A few weeks ago, we went to Tokyo, Japan for our honeymoon and just like in every other trip that we have, we borrowed a Cherry Roam 5G Pocket Wi-Fi and yes, it was convenient as this one gave us internet after the plane landed in Japan.
No-nonsense design
What I like about the Cherry Roam 5G is it packs a no-nonsense design. There’s a single button on the front and then there’s the 2.4” touchscreen display outside. There’s a USB-C port too for charging and also a Sim Card slot.
But for my trip to Japan, they used Cloud Sim and it was not really a problem at all for me as it was able to connect to a local network immediately. The body of the pocket wifi is thicker than I expected and it was actually a little bit tall but honestly, I didn’t had any problems with its portability.
All-day battery
One thing that is essential with our pocket wifi is the battery and I’m happy to tell you that the battery of the Cherry Roam 5G was able to last a full day of use on my usage in Tokyo, Japan but everyday, I made it sure that I bring a powerbank with me since the pocket WiFi exactly last up to a day of use with me.
If you’re planning it on using the next day without charging then you probably will run out of battery.
Cherry Roam 5G Experience at Tokyo
So we used the Cherry Roam 5G and it was impressive as I got a pretty good speeds around Tokyo. While I didn’t notice that we got a 5G signal in Tokyo, the 4G+ speed that we got is already enough as we’re getting speeds from around 20mbps up to 48mbps.
We also rented a Pocket WiFi at Narita Airport but we got almost the same speeds in and around Tokyo, Japan and sometimes in areas like Disneyland Tokyo, our connection was dropping on the rented pocket wifi in Japan. The Cherry Roam 5G was saving the day back then. I was actually getting a more consistent and hassle-free connection with Cherry Roam 5G
In our area in Asakusa-Ekimae, I got speeds of around 20-28mbps. Which isn’t bad as I was able to use it for some video calls and uploading on social media sites.
In the crowded Disneyland Tokyo, we were able to have a steady connection of up to 40mbps in the area. I was actually surprised because this was steady and consistent. As for the date, we have a 3GB of data for 7 days for Php750 pesos. Loading it was easy as you can do it on their website.
Verdict
While you may have a lot of options to connect to the internet while in Japan such as buying sim cards or renting a router, the Cherry Roam is something that you should take a look at as this will give you a hassle-free and swift experience once you’re there.
The data is also enough for me as I’ve been relying on our Hotel WiFi once we’re in our Hotel and again, loading it was easy as well. The speeds that were getting were also fast and what I really liked about it is that the connection didn’t dropped while I was in Disneyland Tokyo.
OnePlus has launched its latest smartphone, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, alongside the Nord Buds 2 wireless earbuds. With a slew of improvements from its predecessor, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G promises a “Larger than Life” experience by incorporating cutting-edge features, a stylish design, and a competitive price tag.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G boasts a 5000mAh battery, ideal for enduring long trips or intense gaming sessions, and supports 67W SuperVOOC fast charging that reaches 80% capacity in just 30 minutes. Its high-resolution 108MP camera features 3x lossless zoom, offering users the ability to capture vibrant, sharp, and lifelike images. The phone’s 6.72-inch FHD display delivers a smooth visual experience with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and 680 nits of peak brightness, while dual stereo speakers pump up the volume by up to 200%. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 695 chipset and 8GB RAM, allowing for swift app-switching and multitasking.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite & Nord Buds 2
Complementing the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G are the Nord Buds 2 wireless earbuds, which promise impactful bass and superior audio quality. Equipped with a 12.4mm driver unit, these earbuds deliver rich details and punchy bass, while the proprietary BassWave bass enhancement algorithm ensures deep, broad bass without compromising audio fidelity. The Nord Buds 2 also feature 25dB active noise cancellation and a dual-core processor, minimizing unwanted background noise.
Available for pre-order from April 21 to April 30, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G is priced at PHP 14,990 and comes in pastel lime and chromatic gray. The Nord Buds 2 retail for PHP 3,990 and are offered in lightning white and thunder gray. Both devices can be found in authorized OPPO and OnePlus stores nationwide, with in-store availability starting May 5.
Customers who pre-order the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G between April 21 and May 4 will receive a free OnePlus Bullets Wireless Earphone Z2. Online shoppers can purchase the devices through Lazada starting April 21, with a 45-day 0% interest installment option available via LazPayLater. The Nord CE 3 Lite 5G and Nord Buds 2 will also be available on Shopee beginning April 26, offering a 3-month 0% interest installment plan via SPayLater. Additionally, the Nord CE 3 Lite 5G can be purchased through Home Credit with easy installment options ranging from 6 to 18 months.
The mid-range segment is a popular tough segment as a lot of smartphones battle it out to be the best but in my opinion, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is the best smartphone in its price range. Why? Because it’s a balance of everything that we need on the smartphone. It packs the peformance that we need, a powerful camera, and also a beautiful display.
Powerful camera
One of the highlights of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is the camera. It’s also the biggest feature that set the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G apart from the Pro version. For the Pro+, it comes with a 200MP main camera with 1/1.4” HPX sensor.
Aside from that, it comes with an 8MP ultra-wide camera, 2MP macro camera and also a 16MP front-facing camera. By the numbers itself, we already know that the main camera of the smartphone is pretty impressive for its range. With the 200MP main camera of the smartphone and its pixel-binning capability, we can get sharper and better images. The low-light performance will be improved as well and also its zoom capabilities. If you’re curious, how about checking out some of the shots that we took using the smartphone.
So if you love taking photos and videos then you might want to consider the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G.
Fast Charging capability
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G comes with a 5000mAh battery which is decent enough for the smartphone with this hardware and size and it’s pretty common as well but what’s not common is the charging capabitilities of the smartphone.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G comes with the Xiaomi Surge P1 Chipset that handles battery health and efficiency and combined with that is the 120W HyperCharge, you can charge your smartphone in just a few minutes.
The charging speeds of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is currently the fastest we have seen in its price range.
Large AMOLED Display
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G also comes with a large display as well. To be specific, it comes with a 6.67-inch Full HD+ Flow AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 900 nits of brightness and DCI-P3 wide color gamut.
Basically, the smartphone’s display is also ready pretty large for watching movies and for playing games. The colors are great and the brightness of the smartphone was pretty good even at direct sunlight.
The touch response and also the refresh rate of the smartphone is also something to love as well so if you’re a gamer then you might want to check out this one and since this is a flat display, playing FPS and MOBA games is interrupted and way more comfortable.
Powerful processor
Genshin Impact on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
Inside the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Basically, the processor of the smartphone is powerful enough for a mid-ranger and it allows the 200MP photo capture on the smartphone. Opening a lot of apps and navigating thru the browser and social apps is a piece of cake.
And when it comes to gaming, we were able to play different games on the smartphone including Genshin Impact on the smartphone and we were even able to set it up to 60fps. Lighter games such as PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends would run on the game really fine.
Like what I’ve said earlier, the large Flat AMOLED Full HD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate will give you a vibrant, smooth, and responsive experience which is excellent for gaming. The speaker performance was good as well and in case you need wired headphones, the smartphone does come with a headphone jack.
Verdict
So overall, the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is definitely a strong competitor in its segment and possibly the king of midrange smartphones as the brand has balanced everything that we need on the midrange smartphone. It has a great display, ultrafast 120W HyperCharge, a 200MP main camera, and a decent processor inside. Whether you want a smartphone for every usage, photography or gaming, then the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G might be the right smartphone for you.
Price and Availability
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, together with the Redmi Note 12 4G and the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G, are available for pre-order from April 15 to 21, 2023. These phones also come with freebies and will be available in Xiaomi’s online and offline stores and on Shopee, Lazada, and their TikTok Shop.
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is priced at P21,999. Pre-orders come with Redmi Buds 3 Lite.
It’s not a perfect smartphone but it’s definitely enjoyable to use as your smartphone, a daily driver, and a tool that you can use for everyday needs. The OnePlus 11 5G is one of my favorite smartphones to date and it’s probably the best smartphone from the company in years. Today, we’ll check out the review of this smartphone.
Design and hardware
One of the changes that they’ve done to the OnePlus 11 5G is that the smartphone is more premium. There’s the combination of glass and a metal frame which is way better and more premium than the previous generation.
The ergonomics of the smartphone is great as well so holding it was really comfortable and it does have more weight which makes it more solid to hold. On the left is the volume rocker and on the right is where we can find the power button and on top of it is the switch, a feature that we love on the iPhone and older OnePlus devices. This switch lets you adjust between ring, vibration and silent.
Below the smartphone is the USB-C port and it does support up to 100W of fast charging via the SUPERVOOC Fast charging tech that we’ve seen on OPPO and realme smartphones. This charging tech of the smartphone makes it one of the fastest flagships out there that can charge from 0-100. In our experience, we got around 30 minutes to fully charge the smartphone from zero.
OnePlus is also boasting its dual speakers and yes, it was good and it does support Dolby Atmos but it’s definitely not the best one out there. But for a flagship smartphone, it’s great.
As for the battery life, we’ve been getting errors whenever we’re running PC Mark Work 2.0 Battery Test but in our real life usage of the smartphone,we were able to get a day and a half or even a two day battery depending on your usage. The combination of the hardware of the smartphone and also its processor played a big part on this one as we got here a REALLY GOOD battery life.
Sadly, wireless charging and also IP67 water and dust resistance is missing on the smartphone. Features that we probably want on a
Display
One of the things that they’ve upgraded on the smartphone is the display. We now have here a curved 2K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and boy, it was great. It’s not the brightest but it does really well for its price and also for a flagship smartphone.
It’s a 10-bit display and I’m loving the colors on the display of the smartphone combined with its UI that is really pleasing to the eye. There’s dynamic refresh rate as well which saves more battery on the smartphone.
Software and performance
One of the features that I love about the smartphone is that they’ve used a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor inside along with 12GB of RAM and also 256GB of internal storage.
As expected, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor performed really well. It might be the best processor that we’ve seen from Qualcomm in years as we got here an excellent compatibility with most apps and games, a really powerful performance, and also a really good and balanced handling of temperatures.
Geekbench 6
GPUScore: Sacred Path
GPUScore: The Expedition
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
First, any game that you plan to run on the smartphone will run really well thanks to the processor of the smartphone. I was able to run Genshin Impact, Ragnarok Origin, and even heavier emulators such as AetherSX2.
Second, we noticed that the smartphone was capable of playing games for heavy a longer time and still come out as warm and not too hot. This is common to most smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor inside.
As for the software, the OnePlus 11 comes with Oxygen OS 13 and it was clean, smooth, and very pleasing to the eye. It might not be as vanilla as the older Oxygen OS but this one takes the cake as everything was eye-candy and doesn’t have a heavily skinned UI and too many apps that distract the usability of the smartphone.
Camera
While the camera of the previous OnePlus doesn’t smartphones doesn’t really shine, well, the OnePlus 11 is different. The smartphone is now utilizing Hasselblad branding. Yes, that camera brand that is premium. Inside the smartphone is a 50MP main camera with IMX890 sensor, a 48MP ultra-wide camera with Sony IMX581 sensor and also a 32MP telephoto camera with IMX709 sensor. As for the selfie camera, the smartphone got a 16MP selfie camera.
The camera of the smartphone might not be the best flagship camera that we’ve seen but it definitely performed well in our daily use. Most of my shots whether it’s under low-light or under well-lit conditions, the OnePlus 11 performed just well. It isn’t the sharpest that we’ve seen on a flagship smartphone but it will do great.
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 1
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 2
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 3
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 4
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 5
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 6
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 7
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 8
OnePlus 11 5G Main camera 9
OnePlus 11 5G Ultrawide
OnePlus 11 5G Ultrawide 2
OnePlus 11 5G Ultrawide 3
For selfies, it’s good as well but not best not the best one. The telephoto lens isn’t as powerful as other flagships as well. But for some reason, I do love the color profiles that I got on the smartphone especially with the cooler tones of shots of the smartphone as it gives off a tone that is pleasing to the eye.
OnePlus 11 5G Selfie
OnePlus 11 5G Selfie 2
OnePlus 11 5G Selfie 3
Verdict
The OnePlus 11 is truly an excellent daily driver. The smartphone features a design that is premium and more solid, a powerful processor, a long battery life, and a camera that performs really well. The best part about it is that the smartphone does have a pretty reasonable price for a flagship smartphone.
It might look like a perfect smartphone but it does have some misses including the lack of wireless charging and also the lack of IP67 water and dust resistance. While it’s a flagship smartphone, it doesn’t have the best features in different aspects vs. other flagship smartphones but its price is really attractive.
Overall, it’s still a great daily driver despite the lack of some features. The price is attractive, the hardware is great, and every bits of it is enjoyable to use. If you’re the type of person who wants to have a powerful smartphone at a reasonable price and features that won’t fail you in your daily driver then the OnePlus 11 might be the right one for you.
Xiaomi has just officially launched the Xiaomi 13 Ultra and it wants to be the king in the camera phone track as the smartphone features FOUR 50MP main camera with variable apertures that goes from f1.9 up to f4.0.
This smartphone is done in collaboration with Leica and it comes with a large camera module at the back and they call it Leica Vario-Summicron 1:1.8-3.0/12-120 ASPH lens. The biggest feature that set this smartphone from most of the smartphones out there is the large sensor. It comes with a 1-inch IMX989 sensor for the main camera while the other three cameras uses the 50MP IMX858 sensor. While the front camera comes with a 32MP Selfie Camera.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra camera specs
Since this smartphone is made in collaboration with Leica, we can also expect some exclusive features including UltraRAW mode that lets you shoot photos with 14-bit DNG files and camera color science modes — Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant.
Xiaomi 13 ultra features
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra comes with a metal frame and also a leather back and just like most camera-focused smartphones, this one comes with a large circular camera module at the back that houses the different lenses of the smartphone.
Of course, it’s getting the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Processor inside with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM. As for the memory, it comes with up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. The display of the smartphone is a 6.73-inch 3200×1440 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate with 2600 nits of brightness so we’re confident that this one is really useful when shooting outside.
The smartphone also comes with 5000mAh battery inside and only up to 90W of wired charging and 50W Wireless Charigng support.
The Xiaomi 13 Ultra will come in Black, Olive Green, and White and it comes in the following variants and prices:
ASUS is set to unveil the ASUS ROG Ally globally. It’s the company’s device that aims to go ahead with the Steam Deck but unlike any other handhelds, the ASUS ROG Ally does come with a lot of unique features including a customized chipset.
The ASUS ROG Ally is expected to come with the custom AMD Ryzen Z1 processor according to the leak. It’s a game-changing collaboration between ASUS and AMD. This processor will be based on the Zen 4 architecture.
According to the leak, the ASUS ROG Ally will sport a sizeable Full HD AMOLED display, featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and a 7ms response time. This high-quality display, complemented by the power of the custom AMD Ryzen Z1 processor that is based on the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor.
ASUS ROG Ally
The ASUS ROG Ally is also rumored to include 16GB of LPDDR5 Dual-channel RAM coupled with 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD. It will also come with UHS-II MicroSD card slot, Dolby Atmos support and support for XG Mobile.
This gaming handheld with a weight of 608g will come with Windows 11 so apps like Steam, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Games, and EA Games won’t be a problem.
But the best part about it is the price as the ASUS ROG Ally is expected to come with an SRP of 30,000 Baht in Thailand which is around Php50,000 in our local currency.
realme has launched its latest AIOT product in the country, the Smart TV Neo 32″, alongside the realme C55. This device offers an exceptional viewing experience with a Premium Bezel-less LED Display, boasting a 95% screen-to-body ratio. The 20W Dual Speakers by Dolby Audio further enhance the audiovisual experience. Realme’s Chroma Boost Picture Engine ensures accurate color reproduction and benefits from high brightness levels.
The Smart TV Neo 32″ is powered by a 64-bit Smart Quad Core Processor, delivering exceptional picture quality and a seamless user experience. Notably, the device has a TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification, making extended viewing sessions more comfortable and reducing eye strain.
Starting April 20, the realme Smart TV Neo 32″ will be available at offline retail outlets in all realme Stores nationwide, priced at P7,999. The device will also be available on Lazada and Shopee during the 5.5 Double Digit Sale in May.
realme Philippines has launched the much-anticipated realme C55. The budget Android smartphone boasts a range of firsts for the realme brand, including the Mini Capsule feature and an 8GB+256GB storage option. The smartphone also features a 6.72-inch FHD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and 33W SUPERVOOC Charging.
realme C Launch Photo
realme C Launch PhotoThe realme C55 features a MediaTek Helio G88 processor, 64MP Dual Camera setup, 8MP punch-hole selfie camera, and a 5000mAh battery with 33W SUPERVOOC Charging. realme’s latest software algorithms enable Bokeh Flare Portrait and AI Color Portrait modes, along with Street Mode and dedicated filters.
realme fans can now purchase the C55 with an exclusive P1,000 discount on TikTok Shop, bringing the price down to P7,999 for the 6GB+128GB variant and P9,999 for the 8GB+256GB variant. Additional freebies worth up to P690 are available for purchases made by 11:30 PM on April 18.
Starting April 19, the realme C55 will be available on Lazada with free shipping and a P1,000 discount for both variants. From April 19 to 25, the realme e-store offers a 5% upfront discount and a free TechLife Power Bank worth P799 for both variants.
Offline realme stores and kiosks nationwide offer exclusive freebies from April 19 to 30, including a TechLife Power Bank for the 6GB+128GB variant and a TechLife Power Bank plus TechLife Buds Classic for the 8GB+256GB variant.
The realme C55 is available in two variants: 6GB+128GB for P8,999 and 8GB+256GB for P10,999.
In partnership with Home Credit Philippines, realme offers customers affordable installment plans for the C55, requiring just one valid ID for 0% interest and payable within up to 6 or 9 months.
Grab has launched new in-app travel features and partnerships to provide travelers with a safe, seamless, and hyperlocal experience as Southeast Asia embraces a travel comeback.
With the 1,706% increase in international tourist visits to Southeast Asia in 2022 compared to the previous year, Grab has also witnessed a steady rebound in traveler numbers. Rides to and from airports have grown 3x between January and December 2022, indicating the strong desire for travel within the region.
Southeast Asian travelers frequently travel within the region. Grab data shows that 40% of international travelers using Grab in the Philippines come from other Southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, the top Southeast Asian countries Philippine Grab users prefer going to are Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. North America, Australia, China, and South Korea are the top source markets for travelers using Grab regionally.
PHOTO RELEASE GrabUnlimited
GRAB LAUNCHES NEW IN-APP FEATURES
Grab has designed an enhanced travel experience to provide all travelers with the assurance and confidence to explore their destination by enabling them to plan, get a smooth ride when they arrive, and experience their destination like a local.
The new app enhancements include the following:
Traveller Homepage: To help travelers plan their trips, the new Traveller Homepage allows overseas travelers to explore a city within the Grab app as if they were at the destination. Available for 33 of the top cities tourists visit in Southeast Asia, users can check out the Grab services present in the city, search and save places of interest such as their accommodation address and landmarks they intend to visit ahead of time, and even explore the food options near their destination.
The Grab app is now available in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, providing a more intuitive experience for travelers from China, Korea, and Japan, key markets for international tourists visiting Southeast Asia.
Translated merchant menus: Grab is working on translating merchant menus in key cities across Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand into English to help travelers explore the best local flavors around them. Grab will also provide Chinese menu translations across key Indonesian cities to serve the wave of returning Chinese travelers. This feature will be available in H2 2023.
A revamped Venues experience: With the latest version of Venues, travelers can look at images of each pick-up point before selecting the one they want and get image-based turn-by-turn walking directions to guide them, even before they book their ride. The Venues feature is available at all major airports in Southeast Asia. It can also be used at over 4,000 locations across the region, such as malls, hotels, office buildings, parks, and more. It includes popular tourist attractions like the Singapore Zoo, the floating market in Pattaya, and the National Monument in Jakarta.
A currency converter feature that will automatically display fares in travelers’ preferred local currency will be available by H2 2023 so that they do not have to do manual conversions.
ACCESS GRAB THROUGH YOUR EXISTING APPS
For travelers who prefer not to download another app, Grab has partnered with some of the world’s most popular apps to provide them with options to access Grab’s ride-hailing services through platforms they already use and are familiar with. WeChat, AliPay, Ctrip, Kakao T, and Booking.com users can access Grab’s ride-hailing services across Southeast Asia through these apps. They can select their pick-up and drop-off point, see the full range of vehicle types available locally, with the estimated fare displayed in their home currency, and pay via their preferred payment method in those apps.
From Q2 2023, Uber users who open the app in Southeast Asia will also see a message directing them to Grab as Uber’s recommended travel route.
In support of the traveling revival, Grab has also announced a new exclusive offer to its GrabUnlimited subscription plan, giving subscribers access to discounted airport rides at 89 airports.
GRAB INTROS NEW OFFER
Additionally, Grab has announced a new exclusive offer for its GrabUnlimited subscription plan to support the traveling revival. Subscribers to the program can now enjoy discounted airport rides at 89 airports across Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, GrabUnlimited users can get up to 15% off airport rides to their intended destination. Filipino GrabUnlimited users can also access exclusive airport-ride discounts when traveling in other Southeast Asian countries. GrabUnlimited is free for the first month and renews at Php49 every month thereafter, making it an affordable and convenient option for avid Grab users.
What can you say about these new updates from Grab? Let us know what you think in the comment section!
OPPO has just slashed the price of the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G smartphone from Php 19,999 to an enticing Php 17,999. This powerful device features a 64MP AI Portrait Camera, 16MP Front Camera, and a variety of specialized lenses for unrivaled detail, creative bokeh effects, and stunning macro shots.
OPPO Reno Z in Dawnlight Gold
OPPO Reno8 Z 5G comes with a thickness of just 7.66mm and weighs a mere 181g. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G Mobile Platform, offering a smooth user experience for gaming, streaming, and audio.
OPPO Reno Z in Dawnlight Gold
There’s a 4500mAh battery with 33W SUPERVOOC flash charging technology that ensures users stay powered throughout the day. Battery optimization features like Super Power Saving Mode and Optimized Night Charging further enhance the device’s endurance.
The Reno8 Z 5G offers 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM. It’s now available for just Php 17,999 at OPPO brand stores, partner dealers, and e-commerce platforms such as Lazada, Shopee, and Tiktok.
