Huawei officially launched its newest foldable smartphone — the Mate Xs 2 — in the Philippines.
The new Huawei Mate Xs 2 offers an ultra-light, ultra-thin, ultra-flat, and ultra-reliable foldable phone that provides consumers with a premium mobile experience.
Looking great, Huawei dressed it in aesthetic design, featuring the brand’s first innovative 3D Fiberglass Design for more refined textures. This delivers a soft touch while reducing smudges from fingerprints. Moreover, the device is available in two colorways: Black, with a crosshatch leather texture, and White, with a natural leather texture.
The device flashes a 7.8-inch OLED display when unfolded, while it still has an immersive 6.5-inch screen when folded. It also comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring that users can run heavy graphics on the phone smoothly.
Under the hood, it sports a Snapdragon 888 processor with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. The device also packs a 4,880mAh battery with a 66W fast charging solution.
Consumers can get the Huawei Mate Xs 2 (8GB + 512GB) for Php99,999 on Huawei Online Store, Lazada, and Shopee.
Looks like the ASUS Zenfone 9 is coming soon as the official product video has leaked and it shows the different main features of the smartphone including the 5.9-inch Samsung AMOLED 120Hz display and also the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor and also the 50MP main camera with Sony IMX766 sensor inside.
The smartphone comes with a large camera at the back which is common to most flagship smartphones these days but this smartphone comes with a Gimbal Module to give you a smoother and more stabilized shots on the smartphone. There’s a 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer as well.
There’s the 4300mAh battery as well which is decent for its size and then there’s the ZenTouch as well which is a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and can also be use for scrolling webpages. And despite the size, the smartphone still comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack
Other features that are shown in the video includes the Smart Backpack Mount which is meant for those people who are always active and can take videos while mounted on your backpack and it also supports the CONNEX Phone Case that comes with a kickstand or card holder. Lastly, the smartphone is also IP68 water and dust resistant for active users as well.
No details has been unveiled aside from those features but these features makes the ASUS Zenfone 9 unique and exciting.
Another smartphone series from realme is arriving to the country and this time, it’s the realme Narzo 50 5G series. Obviously, both smartphones will rock 5G inside and both smartphones will come with a decent MediaTek processor inside which not only enables you to have 5G connectivity but also have a decent performance inside.
realme Narzo 50 5G Specs
MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G processor
6.6-inch Full HD IPS Display, 90Hz refresh rate
6GB RAM + 5GB Dynamic RAM
128GB Internal storage with microSD card storage
48MP main camera + 2MP depth camera
8MP Selfie camera
5G, LTE
Side fingerprint scanner
33W Fast Charging
5000mAh battery
realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12
Hyper Blue and Hyper Black
realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G Specs
MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G processor
6.4-inch Super AMOLED Display, 90Hz refresh rate
8GB RAM + 5GB Dynamic RAM
128GB Internal storage
48MP main camera + 8MP Ultra Wide-angle + 2MP macro camera
8MP Ultrawide camera
5G, LTE
In-display fingerprint scanner
33W Fast Charging
5000mAh battery
realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12
Hyper Blue and Hyper Black
The realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G comes with a more powerful processor inside thanks to the Dimensity 920 chipset inside and it also has an in-display fingerprint that can also be used for a heart rate sensor which is pretty cool.
While the realme Narzo 50 5G comes with Dimensity 810 processor and it might not be as fast as the Dimensity 920, it is still decent enough for most usage.
The realme Narzo 50 5G series is launching this July 14
PLDT Home announced its partnership with Google, joining forces to launch a kid-oriented video series online.
Entitled “Be Internet Awesome,” the online series aims to educate Filipino kids and families about internet safety and digital responsibility. The series also combines animation and live action, making it more appealing to children.
Meanwhile, the series features Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto. They will join viewers in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on being intelligent, alert, strong, kind, and brave online.
The series is based on the values of Google’s Be Internet Awesome global program and is directed by Manny Angeles, an award-winning director, and producer of kid-oriented and animated shows.
The series will be available in both English and Filipino. For Google, this will help them reach more viewers and educate them about the online environment.
To watch the Be Internet Awesome online series, head to the PLDT Home YouTube channel, where it will premiere on July 8.
Lenovo launched all-new additions to its desktop and laptop portfolio, addressing the needs of next-generation small and medium businesses (SMBs).
The new ThinkSeries Laptops and Desktops include the ThinkCentre Neo, ThinkPad X1 Carbon, and ThinkBook 14S Yoga.
ThinkCentre Neo
The new ThinkCentre Neo flaunts a stylish and minimalist design. It also comes with ThinkShield, ensuring that the devices are secure and sustainable. Meanwhile, ThinkCentre Neo has four models ThinkCentre 50s, ThinkCentre 50t, ThinkCentre Neo 30a 22, and ThinkCentre 30a 24. All variants packed 12th Gen Intel Core processors.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon is powered by Intel vPro with 12th Gen Intel Core processors. Perfect for hybrid workers, the device offers higher levels of performance, better camera and audio capabilities, and security features.
It can also last up to 15 hours.
ThinkBook 14S Yoga
Lenovo equipped the ThinkBook 14S Yoga with smart, innovative technologies and high-performance features. The device delivers the combination of 12th Gen Intel Core processors, up to Windows 11 Pro, fast SSD storage, Intel Thunderbolt 4, and Intel Wi-Fi 6E.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The Lenovo ThinkCentre Neo 50s and 50t are available starting in July, while the ThinkCentre Neo 30a 22, Neo 30a 24, ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen10, and ThinkBook 14S Yoga will be available in August.
Here are the pricing details:
ThinkCentre Neo 50s
SRP: Php50,999
ThinkCentre Neo 50t
SRP: Php46,799
ThinkCentre Neo 30a 22
SRP: Php52,499
ThinkCentre Neo 30a 24
SRP: Php61,699
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen10
SRP: Php128,999
ThinkBook 14S Yoga
SRP: Php40,800
So, are you getting one? Share your thoughts with us!
If yes, you must have heard a couple of myths about planting. With this, CHERRY shared the top three things you might have encountered but should NOT believe.
Putting gravel in pots helps in drainage
Contrary to common belief, gravel doesn’t actually improve drainage. In fact, the roots would only have to suffer through exposure to waterlogged soil, which isn’t exactly healthy for your plants. So instead of adding an extra layer of rocks, you can use paper towel to prevent soil from coming out of your pot’s drainage hole.
Yellow leaves are a sign of overwatering
Leaves turn yellow for several reasons, including not watering your plant enough, overexposure to sunlight, and temperature changes. It is important not to immediately rule out the possible causes so you can adequately address the problem and bring back your plant’s healthy and vibrant color.
Wilting plants need to be watered
Before you drown your poor plant, try to assess the condition of the soil first. If the soil is relatively moist, your plant must be wilting for other reasons like pests or indecent exposure to sunlight.
INTRODUCING THE CHERRY HOME SMART HYDROPONIC PLANT BOX
The new Cherry Home Smart Hydroponic Plant Box allows plantitos and plantitas to look over their seedlings through the Cherry Home app. Then, the device does all the work for them.
Cherry equipped it with LED lights that function as alternative sunlight with three light levels—morning, afternoon, and sundown. Meanwhile, it also has built-in water and pumps to keep your plants adequately hydrated. Both features can be scheduled through the application. If you’ve been too busy to check on your plants, you can assure that they’d still be grown in a fitting environment as this product is outfitted with advanced water-level, temperature, and humidity sensors.
The new Cherry Home Smart Hydroponic Plant Box is available at a discounted price of just Php6,399.20 from Php7,999. Promo runs until August 31.
So, are you getting one?
Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
realme has finally launched their follow up to the realme number series and this time, we now have two smartphones in the realme 9 Pro series and we’re gonna review one of them – the realme 9 Pro. The smartphone brings a lot of new improvements compared to the previous generation and yes, we now have a brand new processor for the smartphone.
realme 9 Pro Review: Design and hardware
First, the design of the smartphone is new but the design language seems familiar. First, there’s the light shift design on the smartphone, a feature we’ve seen before on other realme smartphones and yes, it does attract some fingerprints since this one is glossy. This design actually reminds me of the realme 6 and the realme 7 series.
The light shift design on the smartphone is cleaner and better but it’s only present on the Sunrise Blue version of the smartphone. The one that we got comes in Aurora Green and I love the glittery look along with the aurora feel at the back of the smartphone. It isn’t the most premium feel on the smartphone but it’s definitely clear that this one feels good to the hand and it’s very ergonomic to the hand. Nonetheless, you would probably use the included jelly case with the smartphone.
As for the ports, the smartphone only comes with a USB-C port which is what we expect already and no, there’s headphone jack on the smartphone so you can still use your handy dandy headphones with you.
For the fingerprint scanner, the realme 9 Pro comes with a side-fingerprint scanner and it’s pretty fast whenever I use it.
realme 9 Pro Review: Display
The smartphone is sporting a 6.6-inch IPS display and this display will come with a 120Hz refresh rate so it gives us a smoother experience however, games won’t be able to maximize its refresh rate.
The display of the realme 9 Pro offers bright and vivid colors on the smartphone and even when using the smartphone outside won’t be a problem at all. There are slight bezels on the sides but there’s a noticeable one on the chin of the smartphone. But it’s still below the realme 9 Pro+ in terms of quality.
realme 9 Pro Review: Battery life
When it comes to the battery life, the realme 9 Pro didn’t disappoint just like its brothers and sisters. There’s a 5000mAh battery inside and boy, the smartphone can last really long as my usage can last up to a day and a half on the smartphone and in our PC Mark Work 2.0 Battery Test, we managed to get a score of 19 hours and 15 minutes which is pretty good.
As for the charging, the smartphone supports 33W charging so charging the smartphone is really fast even if you forgot to charge the smartphone overnight, that won’t be a problem anymore. It would be better if the smartphone had a 60W fast charging just like its brother
realme 9 Pro Review: Software and performance
For the software of the smartphone, it still runs on realme UI 3.0 based on Android 12, and honestly, I don’t have any problems with it as the software of the smartphone is smooth and the UI of the smartphone is really user-friendly and easy to the eye. But of course, it still comes with some bloatwares but it’s not really that annoying as you can uninstall some of them. Combined with that is the 120Hz refresh rate on the IPS display which gives a smoother experience on the smartphone.
As for the performance, the smartphone is running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor which is just new but it performs really well. There’s 5G inside and sometimes, I was getting up to 300MBps speeds at hotspot locations.
The performance is very different from the Pro+ brother and I find this one a little bit lacking. For the benchmarks, we’re getting pretty good performance here. Check out the benchmarks that I got on the smartphone
When it comes to gaming, any game that I run on the smartphone, runs pretty well but of course, don’t expect the best performance on the smartphone. Games like Mobile Legends won’t be a problem on the smartphone however with PUBG Mobile,
Overall, the performance of the realme 9 Pro is what we can expect from its hardware. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 performed just fine for basic and light games but it’s not as powerful as the MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor on the realme 9 Pro+
realme 9 Pro Review: Camera
For the camera of the realme 9 Pro, it comes with a 64MP Main camera along with 8MP ultra wide-angle lens and also a 2MP macro lens. In our test, the camera of this smartphone is also a farcry from its bigger brother. One of the possible reasons is the different processor which gives us a different post-processing in our photos.
While we find some of the shots produce just the right colors, some of them are softer for its price range and it does lack a little contrast in some of our shots. The dynamic range of the smartphone needs some improvement as well however in night shots, it was better and they’re brighter and more vivid. Check out some of the shots that we took using the smartphone:
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realme 9 Pro Review: Verdict
The realme 9 Pro is definitely an attractive smartphone in terms of aesthetics thanks to its light shift design. The looks might be the same with the realme 9 Pro+ but the performance of this one is way different along with its camera. The performance of this one might be slower but it’s still decent enough for modern games and light tasks so no problems on that one. Despite the misses with its camera, the realme 9 Pro did perform well on our night shots.
The vivo X80 Pro is the newest flagship smartphone from the company and it packs a lot of features including ZEISS camera, flagship hardware inside, and a sexy design. The smartphone also introduces a lot of new features including ZEISS T* coating standards, ZEISS filters, V1+ chip, and more. And today, we’re gonna review the vivo X80 Pro.
vivo X80 Pro Review: Design and hardware
The vivo X80 Pro features the best materials and feel for all of the vivo smartphones that we’ve ever reviewed. Actually, it’s one of my favorites in terms of the design and quality because of how solid the build is along with its premium design.
For the back, there’s the glass back with a matte look and thankfully, it doesn’t attract a lot of fingerprints thankfully so it’s a plus for me then there’s the protruding camera module which is abnormally large but the design of it just looks fine for me.
The ergonomics of the smartphone are fine as well as the curves are perfect for my hands despite the large footprint of the smartphone. The vivo X80 Pro also comes with weight but again, the curves does help in making it still ergonomic.
For the ports, the smartphone comes with a USB-C port and it does support the 80W FlashCharge wired charging along with 50W Wireless FlashCharge. The smartphone also comes with a power button and also a volume rocker on the side.
As for the speaker, the vivo X80 Pro comes with a large and pretty good speaker so listening to it with Spotify or just watching movies via Netflix is just fun on the vivo X80 Pro.
vivo X80 Pro Review: Battery
For the battery of the smartphone, it comes with a 4700mAh battery inside and again, it does come with fast charging. Surprisingly, the battery of the smartphone did pretty well as we got a high score in PCMark Work 2.0 Battery test as we got here a score of 11 hours and 58 minutes. One of the best that we’ve seen with this processor.
vivo X80 Pro Review: Display
One of the strengths of the smartphone is its display as this one packs a large 6.78-inch display with a WQHD+ resolution and an AMOLED panel and for the refresh rate, there’s the 120Hz as well. It comes with curved edges which is why the smartphone does have a near bezel-less look on the side.
Thanks to its resolution, looking at the display is really fine and easy to the eyes. I love how sharp the display is thanks to its resolution and I also love how bright it is even at under direct sunlight. The vivo X80 Pro’s display isn’t the best that we’ve seen on the market but it’s definitely one of my favorites as this one has bright and vivid colors and it’s very sharp as well.
vivo X80 Pro Review: Software and performance
The smartphone that comes with FunTouch OS 12 is based on Android 12 and honestly, I still find it easy to use but they need some reword with their notifications as I find it too cluttered nonetheless, it’s not really a big issue for me.
As for the performance, the smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Processor along with 12GB of RAM that can be extended up to 16GB by getting some of the memory from the internal storage, and actually, I didn’t have any problems with its performance despite playing longer hours on the smartphone. For our benchmarks, we got decent scores on the smartphone:
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When it comes to gaming, I’ve been playing Genshin Impact on the smartphone at the highest settings possible and it does get warm after a few minutes of playing but overall, it doesn’t overheat and vivo did a great job with its thermal and I was still using the case included on the smartphone and the heat was very manageable on the smartphone.
vivo X80 Pro Review: Camera
The camera is the biggest thing about the smartphone and yes, the vivo X80 Pro is definitely one of the best this year in terms of camera. Actually, it might be the best one as we got here smartphone lenses co-engineered by ZEISS. Some of you might think that this one is a gimmick but no, actually, the camera quality of the smartphone is just excellent.
First, let’s discuss the unique features of the camera of the vivo X80 Pro. The ZEISS T* coating standards on the vivo X80 Pro are probably one of the biggest underrated features of the smartphone. I really noticed that I have less glare and light flares with my shots at night and the Super Night Shots that I got on the smartphone were great.
The ZEISS portrait filters give you a brief experience of the ZEISS lenses but my favorite one is the ZEISS Cinematic Video in where you can get wider shots on the smartphone with bokeh effects. You can also record in 24fps which will give us a more cinematic feel on the videos.
For our shots, we’ve noticed that the customized Samsung GNV Sensor on the smartphone perform really well. The shots that we got are awesome and even without the portrait mode, the natural bokeh on the smartphone was still excellent and the shots that we got are sharp and the colors of the smartphone were great as well.
As for the AI processing, I’ve noticed that the smartphone tends to rely on post-processing in most of my shots and it has definitely improved the shots that I got on the smartphone. Initially, most of the headshots were a miss in terms of post-process by the AI of the smartphone but after a few updates on the smartphone, I’ve noticed that vivo X80 Pro has improved and it looks more natural than before. If you are curious with the quality of the shots that we got, check out the shots that we took using the vivo X80 Pro:
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Verdict
The vivo X80 Pro has become one of my favorite smartphones this year thanks to the powerful hardware inside the smartphone also the camera that sets the barrier even higher in mobile photography. The design of the smartphone you can also look up to as this one features solid materials and curves except for the large protruding camera module at the back of the smartphone.
If you are confused about which flagship smartphone you should get next time, the vivo X80 Pro is for people who want to have the best Android smartphone in terms of photography and videography. The ZEISS features of the smartphone is something that you would definitely love and thanks to its sensor, the vivo X80 Pro performed really well in terms of camera.
So if you want to get one, the vivo X80 Pro is on the pricier side at Php59,999.
LG recently launched its new lineup of monitors, providing Filipino consumers with flexible workstations and new-generation gaming standards.
The new monitors include the LG UltraGear 32GQ950 OLED, 48GQ900 OLED, LG Dual Up 28MQ780-B, 29WP500-B, LG UtraGear 32GN500, 27UP850-W, and 27UN880-B.
Meanwhile, the launch was graced by the country’s gamers, creatives, and content creators to share which new LG monitor suits their needs.
LG ULTRAGEAR 32GQ950 OLED
Actor, TV Host, and #FitGamer Eric “Eruption” Tai shared his immersive race car gaming setup using the LG UltraGear 32GQ950 OLED. He said he enjoyed its contrast, bright whites and deep, dark blacks. It also provides him with an immersive gaming experience and impressive connectivity, such as having HDMI 2.1.
Meanwhile, Jane Pactoranan — a business development manager — joined Eruption as she explained why the LG UtraGear 32GQ950 OLED is her choice.
The device has a 4K resolution, 32-inch Nano IPS display, and a 144Hz refresh rate. It also has a VESA-certified DisplayHDR 1,000, meaning it should offer a dynamic contrast with brighter whites and deeper blacks and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness.
LG 48GQ900 OLED
PBA star LA Tenorio also graced the event, sharing that his top pick is the LG 48GQ900 OLED monitor.
The device boasts an immersive display with a quick response time. In fact, it sports a 0.1 ms response time and 120hz speed. It can even be overclocked to 138Hz, reducing ghosting in games and helping objects render clearly.
In addition, the monitor also comes with its own remote control, two 20w built-in speakers, 4-pole headphone, and a virtual 3D surround sound.
LG DUAL UP 28MQ780-B
Music and Lifestyle photographer Magic Liwanag claimed that the LG Dual Up 28MQ780-B is perfect for creatives. The device sports a 16:18 screen, which users can move forward or backward, swiveling, rotating, tilting, and more.
In addition, it offers DCI-P3 98%—an elevated color spectrum that brings brilliant color to life and doesn’t hurt your eyes because of the ambient light sensor.
29WP500-B
Meanwhile, gaming content creator Myrtle Sarrosa chose the 29WP500-B because it performs smoothly for work and gaming. Sporting a 29-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio, it enables users to work with reports at a glance with datasheets and slides side by side without repeat Alt-tabbing.
The device also comes with AMD Free Sync and Dynamic Action Sync, which helps gamers by providing seamless, fluid movement in hi-resolution and fast-paced games. It virtually reduces screen tearing and stuttering, too.
LG ULTRAGEAR 32GN500
Meanwhile, Gab Valenciano highlighted why the UltraGear 32GN500 is the perfect monitor for him. The device has a 165Hz refresh rate and 1m MBR, delivering smoother gameplay, and reducing blur and ghosting. It also packs NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium for more precise, smoother, faster movement.
LG 27UP850-W and 27UN880-B
Moving on, content creator Vikka Francisco of The Modern Creatures favored the 27UP850-W monitor as it sports a 27-inch UHD 4K IPS display. On the other hand, Isa Rodriguez of Isa Does and the LITT website shared she chose the 27UN880-B 27” UHD 4K Ergo IPS Monitor for its efficient workspace setup.
The LG 2022 monitors are now available in your favorite authorized retailers and LG’s official flagship stores in Lazada and Shopee.
ASUS has finally launched their newest gaming smartphone, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 series. As we all expect, the smartphone will come with some features that are a must-have for gamers including the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor inside along with a 165Hz refresh rate.
ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro
The ROG Phone 6 series comes in two variants — the ROG Phone 6 and the ROG Phone 6 Pro with a processor that can go up to 3.2GHz CPU clock speeds, up to 18GB LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512GB of storage. There’s an upgraded GameCool 6 cooling system as well that features a novel 360-degree CPU cooling technology to give you a better and more optimized performance for its cooling. Other specifications include a 6000mAh battery and also a 65W HyperCharge
50MP IMX766 Main camera + 13MP ultra-wide + macro camera
12MP IMX663 front-facing camera
GameCool 6 Cooling System
IPX4 Splash Resistance
WiFi 6E, NFC, BT 5.2
65W Wired Charging
6000mAh battery
Android 12
The ASUS ROG Phone 6 and ROG Phone 6 Pro’s main difference is the design as the ROG Phone 6 only comes with the ROG logo at the back and it only comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM while the ROG Phone 6 Pro comes with an up to 18GB LPDDR5 RAM and also the ROG vision at the back, a mini-display which adds to the flair of the smartphone.
ASUS ROG Phone 6
Of course, the ASUS ROG Phone 6 series will come with the accessories including the AeroActive Cooler 6, the ROG Kunai 3 Gamepad, ROG Phone 6 Glass Screen Protector, cases, and more.
The ASUS ROG Phone 6 series will be launching soon in the Philippines and it will be available soon.
