Google has previewed its upcoming Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold in a new teaser campaign. A 30-second video showcases the Pixel 9 Pro, emphasizing its AI features, dubbed “Gemini.”
In the video, Gemini humorously writes a breakup letter to users’ old phones, highlighting the Pixel 9 series’ unique features. The Pixel 9 Pro is shown in Porcelain with the tagline “Oh hi, AI.” The design includes a matte texture on the camera bar and shiny side rails.
The Google Store page for the Pixel 9 Pro promotes a “whole new era of phones” and features a button to “Chat with Gemini,” linking to gemini.google.com.
Following the Pixel 9 Pro reveal, Google also teased the Pixel 9 Pro Fold in another short video. The teaser shows the double-stacked lenses on the rear camera module and the foldable phone’s outer screen and hinge.
Both the Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro Fold will be officially announced at the “Made by Google 2024” event on August 13.
OPPO has introduced the A60, positioning it as the ideal smartphone for daily use with its robust durability, sleek design, and affordable pricing. Targeted at students, professionals, and anyone needing a reliable device, the A60 promises resilience and performance in demanding environments.
Built to Endure
Designed to withstand the unexpected, the OPPO A60 comes with US Military-Grade Shock Resistance certification, ensuring it remains operational even after accidental drops from heights of up to 1.22 meters. This durability also makes it a standout choice for users who prioritize reliability in their everyday gadgets.
Weather-Resistant Features
Meanwhile, with the onset of the rainy season, the A60’s Splash Touch feature and IP54 water resistance rating offer peace of mind. Users can also continue using their phones without worry, even in light rain for up to 10 minutes, thanks to its resilient design against moisture.
Equipped with a robust 5000mAh battery, the OPPO A60 guarantees uninterrupted usage throughout the day on a single charge. Additionally, its 45W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge technology ensures rapid recharging, allowing users to replenish up to 50% battery in just 30 minutes—a boon for busy lifestyles.
OPPO A60 Pricing and Availability
Available in Ripple Blue and Midnight Purple color options, the OPPO A60 offers two variants: the 8GB+128GB model for Php9,999 and the 8GB+256GB variant for Php11,999. OPPO also provides flexible payment options through Home Credit and major credit cards until July 31, 2024.
The OPPO A60 is now available for purchase on Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok platforms, and interested buyers can find more information on OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com.ph.
The Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G promised to deliver an all-around performance at an accessible price point just shy of Php14K. Hence, despite some criticism online regarding its chipset, we were eager to put this smartphone through its paces in real-world scenarios.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Design
The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is available in two distinct variants: Vintage Green, featuring a luxurious vegan leather finish, and Obsidian Black, sporting a glossy surface. We received the Vintage Green model, and we were pleasantly surprised by its premium look and feel. The vegan leather not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also provides a secure grip, making us feel comfortable skipping a protective case. Conversely, the Obsidian Black variant’s glossy finish tends to attract fingerprints, prompting us to recommend a clear case for added protection.
With an IP53 rating, the phone offers limited ingress and splash resistance, suitable for accidental splashes and dirt, though it should not be submerged in water.
The phone’s weight and curved design make one-handed use somewhat challenging, but its ergonomic build ensures a comfortable grip. The punch-hole selfie camera is discreetly at the top of the curved screen, maintaining a sleek appearance. On the rear, the Infinix 5G logo is positioned at the lower left, while the camera module occupies a prominent space with the main sensor located in the top left corner. Additional lenses for ultrawide and macro photography are strategically placed in the upper right and lower left, respectively.
A unique feature of the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G is its LED flash (outer ring) and Infinix’s Active Halo Lighting (inner ring) located at the bottom right of the rear panel. The LED flash provides supplementary lighting for portrait shots and night videos, while the Active Halo Lighting could serve as a notification indicator for incoming calls and other alerts.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Multimedia
The phone boasts a spacious 6.78-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass protection, offering a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. We also experienced an immersive viewing experience, thanks to its impressive 93.69% screen-to-body ratio and FHD+ resolution of 2436 x 1080 pixels. Colors are vibrant, and details are sharp, too.
However, the curved edges of the screen occasionally led to unintended touches during intense gaming sessions, which required some adjustment on our part.
Audio quality is commendable, courtesy of JBL-tuned speakers. During our review, the unit delivered exceptional audio quality with clear highs and deep lows. Even at higher volumes, the sound remained crisp and distortion-free, exceeding our expectations for a smartphone in this price range.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Software, UI, Biometrics, Features
Operating on XOS 14 based on Android 14, the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G offers a user-friendly interface with ample customization options. The Personalization tab under settings allows users to choose from multiple themes, wallpapers, and Always-On Display widgets, catering to diverse preferences. Adaptive brightness ensures optimal visibility in varying lighting conditions, although it may impact battery performance marginally.
Additional software enhancements include MemFusion for RAM management, ensuring smooth multitasking capabilities without noticeable lag.
Meanwhile, in terms of security, the NOTE 40 Pro+ offers standard biometric security options, including both fingerprint and face unlock features, both of which are responsive and fast.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Performance
Powered by the Dimensity 7020 processor, 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage, the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G delivers reliable performance across a range of tasks.
Benchmark Scores
We tested its gaming capabilities with popular titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Pokémon Unite, and we had smooth gameplay experience. However, extended gaming sessions did result in noticeable heating, although this did not affect performance significantly.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Camera
The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G retains the impressive camera setup of its predecessor, featuring a 108MP main sensor with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) for enhanced photo and video stability. While digital zoom capabilities are somewhat limited, the addition of OIS improves overall image sharpness, particularly in low-light conditions.
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We also appreciated the camera’s ability to capture natural-looking photos with accurate color reproduction, both with the rear and selfie cameras. Though its Night Mode tends to produce overexposed images.
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Review: Battery Life
Equipped with a 4,600mAh battery, the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G supports 100W All-Round FastCharge technology, promising to charge the unit from empty to full in just 30 minutes. In actual usage, our battery lasted nearly 14 hours with moderate to heavy use, including social media browsing, video streaming, and occasional gaming.
Intensive gaming sessions did lead to faster battery drain, requiring more frequent recharges. For reference, during intense gaming sessions, the battery lasted just over 4 hours before dropping to 20% from a full charge.
Unfortunately, we’re not able to run it on PCMark Battery Life Test, as we couldn’t download it.
Moving on to its fast-charging feature, we noticed that within just 15 minutes, it could charge the phone from 20% to 70%. This fast charging capability is particularly impressive for users who frequently use their phone for gaming or social media.
Verdict
Priced competitively at Php13,999, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G emerges as one of the standout choices in the mid-range smartphone market. It excels in performance, display quality, and camera capabilities. These make it a compelling option for users seeking a feature-rich device without breaking the bank.
Overall, the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G left us impressed with its overall performance and value proposition. This smartphone offers a blend of style and functionality that meets expectations.
TNT has announced has announced a big feature for its eSIM service. As of July 2, 2024, users from any network can now switch to a TNT eSIM while keeping their existing phone number, thanks to the implementation of Mobile Number Portability or MNP.
This new capability from TNT addresses one of the most common issues for Filipinos considering switching to a new network. By allowing users to retain their existing numbers, TNT eliminates the need for customers to update their contacts, apps, and online accounts linked to their old numbers.
New TNT subscribers can also look forward to a range of value-packed offers including the TikTok Saya 50, which provides unlimited TikTok access, 3 GB open access data for other apps and sites, and unlimited texts to all networks, valid for three days, all for just ₱50.
Current TNT subscribers haven’t been left out. They can upgrade their physical SIM to an eSIM for only Php 89 at any Smart Store. For those looking to get a new TNT eSIM with a new number, options include ordering through the Smart Online Store or via Smart’s flagship stores on popular e-commerce platforms Lazada and Shopee.
OnePlus has just released their newest smartphone and this time it’s in their midrange line — the OnePlus Nord 4. The smartphone comes with a Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor along with a all-metal unibody which is a feature we haven’t seen in a while on a midrange smartphone.
It does have a unique design as well with the upper half having a glossier texture. As for the other hardware, there’s the 6.74-inch Super Fluid AMOLED along with 120Hz refresh rate.
While for the camera, there’s the 50MP main camera along with 8MP ultrawide camera. It can record up to 4K@60fps while for the battery, there’s the 5500mAh battery inside along with support for 100W Wired Charging.
The OnePlus Nord 4 is expected to come with Oxygen OS 14.1 that is based on Android 14 while for the memory, it comes in up to 16GB RAM along with 512GB of internal storage.
The OnePlus Nord 4 starts at 499 euros (474 CAD, Php 31,780~)
HONOR Philippines has officially unveiled the new HONOR 200 Series, an accessible flagship lineup starting at Php24,999. With this, the series promises flagship-level performance and advanced AI portrait photography without breaking the bank.
AI Portrait Photography
The HONOR 200 Series, co-developed with Studio Harcourt, features the HONOR AI Portrait Engine for enhanced portrait photography. The HONOR 200 Pro includes a 50MP Portrait Main Camera with a Super Dynamic H9000 Sensor, a 50MP Portrait Telephoto Camera, and advanced AI capabilities to capture high-quality images even in challenging lighting.
Meanwhile, the HONOR 200 Pro offers a 1.5K Quad-curved Floating Display with a peak HDR brightness of 4000 nits. It is also equipped with 3840Hz Risk-free Dimming and TÜV Rheinland certifications for flicker-free and full-care display. The Natural Tone 2.0 and AI Circadian Night Display optimize screen color temperature for eye comfort.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform, the HONOR 200 Pro features a 5200mAh Silicon-carbon battery supporting 100W Wired and 66W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge. It also offers 12GB of memory and 512GB of storage, providing a seamless user experience with MagicOS 8.0.
HONOR 200 Series Pricing and Availability
The HONOR 200 is priced at Php24,999, while the HONOR 200 Pro is tagged at Php29,999. Pre-orders for the HONOR 200 and HONOR 200 Pro are open from July 17 to 26, 2024, with a free JBL Soundgear Frames worth Php9,499.
The series will be available at HONOR Experience and Partner Stores, and online via Lazada, Shopee, and Tiktok Shop. Consumers can also get it at Home Credit starting at Php1,619 per month.
So, are you getting one?
Let us know what you think in the comment section!
OPPO introduced its latest OPPO Reno12 Series 5G with a star-studded launch event featuring brand ambassadors Nadine Lustre and David Licauco. The events took place at SM City Sta. Rosa and SM City Pampanga, attracting loyal OPPO users and the public.
At SM City Sta. Rosa, Nadine Lustre showcased the new OPPO Reno12 Series 5G, emphasizing its Ultra-Clear Camera System, sleek design, and AI features like AI Eraser 2.0, AI Studio, and AI LinkBoost. Nadine highlighted how the upgraded AI Eraser 2.0 with its “Remove People” function helps her maintain a consistent aesthetic on her social media.
Meanwhile, David Licauco, at SM City Pampanga, praised the phone’s design and AI features. He demonstrated the AI Studio’s filters and shared how the OPPO Reno12 Series 5G simplifies his workflow as an actor and entrepreneur. Both events included interactive games and activities that highlighted the phone’s features, such as its powerful 5000mAh battery and 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge.
Product Features
The OPPO Reno12 Series 5G includes advanced features such as:
Ultra-Clear Camera System: 50MP main camera for high-quality photography.
AI Eraser 2.0: Enhanced accuracy and new functions like “Remove People”.
AI Studio: Built-in filters for creative posts.
AI LinkBoost and BeaconLink: Enhanced connectivity features.
Battery and Charging: 5000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC Flash Charge.
Pricing and Availability
The OPPO Reno12 5G is available for Php24,999 in Astro Silver, Sunset Pink, and Matte Brown. The OPPO Reno12 Pro 5G is priced at Php34,999 in Nebula Silver and Space Brown.
Both models are also available through Globe’s GPlan. The OPPO Reno12 5G is offered via GPlan 1799 with a Php1,500 cash-out, while the OPPO Reno12 Pro 5G via GPlan 1999 with a Php2,500 cash-out.
HONOR Philippines has teamed up with Maya Philippines for a Back2School promotion that offers participants the chance to win a brand-new HONOR 200 smartphone weekly. The promotion, running from July 1 to August 31, 2024, will get the consumers a chance to win a brand new HONOR 200 smartphone.
The HONOR 200 is set to launch in the Philippines this July 17. This device features upgraded AI capabilities for shadow and light management, optical effects, and artistic style enhancement, developed in collaboration with Harcourt Studio Paris.
Maya Philippines’ Back2School Promo allows users to “Enroll now, pay later” for up to PHP 30,000. Participants can earn raffle entries by using Maya as their payment method for back-to-school expenses, investments, and savings. The promotion also offers rewards for referrals.
Each week during the promotional period, 20 lucky winners will receive PHP 10,000, while four fortunate individuals will win an HONOR 200 smartphone along with other HONOR products such as the HONOR Band 6, HONOR Premium Bluetooth Speaker, and HONOR Earbuds 2.
Interested participants can find more information and full mechanics on HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms. The HONOR 200 launch event will be streamed live on Facebook, offering viewers another opportunity to win the new smartphone.
ASUS Philippines has just launched their first device to pack a Snapdragon X Elite Processor inside — the ASUS Vivobook S 15 Copilot+ PC. The processor from Qualcomm comes with an ARM architecture which is highly different from the one on Intel and AMD processors which are dominating the PC scene.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 focuses on the current thread — AI. The processor of the notebook comes with an up to 45 TOPS for it AI capabilities and it also comes with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. While for the display, there’s the 15″ 3K 120Hz OLED display along with a battery of up to 18 hours.
One of the main features of this laptop over other laptops in the market is its ability for several AI-powered features including Windows Studio Effects, ASUS AISense IR Camera, Story Cube, Live Captions, and generative AI.
But the biggest feature that Snapdragon can bring aside from AI is its efficiency and its performance. The Snapdragon X Elite can bring a decent powerful performance with a battery efficiency of a smartphone to Windows PC. This has been a gamechanger for the PC industry and Qualcomm has officially become one of the biggest threats of AMD and Intel in the PC industry.
Pricing and Availability
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 is priced at PHP 84,995 in the Philippines. ASUS is offering special bundles for purchases made until August 15, 2024, as part of their “Cool for School Promo.” Customers can also avail of 0% interest financing for up to 12 months through Home Credit.
HUAWEI Philippines has announced the availability of the MateBook X Pro and MateBook 14 in the Philippines. These new devices will be available in HUAWEI stores nationwide starting July 12, 2024. Both models pack the latest CPU from Intel and both has a very portable and light design.
The laptops come equipped with HUAWEI’s Metaline Antenna technology, which aims to improve signal strength and reduce dead spots. But the HUAWEI MateBook X Pro features the new 3D Metaline Antenna, promising enhanced network connectivity. In terms of performance, the MateBook X Pro is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, while the MateBook 14 features an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and Intel ARC GPU.
MateBook 14
HUAWEI has also focused on optimizing battery life and thermal management. The MateBook X Pro uses shark fin fans for heat dissipation and comes with a 70 Wh battery. Meanwhile, the MateBook 14 boasts an impressive battery life capable of playing up to 19 hours of 1080p video on a full charge.
Matebook X Pro
The MateBook X Pro sports a 14.2-inch flexible OLED screen with 3.1K resolution and a 93% screen-to-body ratio. The MateBook 14 offers a 2.8K OLED touchscreen with up to 120Hz refresh rate.
In terms of design, the MateBook X Pro comes in a Morandi Blue color and features a magnesium alloy body. The MateBook 14 is available in a new green color variant and sports a frameless, curved-edged keyboard design.
Both laptops include AI-driven features to enhance user experience. These include Super Device technology for seamless device collaboration, AI noise cancellation, AI camera capabilities, and AI Search.
The MateBook X Pro is priced at PHP 129,999, while the MateBook 14 is available for PHP 59,999.
HUAWEI is offering additional items for early buyers. Consumers who will purchase the MateBook X Pro will receive a HUAWEI Vision S 65″ (valued at PHP 45,999) and a HUAWEI backpack (worth PHP 1,899) while those opting for the MateBook 14 will get a MateView SE (valued at PHP 7,999) and a HUAWEI backpack (worth PHP 1,899).