We went to Boracay Island last week to experience the ASUS Zenfone 5 again and it’s a perfect time to capture our experience in Boracay using our smartphones and thankfully, we got our Zenfone 5 smartphones to capture our moments at the beautiful island.
The Pixelmasters were also there at Boracay to provide a workshop headed by the 8 masters of photography in the country. There were five MasterClass sessions that were held around the country and the PixelMasters taught their skills and experience to the lucky Zenfans who are lucky to be picked for the workshops.
The selected Zenfans and media were able to use the ASUS Zenfone 5 to capture different moments and memories at Boracay and of course, to promote sustainable tourism in the island through mangrove tree-planting activity for the benefit of the local community.
After a few months after the launch of the ASUS Zenfone 5, we were still happy with its performance and also its camera prowess. Check out some of our shots that we took at Boracay Island.
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The ASUS Zenfone 5 and Zenfone 5Z are now available for Php17,995 and Php29,995 respectively.
A lot of you are probably bankrupt by now as the Lazada 11.11 sale has already ended and we just got an info that the hottest selling smartphone brand in Southeast Asia as Realme has managed to sell a lot of units in different countries at Southeast Asia.
In Indonesia, Realme has managed to sell 40,000 units in 21 minutes and they’ve become a triple smartphone champion for the fastest sales growth, the highest total unit sales and single product sales from the new smartphone brand.
The Realme C1 has also managed to become the best-selling smartphone in Indonesia and in Thailand, they’ve managed to become the best brand in the smartphone category by selling 1,000 units in 8 minutes. Realme 2 Pro also sold 2,500 units in just three hours and in Malaysia, the brand has broke Shopee’s record as the #1 brand.
Realme is expected to enter the Philippines real soon so you can experience the smartphone brand’s affordable price with strong performance and trendy design.
When it comes to the best Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Note series is one of the first smartphones that comes into our minds and this year, Samsung has unveiled their latest generation flagship smartphone and their most powerful smartphone this year – the Samsung Galaxy Note9.
Design and Hardware
As expected from a flagship smartphone from Samsung, the smartphone is solid and beautifully built. It isn’t the sexiest smartphone in the market right now but I’m pretty sure that this one has one of the best and solid feel and build ever. The smartphone is made up of glass on the front and the back which feels really premium to the hand along with its solid frame. Oh, and since we’re getting a curved display and back, the smartphone does feel comfortable to the hand despite having a large display.
The one that we got for review is the blue variant and I think this is the best color option available as the yellow S-Pen really matches the color of the smartphone and the mechanism for removing and inserting the S-Pen still feels solid just like the previous generation.
In this generation of smartphones in where different brands are already ditching the headphone jack, Samsung wants to be different as the Samsung Galaxy Note9 still features a headphone jack on the side of the USB-C and the speaker grill. Speaking of the speaker grill, the smartphone does have an excellent speaker.
The hybrid card tray is placed at the top of the smartphone and it can handle either a dual sim card or a single sim card along with a MicroSD card. At the back is where you’ll see the dual lens camera and they’ve placed the fingerprint scanner of the smartphone below the camera which is more accessible and less prone to placing your fingers on the camera of the smartphone which might add smudges to the camera.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 has the best display that you can find on a smartphone right now. There, I said it. There’s no notch on the smartphone which is just fine but it does have the same bezel on the top and bottom display of the smartphone. Is it bad? No. it actually still looks pretty fine to me and the 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display of the smartphone is just glorious to look at. The colors, viewing angles, and the contrasts of the display of the Galaxy Note9 is just majestic.
There’s a curve display on this one too just like the Galaxy Note8 but what I like about it is that the display of the smartphone doesn’t really warp that much compared to their other smartphones. Actually, the display doesn’t really annoy me when I play PUBG or Fortnite. Everything’s just great on the display of the Samsung Galaxy Note9 except if you’re a fan of the bezel-less or notched display
Battery Life
One of the highlighted new features of the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is the large 4000mAh battery which we loved. In our heavy usage of the smartphone, we were pretty happy with the smartphone as we got a whole day of usage on the smartphone without asking for a powerbank. In our PC Mark test, we got a score of 10 hours and 35 minutes which is pretty amazing.
S-Pen
Every year, Samsung continues to upgrade their S-Pen on the Samsung Galaxy Note9. It gets better every year and this year is their biggest upgrade yet as the Samsung Galaxy Note9 features a Bluetooth S-pen that can be used for different functionalities.
The new features of the S-Pen can mostly be used in presentations and selfies. You can use the Samsung Galaxy Note9’s S-Pen as a clicker for your presentation whenever you use the smartphone for casting your decks or by just using the Samsung DeX which has now been improved.
Another use of the S-Pen is when you use it for selfies. You can use the button of the smartphone as a remote for the camera. It’s really helpful especially when you use the smartphone on a tripod. The S-Pen is really cool especially for people who are always using their smartphones for presentation.
Software
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 runs on Android 8.1 and it features the best software that Samsung can offer. Of course, the smartphone comes with S-Pen exclusive features including writing on the smartphone’s display whenever you remove the S-Pen from the smartphone and I love the feeling whenever I’m writing on the display of the smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 also features apps edge and people edge in where you can instantly access the most used apps and contact or you can just manually add them to the edge. This is a pretty nifty feature especially if you want fast access to different applications.
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 packs some features that we all loved in the previous generation including Live message which basically lets you write an animated GIF on any screenshot or just do screen write in where you can annotate a screenshot.
Another cool thing about having a Samsung smartphone is the Samsung members app in where you can get discounts and also some freebies. I always use the P100 discount code on Grab which is available every Monday and also the free coffee at CBTL every Friday. Yep, this perks from the app are really awesome. Unfortunately, some of the freebies ran out of coupons. In my case, I ran out of coupons for the free lounge at NAIA terminal 3.
Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 features a Samsung Exynos 9810 chipset inside paired with Mali-G72 MP18. While the chipset isn’t the most powerful when it comes to benchmark scores, the smartphone doesn’t fail to impress us when it comes to real life usage. It’s fast and it can run any games that you install on this smartphone without a problem.
However, we did encounter a problem in where we can’t use gamebench on the smartphone. But again, I’ll can assure you that the smartphone can run all games and in our benchmarks, the Galaxy Note9 isn’t the best one in numbers but the numbers are already satisfying for a mid-range smartphone. Check out the benchmark scores that we got on the smartphone:
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In the performance department, I was just fine with its scores and my overall experience with Samsung Galaxy Note9’s performance and software was just fine.
Camera
One of the upgrades that were made on the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is its camera. There’s a dual lens rear camera at the back in which both of them packs a 12MP sensor while the front camera is an 8MP sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy Note9’s camera is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S9+ except that this time, we got scene recognition on the smartphone which is why we can get better shots with its optimizations. The Samsung Galaxy Note9 still features Panorama, Pro, Live Focus, Super slo-mo, AR emoji, & Hyperlapse for the rear camera and then there’s the selfie focus which lets you have a bokeh background on the front camera.
Thanks to the dual aperture of the Samsung Galaxy Note9, I can have better photos even at really bright conditions. Most of my night shots are pretty great too because of the f/1.5 aperture. The aperture of the smartphone really brings a natural bokeh and it’s really amazing. Check out the shots that I took using the Samsung Galaxy Note9.
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Overall, the camera of the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is really amazing. The dual aperture of the smartphone is really amazing and the lowlight shots that we took using the smartphone are good.
Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Note9 still doesn’t fail to amaze with its solid features, build quality, & features. While the upgrade on this one is just a small incremental from the previous generation, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is still a nice smartphone to have. The ecosystem of the smartphone is so well-built that the experience of the smartphone is really different from other Android smartphones and every feature of the smartphone is pretty great. Oh, and yeah, there’s a headphone jack on this one.
Well, with all these great features, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 starts at a more expensive price. The Samsung Galaxy Note9 starts at Php55,990 which is a little bit steep but a lot of flagship smartphones these days are sporting this price tag now.
We all know that the Huawei Y6 2018 is coming soon in the Philippines and it was already expected that a new smartphone below Php15k-mark from Huawei is coming and thankfully, it’s here. Huawei Philippines has just unveiled the price of the Huawei Y9 2019 in the Philippines at Lazada 11.11 sale.
Huawei Y9 2019 Specs
6.5-inch Full HD+ 19.5:9 display aspect ratio
HiSilicon Kirin 710 Processor
4GB RAM
64GB Internal storage expandable via MicroSD
13MP f/1.8 +2MP f/2.4 rear camera
16MP f/2.0 +2MP f/2.4 front camera
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
LTE, Dual SIM
Android 8.1 with EMUI 8.2
4000mAh battery
The smartphone is really interesting as the smartphone is priced at Php12,990. Inside the smartphone is a notched 6.5-inch display which is pretty massive and then there’s the quad-camera setup.
The Huawei Y9 2018 is now available for Php12,990.
If you’re planning on buying an entry-level smartphone then better check out Lazada today as they’re selling the Huawei Y6 2018 for a lower price of Php4,990 from Php5.990. We’ve reviewed this smartphone before and we’re pretty happy with the smartphone as it features a decent SD425 processor and also an 18:9 display.
The Huawei Y6 2018 also comes with a 5.7″ display and a 3000mAh battery which will make sure that the battery will last pretty long. If you want to check out the Huawei Y6 2018, you can check it out at Lazada at this link
Huawei Y6 2018 Specs
Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 Quad-Core Processor
5.7-inch HD+ IPS Display with 18:9 Display Aspect Ratio
Finally, the new premium smartphone of OPPO is here and it’s the OPPO R17 Pro. It’s the first R-series smartphone of OPPO to arrive in the country and we’re excited as it features a triple lens rear camera and also a premium build and design that you would surely love.
There’s a 3D misted glass on the OPPO R17 Pro which is really premium to hold and the radiant mist color of the smartphone is really eye-catching.
The triple lens camera of the smartphone features a smart aperture which can adjust between bright or dark environments and also a TOF camera which allows for a more accurate depth sensing.
OPPO R17 Pro Specs
6.4-inch FHD+ AMOLED On-cell display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 Octa-Core Processor
8GB RAM
128GB Internal Storage
12MP (f1.5/f2.4) + 20MP (f/2.6) + TOF Rear Camera
25-megapixel front camera
LTE
Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
2x1850mAh Battery
ColorOS 5.2, based on Android 8.1
The OPPO R17 Pro is priced at Php38,990 and it will be available this November 24. You may pre-order starting tomorrow until November 23. If you’ll pre-order the device, you’ll get a free headphone worth Php2,990
The OPPO R17 Pro will be launching today and it’s been a while since we’ve seen an R-series smartphone here in the Philippines as our country always receive the F-series which are more affordable and has lesser specs compared to the R-series but this time, we’ll be having the OPPO R17 Pro and it’s the company’s first smartphone with a triple lens rear camera.
Inside the box
The OPPO R17 Pro has a box similar to the color of the smartphone and I actually like its gradient color. inside the box is a SuperVOOC Fast charger that promises 40% of battery in just 10 minutes and also a USB-C cable. The headphones that come with the R17 Pro comes with a USB-C port and unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack on this one so you’re stuck with the headphone included on the box unless you have a wireless headset that you can use for the device. And of course, there’s a jelly case that comes with the smartphone.
The smartphone
The OPPO R17 Pro might look like the OPPO F9 on the front because of its tiny notch at the top. It’s small and it doesn’t block too much of the display which is good. The display quality is fine and the viewing angles are pretty good. It’s bright too so overall, I’m pretty happy with it.
When it comes to its build quality, the OPPO R17 Pro is very different from the OPPO F9. This one has a more premium build and design thanks to its misted glass design and the curves just help in the ergonomics of the smartphone but it’s too slippery for me but don’t worry because it comes with a jelly case.
The OPPO R17 Pro comes with a USB-C port but just like the OPPO Find X, this one doesn’t have a headphone jack so you have to buy your own dongle in case you want to use your own headphones.
One thing that I really didn’t like about its design is the protruding camera. Yep, having a protruding camera on a smartphone is understandable but this one is really noticeable but again, the smartphone comes with a jelly case.
Camera
The OPPO R17 Pro comes with a unique triple-lens rear camera setup with the third lens acts as the TOF 3D camera of the smartphone for accurate depth information for better portrait shots. It also features a smart aperture which allows you to use f1.5/f2.4 aperture and of course, Optical Image Stabilisation. Check out some of the shots that we took using the OPPO R17 Pro.
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So far, we’re pretty happy with the shots that we got and the portrait mode? It’s actually better and on point. The AI was really helpful too in improving the shots that we took. There’s a handheld night mode too on the camera which is awesome.
Verdict
The OPPO R17 Pro is a smartphone that comes with beauty and brains. It isn’t the fastest one or their flagship smartphone but the AI has been really helpful on the camera of the smartphone as it really improves most of our shots and the triple lens camera is a big upgrade from the OPPO F9.
Inside is an SD710 chipset which is enough for a mid-range smartphone along with its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage which is pretty spacious.
Another thing to love about the OPPO R17 Pro is its design as it comes with an ergonomic design with a really cool misted glass and radiant mist color.
We’ll know the price of the OPPO R17 Pro tomorrow so stay tune.
Xiaomi has just launched their newest smartphone in the country and it’s their sexiest smartphone yet, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3. The Mix line of Xiaomi smartphones has always been their sexiest and most innovative as it introduces a lot of new features. With the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 for the front camera and sensors which basically ditches the notch of the smartphone.
Instead of having the notch, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 utilizes a magnetic slider mechanism. It doesn’t have a mechanical slider mechanism and it uses a magnet instead of springs which is why they’re confident that the smartphone’s sliding mechanism would last long. So yeah, you have to manually slide the smartphone.
It also features a powerful camera and they’re proud that the smartphone was able to have a score of 108 for photos at DxOMark. It is also capable of 960fps slo-mo and with the help of AI, you can have better handheld night shots using the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3.
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 Specs
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
6.39-inch 19.5:9 Full HD+ AMOLED display with 93.4% screen-to-body ratio
6GB,8GB,10GB RAM
128GB & 256GB Internal Storage
12MP f/1.8 + 12MP Rear camera with LED Flash
24MP + 2MP Front Camera
Dual SIM
LTE, 5G (Depending on the variant)
USB-C
Fingerprint Scanner
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10
3200mAh battery with QC 4.0
Unfortunately, the price of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 wasn’t announced in the Philippines but here are the variants and its prices in China
The Huawei Mate 20 series is really big in the country as the company has started selling the smartphone series in the country last November 3 and it was a huge success as Huawei Philippines has announced that Php100,000,000 worth of Huawei Mate 20 series devices is sold in the country.
“The overwhelming support on the launch of Huawei Mate 20 series in the Philippines fuels our work to offer more innovative products to Filipinos” said Mr. George Li, Country Manager at Huawei Philippines. “We look forward to reaching more consumers and allow them to experience #AHigherIntelligence device like the Mate 20.”
I’m actually not surprised that the Huawei Mate 20 Series was able to sell a lot of smartphones as the smartphones do have unique flagship features and a really awesome camera.
The Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro is now available for Php40,990 and Php49,990 respectively.
Huawei Mate 20 Specs
6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS RGBW display with 18.7:9 display aspect ratio
Kirin 980 Octa-Core Processor
4GB/6GB RAM
128GB Internal Storage expandable via Nano Memory card
Triple Rear Camera Lens:
16MP f/2.2 ultra wide-angle camera
23MP f/1.8 wide-angle lens
8MP f/2.4 telephoto camera
Master AI, 3x Optical Zoom, 5x Hybrid Zoom
24MP Front camera
Dual SIM
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Fingerprint Scanner
Face Unlock
IP53 rating
4000mAh battery with fast charging
Android 9 Pie with EMUI 9
Huawei Mate 20 Pro Specs
6.39-inch 2K IPS OLED display with 18.7:9 display aspect ratio
Kirin 980 Octa-Core Processor
6GB RAM
128GB Internal Storage expandable via Nano Memory card
Christmas is near and we can already hear the Christmas bells chiming everywhere and we also know that the Christmas season is also the season in where we can get our 13th month, which is more than enough for us to buy ourselves a brand new smartphone this Christmas. Thankfully, ASUS has slashed the prices of their smartphones so that everyone can buy a brand new Zenfone at a more affordable price. Check out the products that are on sale at Zen Christmas Sale.
Product
Old SRP
New SRP
ZenFone 5Q
· 20-megapixel + 8-megapixel (120-degree wide-angle) dual front cameras
Surprisingly, ASUS has decided to drop the price of the Zenfone Max Pro (4GB) from Php13,995 to Php10,995 which is pretty steep.
The ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1 series is one of the well-loved Zenfones this year due to its long battery life, powerful performance, and its dual-lens camera.
This promo is already in effect so if you’re planning to get one now, these Zenfones are now available at a discounted price at ASUS Zenfone concept stores, kiosks, and accredited multi-brand stores nationwide.
