ASUS has surprised us at Computex with their reveal of the ASUS Zephyrus. It’s an ultra-thin laptop that runs on a Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU. What do I mean by ultra thin? Well, this is the thinnest notebook that runs on a Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU thanks to Nvidia’s Max-Q technology which makes these GTX 1080-powered laptops have an ultra-thin body.
As you can see from the picture, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is really thin for a gaming notebook. It only has a thickness of 16.9mm and up to 17.9mm when open. So how did ASUS managed to do that? Well, it’s because of Nvidia’s Q-Max technology. When you open the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, it gives a little opening for the vent of the notebook so you don’t have to worry about its temps
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus also have a different design from other ASUS ROG notebooks as the Zephyrus has a trackpad that is placed beside the keyboard but don’t get fooled with that because that trackpad also acts as the numpad of the laptop by just pressing a button.
Another thing to love about the ASUS ROG Zephyrus is its monitor. It has a 15.6-inch display which is unfortunately only at 1080p but it supports 120Hz which is perfect for gaming especially for FPS games such as Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, Battlefield 1, and Overwatch.
Despite its thinness, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus managed to have a lot of ports that you’ll need for gaming and other peripherals including USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 3.1.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus and the Nvidia Q-Max Technology has set a new benchmark when it comes to gaming laptops. Yes, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus might pack a GTX 1080 and it might have a very expensive SRP but ASUS and Nvidia just showed us that a gaming laptop doesn’t need to be thick just to be powerful.
I hope that the ASUS ROG Zephyrus would start the revolution of thin gaming notebooks in the industry. I hope that there will be more notebooks with Nvidia’s Q-Max technology with a lower price tag and support for the lower GPUs such as the GTX 1070 and GTX 1060. The price? We still don’t have any idea for that but considering that this notebook packs a GTX 1080 GPU and this one has a thin profile, this one would definitely have a high price tag.
Another notebook that ASUS has announced is the ASUS Zenbook Pro which is a powerful laptop that runs on Intel Core i7 Quad-core processor and an Nvidia GTX 1050Ti GPU. But don’t think that this notebook will come with a large and thick body because this laptop comes with a thin and light factor just like the ASUS Zenbook 3, Zenbook 3 Deluxe, and Zenbook Flip S.
This is the thinnest and lightest ZenBook Pro ever at 18.9mm and at 1.8kg. ASUS is also pushing for 4K UHD NanoEdge display too on this notebook with a screen ratio of 83%. The Zenbook Pro is also meant for performance because this notebook will come with a powerful Intel Core i5/i7 H-series processors and up to GTX1050Ti which is already decent enough and can run most games at the highest settings without problems.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro also got enough ports (Hi there Macbook!) and again, it has the performance that can really match some gaming notebooks and most notebooks at its size. Not only that this laptop can have an Intel Core i7 processor and up to GTX1050Ti GPU, it can also have up to 1TB of SSD
Overall, the ASUS Zenbook Pro is a notebook that is not just sexy and sleek but it’s also powerful. The ASUS Zenbook Pro just showed us that a notebook can be both powerful and thin. I hope that other manufacturers follow the same route.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro starts at $1,299 (Php64,113~)
One of the new ASUS ROG Strix notebooks that will be launched today is the ASUS ROG Strix GL503. It’s a big departure from the ROG series when it comes to design as it loses the orange accents and it also now sports a design that is more edgy and cleaner than ever and yet, still packs gaming feel. Just like the GL502, the ASUS ROG Strix GL503 will be thinner than most gaming laptops and yet, it will still run most of the games at the highest settings.
What we know is that the laptop will be running on the Intel Core i7 processor and it will have a GPU of up to Nvidia GTX 1070 which is pretty good for gaming. Want to know more about its new and sleek design? Check out our hands-on of the ASUS ROG Strix GL503 below
The Vivobooks are meant to be the affordable lineup of smartphones from the brand but despite that, the notebooks managed to have a decent hardware that can run most applications without too much hassle and lags, however, most of the time, they sacrificed its body and build quality to make the price of the notebook go down. But today, ASUS has introduced the ASUS Vivobook S, a laptop that is meant to have a good performance and quality and yet, still affordable to the consumers.
The ASUS Vivobook S borrows a lot of features from its premium brothers, the ASUS Zenbook 3. The ASUS VivoBook S managed to have a 17.9mm weight and 1.5kg of weight which is thin by today’s standards and at the demo booth, there’s the 15.6 Full HD NanoEdge display with an 80% screen-to-body ratio. And I can tell you, it looks pretty good for a notebook that is affordable.
Surprisingly, the ASUS Vivobook S has an aluminum chassis which is really rare on the affordable laptops but of course, the rest of it is plastic. But again, I was surprised that the ASUS Vivobook S feels better and solid than I expected for an affordable notebook.
The ASUS VivoBook S will come in Intel Core i3, i5, and i7 U-series processors and of course, the most affordable ASUS VivoBook S will come in Core i3 processor. The ASUS Vivobook S also manage to have up to GeForce 940MX GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD with 2TB HDD.
On some variants of the ASUS Vivobook S, it also supports Windows Hello and also Backlit keyboard but for an affordable notebook, that is a pretty awesome addition to the notebook.
Holding the ASUS Vivobook S, it doesn’t actually feel cheap. It feels more premium that I expected and aesthetically, you’ll definitely feel that this isn’t a Vivobook but more of a Zenbook. It feels premium but once you feel the plastic parts of the laptop, then you’ll know that this is a Vivobook.
The ASUS Vivobook S does have an interesting MSRP starting at $499, however, do take note that this price might be only running on the lowest variant possible so expect that the notebook will get a higher MSRP if you want the better hardware.
ASUS has recently introduced the newest addition to the ASUS Zenbook family and it’s the ASUS Zenbook Flip S. It’s the world’s thinnest convertible at 10.9mm which is thinner than the Macbook and it only weights 1.1kg. And yes, this notebook Just like the ASUS Zenbook 3, the notebook will be thin and portable but still powerful.
Inside the ASUS Zenbook Flip S is an Intel Core i7 processor with up to 16GB LPDDR3 RAM 2133MHz. The notebook also supports up to 1TB PCIe 3.0 X4 SSD. The notebook also has a fingerprint sensor and it supports a stylus for its touchscreen that has 1024 pressure levels.
Other features of the ASUS Zenbook Flip S is the support for fast charging that lets you charge the laptop by 60% in just 49 minutes. Some of the features that you probably might be interested with are the Harman/Kardon sound, support for Windows Hello, and the fingerprint scanner for the added security.
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S feels like the ASUS Zenbook 3. It’s premium, thin, and yet it’s really powerful. Of course, the hinge is different to make it flip up to 360. Not only that, the bezels are quite thin too which makes the overall footprint of the laptop small.
The 4K UHD display of the ASUS Zenbook Flip S and it supports a stylus that lets you draw anything on the screen similar to the one on the ASUS Transformer 3 Pro. And yes, the display looks really damn good.
We just took a short hands-on of the ASUS Zenfone AR. In case you’re familiar with it, the smartphone has been launched last CES. The smartphone not only packs the world’s first 8GB RAM on a smartphone, it also supports Google Daydream and Google Tango which is made for Google’s own VR platform and also for AR technology respectively.
Google Tango lets you interact with the world with Augmented Reality similar to how the Pokemon Go’s AR works however this time, the Google Tango is more accurate and there are more sensors on the phone that lets you see and interact with the world using the aps that supports Google Tango. The smartphone supports motion tracking, area learning, and depth perception that’s why interacting with the AR is accurate.
The ASUS Zenfone AR is actually slimmer than I expected. The smartphone has 5.7-inch display but despite that, it feels good to the hand because the ASUS Zenfone AR sports a smooth curve that feels right to the hand. Unlike most of the ASUS Zenfone 3 smartphones, the Zenfone AR packs a different back design and a fingerprint sensor that is placed on the home button on the front.
The camera setup at the back is not really that bulky despite packing 3 cameras and sensors that lets you do Augmented Reality. The smartphone packs a camera similar to the ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe which is a 23-megapixel rear camera with IMX318. The camera of the smartphoneis nice but it isn’t the best one in the market right now.
The Google Tango feature of the ASUS Zenfone AR is really amazing. It’s not as immersive as the one on the Hololens but it is still amazing on how accurate the Google Tango is. You can interact with the augemented reality accurately and in some apps, you can place an object where you wanted to and even when you walk around, the ASUS Zenfone AR can correctly and accurately recognize the position and depth of your place. However, we’re still not sure what are the apps that will be a game changer but if you’re in the industry of selling furnitures, houses, and most big objects that would take some space, the ASUS Zenfone AR’s Google Tango is really a nice feature.
The ASUS Zenfone AR is expected to be release in the country soon.
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 has just been unveiled today and it packs a juicy 5300mAh battery inside and then there’s still the massive 6.44-inch display that is perfect for watching movies and playing games. The Mi Max 2 will surely last in terms of the battery life as this one packs a 5300mAh battery and then there’s the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor which is really a power saver. Check out the full specs of the smartphone below:
Xiaomi Mi Max 2 Specs
6.44-inch Full HD Display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Processor
4GB of RAM
64GB/128GB Storage expandable via MicroSD
12-megapixel rear camera with LED Flash
5-megapixel front camera
Dual SIM
LTE
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
Fingerprint Scanner
5300mAh battery
Android 7.0 Nougat
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 will be available on June 1 for RMB1699 (Php12,330) for the 64GB and RMB1999 (Php14,506) for the 128GB
PLDT has just announced the next generation of their TVolution streaming box for their subscribers and this time, PLDT will be working with Roku Inc. to bring you the best solution for delivering content via streaming.
And yes, the Philippines is the first in Asia to stream in the Roku Streaming Platform. The Roku TVolution Boxes that you’ll be getting will be perfect with your PLDT Home DSL, Ultra, or Home Fibr connection as the TVolution because you only need to add an additional monthly service fee of P299 for the Roku TVolution Box.
The new TVolution streaming box will give offer services such as Iflix, Netflix, Youtube, and even Cignal TV! Yes, you only need an internet connection to have the biggest TV provider in the Philippines.
The Roke TVolution Box is available for PLDT subscribers starting this May and you only need to add a Monthly Service fee of P299.
Samsung Galaxy S8 is the boldest smartphone that the company has ever created. The smartphone aims to get the trust of the people back to the company after the Samsung Galaxy Note7 fiasco. In this review, we will answer the question that I get a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S8. Is it the best smartphone on the market? Does it have a good camera? Is the smartphone really that good in performance and design? Well, check out our review of the smartphone to know more about it.
A bezel-less and sexy design
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the sexiest smartphone in the market right now. There. I said it. Some might disagree with me but I’ll tell you why the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the sexiest smartphone in the market for me.
As you could see, the Samsung Galaxy S8 packs an all-glass design similar to the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge which means that Samsung still delivered the same design language and identity despite having an almost bezel-less display. The curves at the back of the smartphone make the Samsung Galaxy S8 really ergonomic and this year, Samsung has opted for on-screen capacitive buttons instead of the hardware buttons in which we have seen on most Samsung smartphones. Well, it isn’t a big change when it comes to experience but it’s a big change for Samsung when it comes to their identity in their smartphones.
Since there’s no home button on the front of the smartphone, the fingerprint scanner of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is placed at the back. Actually, I’m having a hard time recognizing the fingerprint scanner when I’m not looking at it as it is placed just beside the camera but no worries because if you have a case for your smartphone, you would easily feel and recognize the fingerprint scanner.
The smartphone also packs a USB Type-C which is expected on a flagship smartphone and thankfully, Samsung didn’t ditch the 3.5mm audio jack on the smartphone which is the feature that was now missing on the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus. Oh and the speaker? The speaker of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is great and the AKG earphones bundled with it? It’s the best one that I had on a smartphone.
An almost bezel-less curved display
Aesthetics is one of the things that you would surely love on the Samsung Galaxy S8. I believe this smartphone is the sexiest in the market right now. Its light, the quality of the smartphone is premium and the great screen-to-body ratio of the smartphone is just astonishing.
Since both the front display and the back features a curved glass which is by the way, really ergonomic but really confusing when you’re getting your pocket form the hand as you won’t easily feel which is the side of the smartphone in where you can find the display.
Speaking of display, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has the best and gorgeous display on all smartphones. Why? First, it’s a Super AMOLED display which means that the smartphone is vivid and saturation of the display was really great. Another thing to love about it is its curved display. It might not be ideal for watching videos due to the black bars on the side due to its ratio and for some games that don’t support the display ratio, the display of the smartphone still has a really great quality. The saturation of the display is great and using the smartphone outside isn’t a problem. I really appreciate that Samsung has used this display ratio as the smartphone looks thinner but taller which makes the smartphone ergonomic and yet, still packs a large screen size.
Godlike Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S8 packs an Exynos 8895 processor inside instead of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. Nonetheless, the Exynos processor inside the smartphone has a Godlike performance for a smartphone. Whether you want to play games like NBA 2k17, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Dragon Nest II, or whatever that games are or using heavy applications such as photo and video editors, the Exynos 8895 won’t have a problem with that.
I have a love-hate relationship with its TouchWiz UI. Yes, it really looks good and the new effects were really awesome especially when you received a notification in where the edges of the screen light up and then an oval pops up on the screen. It might be a small feature but it really adds to the feel and eye candy on the TouchWiz UI. The interface and colors look really well too and they’re just perfect for the Galaxy S8.
So why do I hate it? Well, I don’t really hate the interface it’s just that after a few weeks or months of use, I do experience some lags. But of course, not all people will get to experience what I experience because I’m a heavy smartphone user. So yeah, there are some lags here and there but it mostly happens when I have a lot of apps that are running. But don’t worry because closing apps or restarting the smartphone would make it lag-free again. But yeah, it’s a little bit of hassle.
Bixby Voice is not useful. Yet.
One of the reasons why I didn’t push through with the review of the Samsung Galaxy S8 before was the lack of Bixby Voice and as of this posting, the Bixby Voice is now available on the Samsung Galaxy S8.
For a new voice assistant, the Bixby Voice did a great job when it comes to voice recognition and its functions however it really needs more support for apps but hey, Samsung did a great job on Bixby. It’s actually easily to activate Bixby, you only need to press and hold the dedicated Bixby button and then say your command. It’s actually useful if you don’t want to look at your smartphone. However, Samsung still needs to improve Bixby Voice even more but again, the Bixby Voice does really have a bright future if they continue to improve it. Especially the Bixby vision, the feature that lets the smartphone recognize an object by just taking a photo. Well, the Bixby Vision doesn’t fare well and it couldn’t recognize some objects really well.
A decent work day battery life
The Samsung Galaxy S8 packs a 3000mAh battery. Samsung learned its lesson from the Galaxy Note7 and Samsung has made big improvements when manufacturing their battery and speaking of battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S8 can last a workday if you’re a casual user or just doing some light tasks such as browsing the Facebook and the web but if you’re a heavy gamer, be sure to get a power bank with you. The charging time is really fast on the Samsung Galaxy S8 too. It only takes a few minutes before you can charge a smartphone up to 60%.
The Amazing Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S8 might only have a single camera but it’s definitely one of the best ones in the industry. The smartphone got a 12-megapixel dual pixel sensor at the back with f1/.7 aperture. We also got an 8MP front camera with the same f/1.7 aperture. Overall, both cameras pack an amazing performance whether you use the smartphone on low light or on decent lighting conditions.
Another cool new feature of Galaxy S8’s camera is the stickers and also some effects. Well, they’re really cute and I’m pretty sure that those people who love Snapchat or Instagram’s stickers, they’ll definitely love the stickers on the Samsung Galaxy S8 as this one is already built in on the app itself.
The rear camera of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is one of the best in the industry. The photos that I took using the Samsung Galaxy S8 are sharp and they are really good. The colors are on point and it can shoot really well whatever condition you are in. However, for a flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S8 lacks a dual lens camera at the back and unfortunately, if you are into bokeh or portrait mode, the Samsung Galaxy S8’s selective focus doesn’t work well. But again, the Samsung Galaxy S8 still has one of the best cameras in the industry. Check out the photos that I took using the Samsung Galaxy S8:
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Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is probably the best Android smartphone to get right now in the Philippines (Well, as long as the Galaxy Note8 isn’t out yet). You got a great camera, great design, a great performance, and a great battery life. There’s a chance that you’re reading this after the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Note8, well, the Galaxy Note8 is a more refined and better version of the Galaxy S8 but if you want a cheaper and still a great flagship smartphone with a really good hardware, well, the Galaxy S8 is here folks. It’s currently the best smartphone to get (But again, as long as the Galaxy Note8 isn’t out yet)
Vivo Philippines has just launched the Vivo V5s in the country. It’s an upgraded version of the Vivo V5 and it now comes with a larger storage but it still comes with a 20-megapixel front facing camera which is really good for selfies. The other specs of the smartphone will still be the same. It will still have a MediaTek MT6750 processor and 4GB of RAM inside.
