a new class of diasporan angel investors backing Nigerian startups. Several angel networks have emerged from this shift, including HoaQ, which caters specifically to diasporan investors and founders. While these syndicates continue to grow in membership, capital deployed and influence, some angel investors continue to back startups independently. Though these cheques are typically small by venture standards, they play the critical role of giving founders early runway to validate ideas before syndicates, accelerators and early-stage VC firms step in. One such angel investor is Uche Divine, a 26-year-old Manchester-based product designer who works in London. He relocated from Lagos in 2023 and began investing after his first year abroad. Since then, he has backed two undisclosed startups as an angel investor through HoaQ. Angel investors are foundational to any tech ecosystem. They provide capital when institutional investors will not and often offer hands-on support at the earliest stages. Drawing on six years of experience as a product designer, Ibeafu also advises the founders he backs on product development. For this week’s Ask an Investor, I spoke with Divine about his journey into angel investing as a source of passive income and long-term retirement planning; his founder-led approach, which prioritises trust and product viability over a defined thesis; and how his product background shapes his edge as an investor. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. How many startups have you invested in, over what time period, and how have they performed so far? I’ve invested in two, and because I invested in both of them last year, I can’t really speak to performance yet. They’re still in the building phase. I just put the money in and told myself, “Okay, I’ve never done this before. I might as well do it for my first time and see how it works.” Both companies were built by people I trust. I know these guys; I’ve seen them work, and I trust what they’re doing. Why did you write the cheque—was it more support, or more that you believed in the startups? Both. I have a couple of friends building things—people I trust—but I didn’t give them money. This one was different. It was both: these are my people, and what they’re building makes sense. It wasn’t a difficult decision. After securing exits for its angel network, HoaQ is expanding with a dedicated VC fund At what point did you move from being a non-angel investor to being an angel investor? I want multiple sources of income, and I want to invest. Investing is how I imagine my “endgame”. I’ve spoken to friends, and many of them want to own a company or build something big. But for me, how I picture calling it quits is having a serious portfolio—just chilling on an island and living off profits from investments. I already explored other parts of the market: I buy stocks, I buy crypto, and I’ve played across different parts of the financial market. Angel investing was just the one thing I hadn’t done. So it felt like the perfect time to try it, especially because these founders were doing something I was interested in. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. When you invest in startups, do you have a thesis, or are you investing based on what you believe will be a good company? And what made you believe in the two you invested in? Because I’m still a beginner—like a baby angel investor—I don’t have a solid thesis yet. I can’t even tell you the returns right now because there’s nothing to measure yet. I invested mainly based on the people building and what they were building, and whether it made sense. One of them is an AI startup solving a serious problem. I don’t want to mention the name, but it’s addressing a key problem in its space. And the advice people always give is: follow the money, follow volume. Most of the companies making the most money right now are AI companies. So, if there’s one that makes sense and what they’re doing looks like it’ll eventually make money, that’s enough for me. To be fair, it was partly trend-driven. But if this is something I’m going to do more of, I’ll definitely develop a thesis. Right now, it felt safer to invest in people I trusted and in products I felt would work. It was instinct. Over time, as I invest more, I’ll build a clearer thesis. Experience improves everything. Are you investing to generate venture-scale returns or to build proximity and learn how startups work? It’s a bit of both. I’m investing for returns too, but right now, I’m also trying to understand how it works. Watching the founders go through this process has taught me a lot. I might eventually build something myself and need to raise money or go through different rounds. So for me, it’s also a learning curve—how to approach fundraising, how to reach out to VC firms—just by being close to people building and raising. What unfair advantage do you think you have as an angel investor? What makes a founder want to take your money, knowing they’re giving up equity? For me, it’s mainly my insight into how digital products work. If you’ve invested in a company, you’re part of it. The way I tell people: I own Google stocks, even if they’re diluted. If Google does anything, I’m like, “That’s my company,” because I own a piece of it. With angel investing, you’re even closer to the company. For the two companies I invested in, whenever there’s a new update or feature, they reach out: “Come and see this—what do you think?” I take it more seriously because my money is in it. I’m not just advising as a friend. I’m advising as a part-owner.
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Table of contents Xiaomi 17 Series Everything else announced Pricing On Saturday, February 28, Xiaomi held its biggest international hardware showcase yet in Barcelona, Spain. The event took place just days before Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026. It served as the global stage for the Xiaomi 17 series, alongside a major expansion of Xiaomi’s “Human x Car x Home” ecosystem. Xiaomi President William Lu set the tone early. Under the theme “The New Wave of Imagery,” he pointed to 2025 as a breakthrough year for the company with €55 billion in revenue, and announced plans to invest €24 billion in research and development. over the next five years. This event was a statement of intent to take on the premium smartphone market head-on. According to Counterpoint Research and Canalys, Xiaomi has ranked as the world’s third-largest smartphone brand for five consecutive years and now holds strong positions in wearables and tablets too. In Barcelona, the company leaned hard into “Essential Leica Imagery” and its “Strategic Co-creation Model,” where hardware and software are built together to recreate the look and feel of legendary cameras. The goal is a unified ecosystem, not a collection of separate gadgets. Xiaomi 17 Series The centrepiece of the Barcelona event was the global debut of the Xiaomi 17 series, comprising the Xiaomi 17 and the imaging-focused Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Both phones run on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a 3nm processor built for high performance and on-device AI. One thing to note: the global versions have slightly adjusted battery sizes compared to their Chinese counterparts, which is standard practice due to international certification requirements and the goal of a slimmer chassis. 1. Xiaomi 17 Image source: Xiaomi on YouTube The Xiaomi 17 is built for people who want a compact flagship without sacrificing anything. At 6.3 inches, it is designed to sit comfortably in your hand while delivering the same top-tier performance you would expect from a much larger phone. Design-wise, the display bezels are just 1.18mm thin, achieved through LIPO display packaging technology, giving the phone an almost borderless look. The screen uses an M10 display panel with SuperRED luminous material, hitting a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. That means the display holds up even under intense sunlight. It supports 1.5K resolution, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and is protected by Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass. One of the biggest talking points at the event was the 6,330mAh silicon-carbon battery. That is the largest battery capacity you will find in any 6.3-inch flagship today, with an energy density of 894Wh/L. For charging, you get 100W wired HyperCharge and 50W wireless HyperCharge, with 22.5W reverse wireless charging as well. On the camera side, the Xiaomi 17 packs a Leica-branded triple 50MP system. The primary sensor is the Light Fusion 950, measuring 1/1.31-inch and featuring a 13.5EV dynamic range. That sits alongside a 50MP ultra-wide (102 degree FOV) and a 50MP floating telephoto lens with 2.6x optical zoom and 10cm macro capability. The front camera is also 50MP and supports 4K/60fps video. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 pairs with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. The phone also carries an IP68 dust and water resistance rating. Pricing and availability The Xiaomi 17 starts at €999 for the 256GB variant and €1,099 for the 512GB model. Official Nigeria pricing has not been announced yet, but based on historical trends and the ongoing global memory shortage, expect a price range of ₦1,250,000 to ₦1,450,000. The phone will be available in Black, Venture Green, Alpine Pink, and Ice Blue starting in early March 2026. 2. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Image source: Xiaomi on YouTube The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is designed for photographers, content creators, and anyone who wants the absolute best in mobile imaging. It is also the first Ultra model to feature a flat display, which improves ergonomics without sacrificing screen quality. Despite housing a massive camera module, the phone measures just 8.29mm thick. The display is a 6.9-inch 2K LTPO AMOLED panel with peak brightness of 3,500 nits, a 120Hz refresh rate, and support for 68 billion colours. Inside, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is paired with a 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop cooling system that improves thermal conductivity by 50% compared to the previous generation. Memory goes up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of storage. The camera setup is what separates the 17 Ultra from everything else. It features a triple-camera array co-engineered with Leica, anchored by a 50MP Light Fusion 1050L primary shooter with a 1-inch-type sensor and next-generation LOFIC High Dynamic technology, delivering an industry-leading 16.5EV sensor dynamic range. The standout component is the 200MP periscope telephoto lens with continuous optical zoom from 75mm to 100mm (3.2x to 4.3x), capable of lossless 17.2x optical-level zoom and 26cm macro shots. The front camera shoots 4K at 120fps with Log support for professional video work. Battery capacity is 6,000mAh with 90W wired HyperCharge and 50W wireless HyperCharge. The phone supports 51 roaming bands across 210 countries and carries an IP69 rating for high-pressure water resistance. Pricing and availability The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is priced at €1,499 for the 512GB version and €1,699 for the 1TB model. In Nigeria, expect a price range of ₦2,200,000 to ₦2,600,000. That jump from its predecessor reflects both the global DRAM shortage and currency shifts. Colour options are Starlit Green, White, and Black, with availability starting in early March 2026. 3. Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi Image source: Xiaomi on YouTube One of the biggest surprises in Barcelona was the global launch of the Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. This is a special edition of the 17 Ultra built to mark 100 years of Leica, and it goes far beyond putting a logo on the back. Leica’s own optical engineers were directly involved in the hardware and industrial design, modelling it after the aesthetic of the Leica M-series cameras. The phone has a durable aluminium-alloy body with
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