Huawei Nova 3i Review

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August 29, 2018

When it comes mid-range series, Huawei is known for making waves with their Nova series and recently, the company has launched the Huawei Nova 3 series and the affordable one is the Huawei Nova 3i which features a mid-range hardware and also a price that is tempting for everyone – Php15,990. Want to know more about the smartphone? Check it out on our review below.

Design and Hardware

One of the things that Huawei is proud of with the Huawei Nova 3i is its design. First, they started the gradient color on their smartphones and with the Huawei Nova 3i, we got the Iris Purple which features a same feel of the gradient color of the Huawei P20 Pro but this one is more striking and more eye-catching.

Both sides of the smartphone smartphone is made up of glass with metal frameswhich has a pretty solid and premium feel however the back is flat which makes the smartphone a little harder to hold compared to the Huawei Nova 3 which has a curved back but don’t worry, the smartphone doesn’t really slip in my hand.

The smartphone basically got everything that you need. Inside the smartphone is the hybrid card slot which can house two sim cards or a single sim with a MicroSD card slot. Thankfully, the smartphone still have a headphone jack and then there’s a Micro USB port which is a little bit disappointing as most smartphones are now utilizing a USB-C port.

There’s the fingerprint scanner on the smartphone at the back which is pretty fast but in case you’re not a fan of doing that then you can just use the face unlock which works pretty well on the smartphone too.

The speaker grill of the smartphone is located just beside the micro USB port and It wasn’t that great but it wasn’t bad either. Just decent and normal speakers that you can find on a mid-range smartphone. But hey, at least there’s headphone jack on this one.

Display

One of the features that Huawei is proud of their Nova 3i is the display. This time, the Huawei Nova 3i comes with a 6.3-inch IPS LCD with Full HD+ resolution. There’a notch too which is already common on all price range of Android smartphones these days.

If you’re worried about the notch, well, you don’t really have to because you can actually remove it on the settings and when it comes to quality, the Huawei Nova 3i’s display is great for its price range. It might not be as good as the one on flagship smartphones but the Huawei Nova 3i’s display is vibrant and it’s really usable outdoors.

Software and performance

When the Huawei Nova 3i was announced, one of its intriguing features is the Kirin 710 processor inside. This is a big upgrade from the predecessor and then there’s the 4GB of RAM which is pretty plenty whether you’re a casual smartphone user or into productivity. There’s a spacious 128GB of Internal storage too which is probably more than enough for most users.

Here are the scores that we got from different benchmarking applications

Antutu

GeekBench

3D Mark Slingshot Extreme

You can check out the GameBench Benchmarking app at (https://www.gamebench.net)

You can also download the app at the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamebench.metricscollector)

One of the things that the Huawei Nova 3i is proud of is GPU boost but we’ll be able to get that feature soon. Huawei promises that it will boost games such as PUBG Mobile and also Mobile Legends once the GPU Turbo update is out but right now, here’s the gamebench benchmarks that we got on the smartphone.

PUBG Mobile on the Huawei Nova 3i with the Game Acceleration turned off. The FPS mostly dipped on firefight and driving,

PUBG Mobile with Game Acceleration surely brought a better FPS on the game

Real Racing 3 was really smooth at 51fps

The newest racing game by Gameloft, Asphalt 9, was really good on the Huawei Nova 3i

Battery life

There’s a decent juice on this one as the Huawei Nova 3i packs a 3340mAh of battery inside which translates to a day of my average use with the mobile data running most of the time. When it comes to PC Mark, I got a score of 7 hours and 59 minutes which isn’t that bad.

Camera

One of the features that Huawei Nova series is known for is the quad-cameras. With the Huawei Nova 3i, we got here a Quad-Camera setup which is composed of a 16-megapixel + 2-megapixel for the back camera and then there are the 24-megapixel + 2-megapixel sensors for the front camera. The additional 2-megapixel cameras of the smartphones are used for depth sensing for better bokeh and also for better AR effects.

Thankfully, the amazing AI features that we’ve seen on the Huawei P20 series will also arrive in the Huawei Nova 3i which is now easier to turn on and off. However, I noticed that the AI functionalities of the Huawei Nova 3i aren’t as good as the one on the Huawei P20 series but its job well on producing better photos in different situations. There’s no AI image stabilization on this one, unlike the P20 series which is why you can’t do the same night mode that we’re doing on the Huawei P20 series.

One of the things that I love on the Huawei Nova 3i is the AR Lens which features 3D Qmoji which works similarly to Apple’s Animoji but as expected, it wasn’t as good as that and then there are the backgrounds that let you change the backgrounds and also add some effects.

When it comes to the camera, well, you’ll be the judge on the shots that I took using the smartphone.

As expected, the colors were fine however when using AI, it tends to be oversaturated at sometimes. So I suggest that you use the AI mode depending on the conditions and the front camera still gets blown out sometimes but overall, the camera is just fine for me especially for a mid-range smartphone.

Verdict

The Huawei Nova 3i is a great mid-range smartphone. It might not be a perfect smartphone but it performs well in almost all aspects. If you’re coming from a Huawei Nova 2i then this one will be a big upgrade for you. Not only that it has an upgraded camera from the predecessor, we’re really happy with its design and performance especially its large storage.

The Huawei Nova 3i is now available for Php15,990

OPPO F9 Hands-on and First Impressions

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 28, 2018

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Recently, OPPO Philippines has launched their newest mid-range smartphone in the country — the OPPO F9.

It’s the successor of the OPPO F7 and some might say that it’s basically an OPPO F7 with a new display, well, you guys are wrong as there are many features that are upgraded on the OPPO F9.

First, let’s go to the design of the smartphone. The OPPO F9 now comes with a gradient color with a diamond pattern. It might not have the best look for some people but for me, I really appreciate the beauty of this smartphone.

The OPPO F9’s sides are round which makes easier to grip despite having a flat back. The smartphone still uses Micro USB port but thankfully, there’s VOOC flash charging now which is a feature that I’ve been always criticizing before and then beside it is the headphone jack.

There’s a 6.3-inch display too with a small notch at the top and they call it as the waterdrop display. The display of the smartphone is actually really bright and really vivid and it’s probably one of my favorite display on a mid-range smartphone. Unfortunately, OPPO hasn’t ditched the chin below the display of the smartphone

The back is almost similar to the OPPO F7 but again, we now have a gradient color and a pattern. It also houses the fingerprint scanner but in case you’re not a fan of that, the face unlock will do just fine and also the dual rear camera of the smartphone.

Speaking of camera, we’re pretty happy with the results that we got from the OPPO F9 so far. We haven’t shot that much using the OPPO F9 but the smartphone can shoot really fast and then there’s the portrait mode now that has a pretty good bokeh and it’s really an upgrade from the OPPO F7.

Specs-wise, I’m happy that OPPO has decided that the smartphone has a 6GB of RAM however, it’s still using an Helio P60 processor inside.

So there you have it, that’s the hands-on of the OPPO F9 so be sure to go back for the in-depth review of the OPPO F9. The OPPO F9 is now available for pre-order for Php17,990.

Here’s the official SRP of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 in the Philippines

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 27, 2018

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Here’s the official SRP of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 in the Philippines

The Pocophone F1 by Xiaomi has finally launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the company has also announced the official SRP of the smartphone for the Philippine market. In case you didn’t know, the Pocophone F1 is one of the most powerful smartphone in the market as it packs a Snapdragon 845 processor inside and up to 8GB of RAM and yet, the smartphone is priced affordably.

Pocophone F1 Specs

6.18-inch Full HD+ display, 19:9 display aspect ratio
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Processor
6GB RAM
64GB/128GB Internal Storage
12MP+5MP Dual Rear Lens Camera with AI
20MP selfie camera
LTE
Liquid Cooling
Face Unlock
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Android 8.1 Oreo
4000mAh Battery

I know this is freaking affordable and if you’re looking for a gaming smartphone then this one should be on the top of your list.

The Xiaomi Pocophone F1 will retail in the Philippines for Php17,990 and Php19,990 for the 6GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB respectively.

It will be available this September 6, 2018 initially at Lazada and it will soon roll out on Mi Authorized stores.

No word regarding the other variants of the Pocophone F1 arriving in the Philippines.

Huawei Nova 3i Camera Sample Gallery

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 26, 2018

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When it comes to midrange smartphone, the Huawei Nova 3i is one of the hottest right now in the market as it offers a beautiful design, a decent power inside, and a quad-camera setup. Not just that, the Huawei Nova 3i also features a large 128GB of storage which is the biggest that we’ve seen in its price range.

When it comes to the camera, the quad-camera setup of the Huawei Nova 3i helps you get better photos such as depth sensing and also for AR. But how does it fare in our real life test? Well, check out our camera sample gallery of the Huawei Nova 3i below.

The AI of the Huawei Nova 3i isn’t as good as the Master AI of the Huawei P20 series but I really appreciate how the smartphone’s AI produces better photos.

Well, there you have it. The Huawei Nova 3i’s camera is not perfect but it does a fine job for a mid-range smartphone. It’s not the best one in its class but you can really appreciate its camera.

The Huawei Nova 3i is now available in the Philippines for Php15,990.

OPPO F9 Pre-Order Starts Tomorrow

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 23, 2018

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OPPO Philippines will now be accepting pre-orders for the OPPO F9 starting tomorrow until August 29, 2018. The OPPO F9 is the latest mid-range smartphone from OPPO and it features VOOC Flash charging that lets you have 2-hour talk in just 5-minute charge.

Not only that, the smartphone will also feature brand new gradient colors and also a waterdrop display, and also a dual lens rear camera for better bokeh.

If you want to pre-order the OPPO F9, you only have to pay P1,000 security deposit to secure a unit and you have to pay the full amount upon claiming the smartphone on August 30 onwards.

Those who will pre-order the smartphone from authorized OPPO stores nationwide will get a free game holder, ring phone holder, and a Bluetooth headset worth Php1,500.

The OPPO F9 will be available in Sunrise Red and Twilight Blue for Php17,990.

OPPO F9 Specs

6.3-inch Full HD+ Waterdrop Display
MediaTek Helio P60 Octa-Core
6GB RAM
64GB Internal Storage expandable via MicroSD card
16MP+2MP f/1.8+f/2.4 with LED Flash
25MP Front Camera. f/2.0
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, LTE
Dual SIM
3500mAh Battery with VOOC Flash Charge
ColorOS 5.2 with Android 8.1

VIVO is a relentless innovator in the mobile industry

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 23, 2018

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VIVO is a relentless innovator in the mobile industry

We all know that Vivo is offering a lot of smartphones in the market right now and in case you didn’t know, the company has been offering a lot of innovations in their smartphones. Here are some of the technologies and innovations that we loved on Vivo.

Hi-Fi music

One of the things that Vivo is known for is its hi-fi audio in its handset. Back in 2012, Vivo has introduced the Hi-Fi Quality Audio Chip in X1 and with the Vivo X21, they introduced the AK4376A Hi-Fi audio chipset with Deep Field technology to provide a clearer audio.

Bezel-less display & in-display fingerprint scanner

Vivo has shocked the industry when they released the APEX FullView concept back in MWC 2018 as it offers an almost 100% screen-to-body ratio. Not just that, they’ve also introduced the in-display fingerprint scanner in which they’re the pioneer.

Pop-out camera and over 20MP front camera

The Vivo NEX features a pop-out camera inspired by the APEX smartphone of Vivo which is an awesome feature as it ditches the notch on the display which gives a more balanced and better screen-to-body ratio to the smartphone. Not just that, Vivo is also proud that they’re offering a more than 20-megapixel front cameras on their smartphone. There’s a 24MP front camera for the V7 and V7+ and then there’s the 24MP front camera with AI on the Vivo V9.

Screen SoundCasting technology

This tech was first introduced in the APEX and it basically replaced the earpiece speaker by turning the screen of the smartphone in a speaker. It sends vibrations to the screen and it allows the smartphone to produce audio.

TOF 3D Sensing Technology

One of the new technology that we’ve seen at MWC Shanghai 2018 is the TOF 3D or the Time of Flight which offers paradigm shift in imaging, AR, and human-machine interaction. This will offer better smart capabilities on the smartphone with human interaction.

Vivo has proven from time to time that they can really excel and they’re a brand to reckon with. With these developments from Vivo, do expect more from them in the future.

ASUS TUF Gaming FX505 and FX705 Announced!

News

Jam Ancheta

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August 23, 2018

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ASUS TUF Gaming FX505 and FX705 Announced!

If you’re into affordable gaming notebooks then the ASUS TUF Gaming is the one for you. Recently, ASUS has unveiled the ASUS TUF Gaming FX505 and FX705 which both packs a powerful hardware inside and a design that will really entice gamers.

The ASUS TUF Gaming FX505 is the 15.6-inch variant while the ASUS TUF Gaming FX705 comes with the 17.3-inch display but both are laptops are engineered to bring in a high-end performance at affordable prices.

Both notebooks will pack the latest Intel Core i7-8750H processors and also a Nvidia GTX 1060 GPU inside with a display of 144Hz refresh rate. There will also be an up to 32GB of DDR4 2666MHz RAM, a 512GB SSD and a 1TB FireCuda SSHD. Both displays will feature a Full HD IPS-Level NanoEdge display with 144Hz refresh rate that brings a tiny bezel with a matte non-reflective display with a pretty good sRGB color gamut.

It might not have an RGB-backlit keyboard but the red-glow keyboard is pretty fine with a 1.8mm of key travel with ASUS Overstroke technology that brings in a more comfortable experience whether for typing or for gaming.

When it comes to connectivity, the notebook will come with a 2×2 MIMO 802.11ac Wave 2 WiFi, 2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, 1x USB 2.0 port, and HDMI port.

These notebooks also passed on a military-grade MIL-STD-810G standard which ensures that the notebook is solid and will be able to withstand of your everyday usage

The ASUS TUF Gaming FX505 and FX705 will be available before the end of Q3 in all ROG Stores nationwide.

Cherry Mobile Unveils Charging Stations at LRT-1 Stations

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 22, 2018

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Cherry Mobile Unveils Charging Stations at LRT-1 Stations

Here’s a good news for our commuters. Cherry Mobile has recently partnered with Light Rail Manila Corporation or LRMC to bring you the charging kiosks at select LRT-1 stations and yes, everyone can use the charging stations for free.

“Cherry Mobile, as a company, was found because we wanted to level the playing field and provide
the masses affordable, quality smartphones. Service was at our very core. Now, we want to further
serve the public by ensuring that they stay connected throughout the day – most especially on their
long commute,” shares Michelle Ngu-Cinco, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Cherry Mobile.

The Cherry Mobile charging stations can be found at LRT-1 Dorotea Jose and Central stations and you can charge your devices for free.

Cherry Mobile will also brighten the day of commuters as the company will host mini-concerts from August 24 and 31 2018. So watch out for bands and performers that will keep you entertained while waiting for the train!

Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Now Official: The most affordable smartphone with SD845

Gadgets

Jam Ancheta

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August 22, 2018

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Xiaomi Pocophone F1 Now Official: The most affordable smartphone with SD845

Xiaomi has finally made it official, the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 is now unveiled and it’s the world’s most affordable smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor inside. Not just that, the Pocophone F1 or Poco F1 will also come in either 6GB or 8GB of RAM and it will come in three storage options — 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB.

The Pocophone F1 will also come with a 6.18″ notched display with 18.7:9 display aspect ratio and also a dual lens camera which is a 12MP + 5MP camera while the front camera is a 20MP sensor.

Pocophone F1 Specs

5.99-inch Full HD+ display, 19:9 display aspect ratio
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Processor
6GB RAM
64GB/128GB Internal Storage
12MP+5MP Dual Rear Lens Camera with AI
20MP selfie camera
LTE
WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Android 8.1 Oreo
4000mAh Battery

The Pocophone F1 is priced as follows

6GB/64GB – INR20,999 (Php16,068)
6GB/128GB – INR23,999 (Php18,363)
8GB/256GB – INR28,999 (Php22,189)
8GB/256GB (Armored Edition) – INR29,999 (Php22,954)

In our previous post, we mentioned that the Pocophone F1 will arrive in the Philippines next month and there will be two variants that will arrive in the Philippines. There’s the online-only 6GB/64GB for Php16,990 and also the 6GB/128GB for Php19,990.

Samsung Galaxy A6+ Review

Jam Ancheta

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August 22, 2018

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Samsung is definitely aggressive in its mid-range segment. They have the Galaxy S series for the premium and flagship series and then there’s the J series for the affordable market and between the two is the Galaxy A series. Recently, Samsung Philippines has launched the Samsung Galaxy A6 series in the country and today, we’ll review the better of the two brothers, the Samsung Galaxy A6+

Design and Hardware

What I like about Samsung smartphones is that they’re really solid to hold and since we’re getting a Galaxy A series smartphone, the Galaxy A6+ 2018 is actually made up of metal. The feel of the smartphone is quite premium and yes, the design of the smartphone shares the same design DNA as other Samsung smartphones.

The smartphone features a curved back which makes the smartphone have an ergonomic feel. Despite its metal build and feel, the smartphone doesn’t feel slippery when I’m holding it. The power button of the smartphone is neatly placed on the right side of the smartphone while on the other side are the volume rocker.

The smartphone still uses a micro USB port and then there’s the headphone jack beside it. The smartphone also houses two card trays in which one of them the main sim card slot while the other one houses the secondary sim card and also the MicroSD card of the smartphone.

The smartphone’s fingerprint scanner is placed below the camera of the smartphone which is similar to the one the on the Samsung Galaxy S9+. It can recognize my fingerprint really fast and in case you’re not a fan of that, there’s a face recognition too which can is good enough but not the fastest one in the market.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ 2018 got a 6-inch display with an 18.5:9 display aspect ratio which is mostly seen on Samsung smartphones. There are no capacitive or hardware buttons on the smartphone as the Samsung Galaxy A6+ 2018 embraces the Infinity display similar to their flagship smartphones.

There’s a super AMOLED display panel too which is pretty good colors that are really vivid and vibrant. It’s very usable outside and I really have no problems using the smartphone outside. There are rounded edges too which adds sexiness to the display of the smartphone.

Despite having an infinity display, the smartphone does have some thicker bezels than I expected. Well, it’s not that big but it’s quite noticeable enough when you use the smartphone every day.

Battery Life

Inside the smartphone is a pretty juicy 3500mAh of battery. In our PC Mark test, the smartphone got a very respectable score of 10 hours and 11 minutes which basically translates that the Samsung Galaxy A6+ will last a day of normal usage despite playing some games.

Software and Performance

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ 2018 got a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 processor inside along with 4GB of RAM and when it comes to software, it’s running on 8.0.0 with the same UI that we’re seeing on Samsung Android smartphones. Is it bad? No. I actually love the Samsung UI and it was pretty smooth and really easy to navigate.

Just like the other Samsung smartphones, it will come with the basic Microsoft applications which are probably useful for everyone so I really don’t have a complaint on this one and the, of course, there are the applications that are pre-installed on the smartphone including SmartThings, Samsung Health, and Galaxy Apps. The Samsung Galaxy A6+ will also come with Samsung members which will give you freebies and discounts that are exclusive to Samsung smartphone users.

When it comes to performance, well, it’s what I expected from a smartphone with Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 inside. Check out the games that I was able to run on the smartphone and also its frame rates.

PUBG Mobile: High Frame rate, smooth graphics

The frame rates are pretty unstable at start and it dips whenever there are enemies or too much gunfight on the scene.

GTA LCS: High Settings

The game is pretty much stable at 27fps and nothing really to worry about it.

Asphalt 9: High Settings

The game is set at high settings and it’s playable despite the 21fps. It is suggested to set it at lower settings

Real Racing 3

The game is playable and the frame rates were pretty stable.

You can check out the GameBench Benchmarking app at (https://www.gamebench.net)

You can also download the app at the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gamebench.metricscollector)

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ got a 16MP+5MP dual rear lens camera and also a 24-megapixel front camera with LED flash on both of them. Thankfully, there’s a Live focus feature on the app that lets you do bokeh shots similar to their flagship smartphones with dual lens camera and surprisingly, the smartphone got a Bixby vision which will probably be barely used by most consumers.

The smartphone also got some stickers if you love to take selfies and some quirky elements on your selfies. Other features that are available on the camera app are the Pro mode, Panorama, continuous shot, night mode, sports mode, and sound & shot.

When it comes to shooting, the smartphone fares pretty well and I was really happy with the rear camera of the smartphone whether I’m shooting inside my place or even at lowlight. The selfies are pretty good too even at lowlight. The LED Flash on the front is pretty great too as it can capture brighter and well-toned selfies at low light. Check out the shots that I took using the smartphone. Check out the shots that I took using the smartphone:

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ is a solid device. It has a good build, the camera of the smartphone is really good, and the battery of the smartphone was really long. However, the smartphone is a little bit pricey compared to its competitors and you also get entry-mid level SoC inside. But hey, do remember that this is a Samsung device so the name is really a premium.

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ is now available for Php22,990