PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) rolled out the Philippines’ first carbon fiber cell site towers on urban rooftops to strengthen their network.
Known for being over 10x lighter than steel towers, IsoTruss carbon fiber towers are compliant with the National Building Code and are much easier to transport and install. It also requires almost no maintenance as this cutting-edge tower is made of non-corrosive materials.
With this, carbon fiber towers are ideal to be deployed on rooftops and coastal sites for they have a good impact on the environment. In fact, it contributes less carbon dioxide and occupies less land area.
BEEFING UP PLDT AND SMART’S NETWORK ROLLOUT
PLDT and Smart, on the other hand, explained that this will beef up their LTE and 5G rollout, especially in key areas where the demand for their network expansion is skyrocketing. These technologies also require lighter tower solutions that can support equipment, while still operating at full capacity.
This carbon fiber tower rollout is a part of PLDT and Smart’s effort to expand their network across the country. Currently, Smart’s mobile network covers 96% of the population, ranging from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.
Meanwhile, PLDT’s fiber infrastructure is the country’s most extensive at more than 478,000 kilometers as of end-March 2021.
In case you missed it, realme Philippines has once again proved its dominance in the local market, as it achieved record-breaking first-day sales for the realme 8 series on May 22.
Recently named as the biggest mobile brand in the Philippines for Q1 2021, realme was able to sell over 26,000 units during its first day of availability. This came as no surprise, as it gathered a huge number of pre-orders since it was officially revealed to the public via a special livestream, featuring Kathryn Bernardo on May 11.
Nevertheless, the success of the new series is still attributed to its powerful specs and trendy features, which are perfect for its target market.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The realme 8 Series is available nationwide. The realme 8 is priced at Php13,990, while the realme 8 Pro sells for Php15,990.
Meanwhile, the series is also available via Home Credit at up to 9-month installment plans, at 0 % interest. Installment plans for major credit cards are also available.
Are you a PLDT Home subscriber? If yes, then, you’re in for a treat!
PLDT Home recently announced its newly improved loyalty program, allowing subscribers to enjoy exciting rewards, get bill rebates, earn raffle entries, and avail of exclusive deals and discounts.
HOW TO ENJOY THE PLDT HOME LOYALTY PROGRAM
Go to the MVP rewards website at mvprewards.ph/signup
Download the MWP Rewards mobile app
Click the sign-up button and fill out the required details
Register, accept and continue
Link your PLDT account and encode the required details
You can enroll up to five (5) accounts
HOW TO EARN PLDT HOME CRYSTALS
20 crystals for every PLDT Home account enrolled
1 crystal for every Php250 spent
20 crystals for enrolling your PLDT account to auto-charge
20 crystals if you go green and enroll your account in paperless billing
20 crystals if you buy any PLDT Home gadget or avail of any value-added services, like a Cignal subscription
Up to 50 crystals for getting a higher plan or migrating your line to another technology, such as DSL to fiber
5 crystals for payments made via the accepted channels
To redeem, simply go to the MWP Rewards Homepage, click Redeem and choose the PLDT Home logo. These points can be used to avail of deals and discounts from Shopee, Nike Park, Planet Sports, Din Tai Fung, Gong Cha, National Bookstore, and more.
Good news, isn’t it?
Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
Acer announced its latest additions to its gaming portfolio, including the new Predator notebooks and a new 5G CPE router.
Intending to elevate users’ gaming experience, Acer packed the new devices with powerful specs and trendy features to deliver impressive performance even when running heavy games with the most demanding requirements.
PREDATOR TRITON 500 SE GAMING NOTEBOOK
Designed for gamers who need a device that can work best for gaming and work, the Predator Triton 500 SE can be packed by up to an 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and up to 64GB of 3200MHz DDR4 memory. With these specs, users can be confident that it can smoothly run multiple tasks at once or handle heavy games.
The device can also be loaded with up to 4TB of high-speed PCIe Gen4 storage, allowing users to house several apps and files, whether they are for gaming or productivity.
Other notable features include its 16-inch display, a 165Hz WQXGA mini-LED panel, and a battery that can last up to 12 hours.
Moreover, it features the brand’s Vortex Flow cooling design, which includes a triple-fan cooling system.
PREDATOR HELIOS 500 GAMING NOTEBOOK
Compared to the new Triton 500 SE gaming notebook, this machine has a larger 17.3-inch Helios 500 screen with a 4K mini-LED 120Hz display. Meanwhile, the same specs will be found inside, including the 11th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and up to 64GB of 3200MHz DDR4 memory.
Other notable features include its premium cooling technology, as well.
PREDATOR CONNECT X5 5G CPE ROUTER
This router is the first Intel Killer-compatible 5G CPE that can provide 5G connectivity at up to 4.7Gbps. It can connect to 256 devices through its Wi-Fi 6 capabilities.
It also enables users to fine-tune their data downlink and uplink speeds, based on their preferences. It can intelligently detect and adjust optimal prioritization settings to deliver a better experience when playing games, opening apps, or browsing the net.
The Predator Connect X5 5G CPE router is powered by a 2GHz quad-core ARM Cortex processor with 1GB DDRB and 1GB flash memory.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
Acer announced that the exact specifications of Predator Triton 500 SE gaming notebook, Predator Helios 500 gaming notebook, new 5G router, and more will vary by region.
Vivo has recently launched the vivo V21 5G and the V21e in the Philippines and consumers may now pre-order them from June 1 to June 4, 2021. Each pre-order is bundled with freebies including Bluetooth speaker, earbuds, and a screen warranty.
The vivo V21 5G is the thinnest 5G-capable selfie phone in the market and it’s priced at Php23,999 and it will be bundled by premium-grade Bluetooth speaker and a 6-month screen warranty that is valued at Php4999. You can check out their full features here: https://www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/vivo-V21-5g/.
While the vivo V21e is retailing for only Php17,999 and when pre-ordered, it comes with a Bluetooth-enabled TWS earbuds and 6 months screen warranty with a total freebie value of Php3,499. You can check out their full features here: https://www.vivoglobal.ph/phone/vivo-V21-5g/.
If you want to-pre-order, customers only have to visit their favorite vivo dealer stores nationwide and pay Php500 in downpayment.
The vivo V21 series is taking photography into a whole new level with its expert-grade camera features. The vivo V21 5G comes in two colors – Sunset Dazzle and Dusk Blue. It also features a 7.29mm thickness which is the thinnest 5G capable smartphone in the market right now. The smartphone series also features a 44MP OIS Selfie camera and 64MP OIS night rear camera and it has Dual Selfie Spotlight, Dual-View Video, and Ultra Stable Selfie Video. For the hardware, the smartphone comes with Dimensity 800U 5G processor, 8GB + 3GB Extended RAM, and 90Hz refresh rate.
While the vivo V21e comes in two different colors – Roman Black and Diamond Flare. The smartphone comes in 7.38mm only and it has a 44MP Eye Autofocus Self Portrait and 64MP Night Camera. It also comes with Super night selfie, Dual-View videos, and motion autofocus. The smartphone uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, 8GB+3GB Extended RAM and 33W FlashCharge technology.
Beginning June 5, the vivo V21 series will be available in select vivo stores and you can get the vivo V21e for Php1000 off on its first week from June 1 to June 15 and you can get it for only Php16,999 down from Php17,999.
One of the most awaited affordable smartphones has arrived in the country and it’s the POCO M3 Pro 5G. The smartphone comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor and also a 5G Dual SIM support with a 90Hz refresh rate.
The POCO M3 Pro 5G features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ Display with a 1080p resolution and also a 90Hz refresh rate which gives you smooth navigation on the smartphone. For the camera, the smartphone supports 48MP main camera along with 2MP macro camera and 2MP depth sensor.
For the battery, the smartphone comes with 5000mAH battery and 18W fast charging support but the smartphone comes with a better 22.5W charger. But the main attraction on the smartphone is the pricing as the POCO M3 Pro 5G comes with an affordable pricing
Poco M3 Pro 5G Specs
6.5-inch Full HD+ IPS, 90 Hz display
MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G processor
4GB/6GB RAM LPDDR4x
64GB/128GB RAM
48MP main camera + 2MP macro camera + 2MP depth camera
8MP selfie camera
LTE, 5G
Side-mounted fingerprint camera
22.5W in-box charger
5000mAh battery
MIUI 12 based on Android 11
For the pricing, the smartphone will come in two variants — 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB. These variants are priced at Php8,990 and Php11,990 respectively and it will be available this June 3 via official channels.
Both smartphones will also come with an early bird price of Php7,490 and Php9,490 respectively from June 3 to 4, and June 6 via Lazada.
Last year, Samsung has announced that they’ll be bringing AMD’s graphics technology to their smartphones soon, and finally, Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, has announced that their RDNA2 GPU is coming to the Exynos Chip later this year.
With this technology, we’ll be seeing features like ray tracing, variable rate shading, and of course, better power efficiency. The RDNA2 architecture from AMD is also used in AMD Radeon RX 6000 Graphics that we can see on the desktops and laptops. This is also the same architecture that was used for PS5 and the Xbox Series S and Series X.
Earlier this year, Samsung has unveiled the Exynos 2100 which is a leap in performance compared to the previous generation as the processor now uses Cortex-X1 cores instead of their Mongoose cores. On our gaming review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G with Exynos 2100 inside, we saw a big improvement in performance and gaming.
The Galaxy M-series is the online-exclusive line-up of Samsung known to provide value and affordability to its customers. Two M-series smartphones are set to launch on Lazada’s 6.6 Mid-Year Sale. First on the line is the Galaxy M12 priced at P7,490. It comes with a quad rear camera system with a 48MP main camera, a 5,000mAh battery with 15W Fast Charging, and a 6.5-inch display. It will be available in black, blue, and green variants.
Next is the more affordable Galaxy M02 that comes with a dual rear camera system with a 13MP main camera, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 6.5-inch display. The said device will be available in black, blue, and grey color and will have an SRP of P4,490.
In celebration of Lazada’s 6.6 Mid-Year sale, Samsung will also offer discounts and bundles on the following devices: Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G – P26,000 off
Galaxy A32 5G – P2,000 off and free Galaxy A32 Smart S View Wallet Cover (anti-microbial) in white worth P1,899
Galaxy Watch3 41mm (Gold/Silver) or 45mm Stainless Steel (Black) – 50% off
After weeks of teasing, the vivo V21 is here and it’s the world’s first smartphone to sport a 44MP Optical Image Stabilization for its front camera and it will be bringing a stylish design that is appealing to the young generation.
Other cool features from the smartphone include 90Hz refresh rate for the display and also a 64MP rear camera that performs really well. The vivo V21 only weighs 176g and it features an anti-glare matte glass design that is scratch resistant and fingerprint-free but of course, it will still give you an ergonomic grip on the smartphone.
There’s optical image stabilization on the front camera of the smartphone so you’ll be sure that you can get a brighter photo when you shoot in low light. While for those who love to vlog, the smartphone also comes with a dual-view video in where you can record two videos at the same time using the front and rear camera of the smartphone.
Finally, we can also see 5G in its 5G models of smartphones and it aims to bring faster upload and download speeds on the smartphone along with faster video streaming, real-time game interactivity, and more. The V21 also allows you to extend your RAM by 8GB RAM + 3GB extended, on top of the 128GB internal storage of the smartphone. For the battery, the vivo V21 supports 4000mAh battery giving you long-lasting power on the smartphone.
The vivo V21 5G is priced at Php23,999 while the vivo V21e 4G is priced at Php17,999. You may now pre-order the smartphones from June 1 to 4. Availability of the smartphones in Lazada, Shopee, and at all vivo stores nationwide will be on June 5.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is the latest flagship smartphone of the company and it packs the latest and most powerful hardware that you can find on a smartphone including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset inside and also the amazing 108MP main camera of the smartphone. But the best part about the smartphone is not just the hardware but also its price.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Design and hardware
When it comes to design, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is really premium to look at and of course the materials that are used on the smartphone was really fine especially for a flagship smartphone and it might be slippery but you would probably use a case on this smartphone since this is a flagship one.
It has a matte glass back which is why the smartphone feels premium but also has less fingerprints and also smudges at the back of the smartphone. There’s the protruding square camera module at the back too which highlights the camera of the smartphone and it actually reminds me of the iPhone 11.
You can also see the USB Type C port and also the speaker grill at the bottom of the smartphone but a surprise for me is that the smartphone includes an IR blaster so you can use the Xiaomi Mi 11 as a remote to your devices and appliances.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Display
The Xiaomi Mi 11 features a QHD+ 6.81-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The numbers are great and it’s perfect for a flagship smartphone. It also comes with a 10 bit panel which is why the display of the smartphone is bright and the colors that we’re getting in here are great.
For the refresh rate, you have to manually choose between 60Hz and 120Hz unlike other smartphones with an adaptive display that can adjust their refresh rate automatically which saves more battery for the smartphone.
There’s a small punch hole at the upper left of the smartphone and it’s too small and it isn’t distracting at all and again, the colors on this one are great and there’s the curved on the sides which isn’t distracting for my usage.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Battery Life
Inside the Xiaomi Mi 11 is a 4600mAh battery which is enough for its size. In my usage, I can use the smartphone for a whole work day and in our PC Mark test, we were able to run it at 13 hours and 2 minutes which is pretty good enough for a flagship smartphone with this specifications
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Software and performance
One of the things that I definitely love about the Mi 11 is how smooth and responsive the UI is and everything was snappy thanks to the combination of the MIUI 12 and the hardware of the smartphone. There are only a few included apps on the smartphone and everything was smooth when I used it. The 120Hz display of the smartphone also helped in my smooth experience of the smartphone.
Inside the smartphone is a Snapdragon 888 chipset which is the most powerful Snapdragon chip on smartphones right now and it’s paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM so you know it’s fast. In terms of benchmark, the Xiaomi Mi 11 did its job really well as we get really high numbers. Check it out below:
When it comes to gaming, the Mi 11 did manage to run everything on the smartphone without hiccups or problems but I noticed that the smartphone gets too hot after an hour of usage and it’s oddly hotter than the Snapdragon 865+ smartphones that we’ve reviewed before. Thankfully, the smartphone didn’t restart or overheated when playing games like Genshin Impact. Oh and yes, we did enjoy 5G on this one as I can download games really fast and update it as well.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Camera
For the camera, the Xiaomi Mi11 sports a 108MP camera as its main camera but we got here a large 1/1.33” sensor inside and then there’s the 13MP ultra wide lens and a 5MP macro camera. The smartphone’s camera was really good and they’re really on a flagship level. It’s not the best cameras that I’ve seen but I was happy with the shots that I got on the smartphone. The quality is great and they’re pretty sharp.
There’s the movie magic feature too in where there are a lot of cool effects and features on the smartphone that you can use for videos. It’s a cool feature for those who want to post creative videos on Tiktok and also on Instagram.
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Overall, the Mi 11’s camera was great. It’s definitely on a flagship level but it’s not the best one in its class but it can really compete against most flagship smartphones in the market and with its price, the Xiaomi Mi 11 is definitely attractive.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Review: Verdict
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is a very powerful smartphone. It performs really well in all aspects — a great sexy and premium design, a powerful processor, and it’s definitely a great smartphone for its price. While the Snapdragon 888 processor might be too hot to handle but it’s definitely a powerful smartphone and everything else on the smartphone was just really good.
