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Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab Review

Jam Ancheta
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69
Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab Review

Last month Cherry Mobile has announced the MAIA series of devices and these devices are powered by Intel Atom processors, a first in the brand. Out of the three devices that they announced, there’s one device that really caught my eye and it’s the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab. Why? Because not only this tablet is powered by a powerful Intel Atom Z3735F processor but this tablet also supports dual booting to Android.

 

Hardware and Specifications

 

If you have a powerful P4,999 tablet that runs on Android and Windows. You might think that the body and its construction is super cheap and squeaky. Well, the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab doesn’t disappoint. Yes, it might have a plastic body with a simple & thick design but damn, for a P4,999 tablet with this specification, I wouldn’t complain about its plastic body as long as it doesn’t squeak and it doesn’t break easily.

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (12)

One of the dealbreakers of this tablet is its lack of HDMI port but of course, there’s the MicroUSB port and the 3.5mm audio jack. There’s an 8-inch display on the tablet and below that display in portrait, you’ll see the capacitive button which I accidentally press most of the time whenever I swipe from that side of the tablet.

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (6)

There’s only one Micro USB port on the tablet and you can use it for charging, plugging in your keyboard and mouse, or opening your flash drive but of course, you can only use one of them at once. When I got my Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab, I immediately bought a Micro USB keyboard for it and it was amazing. It became a productivity device in Windows and a pretty damn good gaming device for Android.

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The Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab packs a 32GB of internal storage. However, the storage of the Android OS and Windows OS on this tablet isn’t shared. The Android OS has 8GB of Internal storage while Windows got the rest. But of course, Windows 8.1 takes too much space compared to Android and if you’re planning on upgrading to Windows 10, be sure that your storage on Windows is clean and almost empty before upgrading.

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For apps, you don’t have to worry that much because there’s a MicroSD card slot on this tablet and you can use it on both Android and Windows. In my case, instead of installing applications on its internal storage, I always install apps on the MicroSD card to save a lot of space. Oh, and did you know that installing Microsoft Office on the main drive will almost clear up your free space so I really suggest getting a MicroSD card whenever you get this tablet.

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If you’re an audiophile, don’t expect too much from this tablet and the output wasn’t that loud. There’s a front and rear camera too that you can use for Skype but of course, the quality of the camera wasn’t the best one out there for a tablet. But for a P4,999 tablet, I wouldn’t complain.

 

There’s a 3800mAh battery inside the tablet which is just enough, but you might wonder how long will last because this one uses an Intel Atom Z3735F processor which is also used on the Cherry Mobile Alpha Morph and some laptop. Thankfully, this 8-inch tablet could last up to 3-4 hours of average use. It can’t match the batteries of the bigger laptops but considering its hardware and price, it’s not that bad.

Display

 

There’s an 8-inch display on this one and It boasts an HD resolution. There’s nothing special about it but for its price, the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab has a pretty good display. Actually, there are only a few tablets that have an Intel Baytrail processor inside and an 8-inch HD display. And as far as I know, this is the most powerful 8-inch tablet at its price range.

 

Software

 

The biggest interesting feature of having this tablet is dual booting function. You can now have both Android and Windows on an affordable tablet. There’s Android 4.4 Kitkat and there’s Windows 8.1, but you can upgrade this tablet to Windows 10 if you want and yes, the current drivers work on Windows 10.

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (11)

If you’re on Android, the UI is familiar and if you’re using a Cherry Mobile smartphone, it won’t be hard for you to use the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab on Android. It’s easy to navigate and to understand. Of course, you can download apps and games on the play store just like an Android tablet.

 

To switch to Windows from Android, all you need to do is to pull down the notification bar and then just choose the OS switch. Of course you’ll see a Windows UI with no signs of Android in it and to switch to Android, all you need to do is to open the DualOS switcher app on the desktop and then poof. You’ll automatically restart to Android after a few seconds.

 

For a P4,990 tablet, the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab is actually very powerful. There’s a Quad-Core Intel Atom Z3735F processor inside along with 2GB of RAM. It might not be the best processor out there but it can do its job well for Windows and you can install legacy applications and games on it while on Android, all of the apps ran really fast and smooth and the demanding games can run on this tablet.

 

On Android, I’ve installed some games including Hearthstone and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and those games ran without hiccups on the tablet. I was actually surprised with the performance of this tablet. I didn’t expect that it could run these games really well.

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (8)

Unlike the Cherry Mobile Alpha Play and Alpha Morph, the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab ran faster than those two despite having almost the same specifications. There are fewer bugs too on both operating systems that’s why I really love using this tablet as my mini blogging machine.

 

When it comes to gaming on Windows, games such as Warcraft III can run on this tablet at max settings. Some other popular games like League of Legends, Atlantica Online, Ragnarok Online, Civilization V, and Torchlight 2 however, you need to set it at the lowest settings to play the game. Oh and since this is a Windows tablet, I was also able to install and use Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom on this tablet but of course, only light tasks can be run on this tablet

 

However, one of the gripes that I have on this tablet is that I can’t use the MicroSD card on both operating systems since both OS supports different formats. But since 8GB of space is enough for me on Android, I decided to use my 64GB MicroSD card on Windows 10 since I can only use 4-8 GB of storage after updating it to Windows 10.

 

If you’re planning on using this device for playing too, I highly recommend you guys to buy a MicroSD card and use it as a directory to install all the apps and games because I’m pretty sure that the storage left on Windows wouldn’t be enough for you

 

Accessories

 

Probably, the biggest dealbreaker in this tablet is the lack of Micro HDMI port and there’s only one Micro USB port too which serves as the charging port and for OTG. It means that you cannot use this tablet for powerpoint presentations and you cannot use a keyboard and mouse and charge it at the same time because there’s only one MicroUSB port.

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (7)

To have a full Windows experience on this one, I bought a MicroSD card, Micro USB keyboard sleeve, 4-port USB hub, Micro USB female to USB Male port, and a mouse. This gives me the ability to have a productive and faster Windows experience. Again, it’s a really great mini blogging machine.

 

Verdict

Cherry Mobile Smart MAIA Tab (2)

Whether you’re looking for a Windows or Android tablet at P5,000 and below price range, this is the best one that you can get. Actually, the Cherry Mobile MAIA Smart Tab could even trump tablets at P10,000 price range since you’re getting a dual-booting tablet with a good performance. This tablet is a balance of productivity and media consumption. You can do your office work on Windows but you can also play your favorite games on Android and yet this tablet wouldn’t put a hole in your pocket.

 

I highly recommend this tablet and yes I’m actually using this tablet more than my iPad Air 2.

Smart partners with AirBnB to give you more awesome travel experience

Jam Ancheta
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0
Smart partners with AirBnB to give you more awesome travel experience

Travelers and Backpackers would surely enjoy their Smart Life because Smart and AirBnB has teamed up to bring you awesome travel experiences because Smart subscribers can now enjoy P2500 off on AirBnB bookings worldwide!

 

If you’re not familiar with AirBnB, lets travelers choose a place to spend during their vacation or just out of town trips. With AirBnB, you can have unique accommodations whether that’s a condo, a tent, or even a treehouse! The cool thing about AirBnB is that it’s available in more than 34,000 cities in over 190 countries.

 

With this partnership of Smart and AirBnB, subscribers of Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, and Smart Bro can not enjoy P2,500 discount for a minimum of P8,000 booking at any AirBnB-listed accommodation here and abroad.

 

To enjoy this promo from AirBnB and Smart, subscribers simply have to text SMARTAIRBNB to 2955 for free. Subscribers will have to wait for the unique promo code that they can use to activate the discount whenever they complete their AirBnB booking. This discount can be use once per registered Philippine AirBnB user but it is open to all AirBnB users with travel period until December 2016.

 

AirBnB is a must-have app for travelers and backpackers. If you also want to have a staycation over the weekend, AirBnB is also the best app to look for a place to stay. Actually, AirBnB is much cheaper than most hotels and you even have unique places to stay.

 

I’m really happy that AirBnB partnered with Smart because not only I get to have discounts on AirBnB but also on Uber. Imagine the savings that you could have on your vacation. Having a free ride with Smart-Uber partnership then have a P2,500 discount on AirBnB, that’s a lot of discounts!

 

If you want to know more about this promo from Smart and AirBnB, head over to http://smart.com.ph/airbnb

Zuk Z1 Unboxing and Initial Review

Jam Ancheta
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0
Zuk Z1 Unboxing and Initial Review

Zuk is the latest company to arrive here in the Philippines and the  Lenovo-backed company is bringing their first smartphone to the country, the Zuk Z1. Unlike in China, the Zuk Z1 will be available in both physical stores and online. The brand might be new to you, but the hardware of the smartphone is really interesting because the Zuk Z1 packs a hardware that can really match up the very popular Zenfone 2 and other smartphones at its price range.

 

Zuk Z1 Specifications

  • 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display
  • Quad-core Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
  • 3GB RAM
  • 64GB internal storage
  • 13MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture with dual-tone LED flash and OIS
  • 8MP front camera
  • Dual-SIM (nano)
  • 4G LTE
  • USB Type-C
  • 4100mAh battery
  • U-Touch fingerprint reader
  • Cyanogen OS 12.1

 

Snapdragon 801 processor might be a year old, but this processor can still do the job and run most games and applications flawlessly. It is also one of my favorite processors because it doesn’t heats up and up to this day, it could still run most games without hiccups. Another thing that I like in this smartphone is its display that looks really good and its fingerprint reader that is the fastest that I’ve used on a smartphone.

 

This smartphone might have a 64GB Internal Storage, but it doesn’t support MicroSD cards. If you also have a lot of Micro USB cables, you might not be able to use those cables in this smartphone because this one is using USB Type-C which is really nice feature unless if you’ve already invested on Micro USB accessories.

 

If you want to buy this smartphone right now, be sure to watch my unboxing and hands-on at the top of this post first to know more about it. Zuk Z1 is now available at different stores nationwide such as MemoXpress and it comes in grey or white. The smartphone is pegged at P15,299. If you ask me, it’s a really good smartphone at its price.

Samsung and PhilCare partnership brings NFC cards to healthcare availment

Jam Ancheta
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0
Samsung and PhilCare partnership brings NFC cards to healthcare availment

Philcare, the leading health care provider has recently partnered with Samsung Electronics Philippines to bring you a faster, more efficient and better availment of health services from hospitals. To do that, Samsung Electronics Philippines and Philcare will be bringing the near field communication technology or NFC to Philcare’s membership cards.

 

NFC is a radio frequency technology that has been outed on smartphones and tablets a long time ago and it lets you do mobile transactions or pairing with other devices. But this time, Philcare will be using membership cards that has this technology to send and recceive information via brief contract. Aside from having an NFC membership cards, Philcare would also have Samsung devices to ensure the secure transfer of data.

 

This NFC-capable card will wipe away the slow and tedious process of availing health services because with this, they only need to hand over their cards to any 200 service providers of PhilCare and they can easily determine the coverage and benefits of a member as well as its information and account.

 

This partnership between Samsung and PhilCare showed us that NFC technology could really be use in these cases. I hope that Samsung can have more partnerships with other companies to bring this kind of technology to consumers. Who knows? We might have NFC-capable national IDs for our country with this kind of technology, heh.

Belkin launches their newest line-up in their first “Belkin Academy”

Jam Ancheta
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0
Belkin launches their newest line-up in their first “Belkin Academy”

Belkin has recently unveiled their newest products to arrive here in the country and they have every cable accessory that you need your smartphone or tablet. Not only that, Belkin also have the accessories that you need when you’re in your car and all of these accessories have a 100K Gadget Guarantee.

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Belkin has introduce that their new metallic colorways for the MIXIT collection which compose of different charging cables and car chargers and one of their best selling product in the MIXIT cable is the Black Mamba that features a matte metallic finish and braided cable jacket which lets you have a cable not only that looks good but also a cable that really is tough and won’t break easily.  This cable is available in black, pearl white, gold, silver, and gray. And in case your Belkin product breaks your device, they’ll be happy to replace your device. Awesome huh?

 

For those people who are looking for accessories for their cars then you might be happy to hear that they have a new line up of in-car accessories for your devices. These includes different kinds of car mounts that are compatible with different devices and smartphones. But of course, it would be awesome if you could pair those mounts with your very own Belkin car chargers.

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If you’re using the latest devices such as the Zuk Z1, ASUS Zenpad S 8.0, Nexus 6P, & Nexus 5x then you might be happy to know that Belkin now also offers the latest USB-C cables for your devices. If you don’t have any idea what a USB Type-C is, well, it’s the next generation ports for your devices that are reversible and it supports faster data transfer. Not only that, these devices with USB Type C ports have the ability to rapid charge your devices and it supports video output with that.

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The best thing about having a Belkin accessory at your home is that they have the Belkin’s 100K Gadget Guarantee and they call it as the connected equipment warranty (CEW) internationally. With this, you would automatically get a 100K gadget guarantee when you buy a Belkin product that are CEW certified.  CEW covers your damaged equipment by transient voltage while it is connected through a Belkin Surge Protector to a properly wired AC power line with a protective ground.

 

And yes, Belkin will repair or replace your device with an equal amount to the fair market value of the damaged equipment or the original price of the equipment.

Pyxis Digital TV Receiver Review

Jam Ancheta
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5
Pyxis Digital TV Receiver Review

Today, our country is going Digital when it comes to TV signal and for those people who didn’t know, we need to have a Digital TV signal receiver once TV networks shut off their analog broadcast. Digital is also way better than analog because it offers a better quality and a clearer broadcast. But of course, in the age of mobile, we always want to have everything on our smartphones or tablets including watching TV. So how will that be possible? With Pyxis Digital TV Receiver, you can now watch TV anytime as long as you have your device and the Pyxis Digital TV Receiver.

 

Before we talk about the Pyxis Digital TV receiver, lets talk about how the Pyxis Digital TV receiver works. First, you need an Android smartphone and the Pyxis Digital TV Receiver. You have to download the Siano app on the Play store then you need to open your WiFi on your smartphone and connect it to the Pyxis Digital TV Receiver then poof, you can now use the Siano TV app on the smartphone or tablet

 

The Pyxis Digital TV Receiver is a small device and it can really fit in your pocket. I was actually surprised that this device can receive a Digital TV signal and yes, it does have a built-in battery inside so you can bring this device anywhere.

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The Pyxis Digital TV receiver is very easy to use and operate. All you need to do is to use the slider to turn it on and then you just need to connect your device to the Pyxis Digital Receiver and then open the Siano app. But of course, there’s must be a Digital TV Signal in your area to watch your favorite TV channels.

 

The app works on most Android and iOS devices too however in iOS, our country isn’t supported yet. Scanning the channels won’t take too much time and the user interface is very easy to use and understand. However, sometimes I notice that the app is buggy sometimes and it wouldn’t let me search for a channel at first use but don’t worry, a software update could fix that.

 

Regarding the reception, well guys, I’m glad to share with you guys that the Pyxis Digital TV Receiver performed well despite having a small design. Inside my condominium unit, which is a place where even a cellphone signal is scarce, I was surprised to get a Digital TV reception inside.

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The battery life was pretty good too because I was able to get a battery life of 4 hours of watching on this one. Charging the device won’t be a hassle for you guys because this one can be even charged using a power bank.

 

The Pyxis Digital TV Receiver is a really nice device especially if you’re always on the go and you want to watch your favorite TV shows especially Eat Bulaga (Because we love AlDub, Duh!). You can now get the Pyxis Digital TV Receiver at Cherry Mobile stores and kiosks for P2,499.

Smart unveils its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Plans and it’s FREE on Plan 2000 and Plan 2500 respectively!

Jam Ancheta
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0
Smart unveils its iPhone 6s and 6s Plus Plans and it’s FREE on Plan 2000 and Plan 2500 respectively!

Smart Communications has recently unveiled the plans for the iPhones 6s and 6s Plus and yes, it’s arriving this November 6 and this year, the iPhone 6s will be available for Free at Plan 2000 while the iPhone 6s Plus will be available for free at Plan 2499! Not only that these smartphones would be free at those plans, they’ll also come with a data allocation which is more than enough for you guys. There’s 10GB for Plan 2000 and there’s 15GB for Plan 2499. And yes, these smartphones comes with an all-month surf which will give you access to different apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Viber, Messenger while you can use the data allocation for heavy usage such as upload and downloading videos.

Some of the new features that can be found on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus are 3D touch which gives you more inputs for the touchscreen display, better rear and front camera, a faster A9 chip, and also live photo which gives you a Harry Potter-like moving photos.

So why you should get your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus at Smart? Because they’re offering not only the brand new iPhones but they also have some interesting promos that you would surely love!

  • Be one of the first to get the iPhone 6s Rose Gold 16GB from Smart via special Uber delivery on November 6 at exactly 12:01AM! How? All you need to do is to choose iPhone delivery option on the Uber app and to pay the iPhone in credit card. Not only that, they’ll also get some awesome surprises too!

 

  • When you purchase an iPhone 6s or 6s Plans from Smart, you’ll also have as much as 20% discount for a minimum purchase of P500 at Zalora!

 

  • For travellers, you would also enjoy P2,500 discount on your AirBnB booking with a minimum spend of P8,000 and yes, you can use this discount all over the world

 

  • For those who love to watch movies, Iflix is the app for you and with the new iPhones at Smart, you’ll get 1GB of data for streaming your favorite movies and TV shows on Iflix!

 

  • With Smart’s Share the Joy Gadget Giveaway, not only you get the spanking brand new iPhone but you also get a chance to win another gadget instantly when you sign up for a Smart Postpaid Plan or recontract at Smart stores nationwide!

 

  • If you’re excited about the new iPhones, you can upgrade with Smart’s Wipeout promo! You can now wipe out your existing contract and you can upgrade to the new iPhones and even enjoy discounts depending on the number of your remaining months in your contract

One of the gripes of most iPhone users is that they cannot purchase apps and games on iTunes, App store and Apple Music but worry no more! Because you can now purchase at those services without credit card with their Smart Pay-With-Mobile service by simply texting REG to 4949.

Exciting no? If you want to get your new iPhones on November 6, head over to www.smart.com.ph/iPhone but if you want more perks and more premium plans, you can get the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus at Smart Infinity via www.smart.com.ph/infinity

Get the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition at Smart Infinity!

Jam Ancheta
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0
Get the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limited Edition at Smart Infinity!

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has been available for a while now along with the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus but for artists and people who like to draw, they always prefer the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 because of its S-Pen. Actually, one of the few known artists that uses a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is BenCab.

 

And at Smart Infinity, they’re now offering a special edition of Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab Limitd edition. This limited edition smartphone includes an exclusive Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with phone edition number engraved on its back, a BenCab commemorative art book, a BenCab designed protective hardcover, certificate of authenticity, BenCab’s digital wallpaper art and pre-installed Samsung Art Apps.

 

The special edition of Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is available on Smart Infinity Consumable LTE Plan 5000 which will give you 400 text, 400 worth of consumable credits and 30GB of data allocation which is more than enough for most people. Smart Infinity will also give away free 10 thousand lifestyle options or 13 thousand Mabuhay Miles upon subscribe to this offer.

 

And if you don’t want that LTE Plan 5000, you can get a limited edition Samsung Galaxy Note 5 BenCab edition at Smart Infinity’s Consumable LTE Plan 3500 and Consumable LTE Plan 8000. If you want to order one from Smart Infinity, head over to this link: http://smart.com.ph/infinity/samsungnote5

 

Sony Xperia Z5 Series launched in the Philippines!

Jam Ancheta
-
0
Sony Xperia Z5 Series launched in the Philippines!

One of the newest flagship to arrive here in the Philippines is the Sony Xperia Z5 series. Yep, it’s a series and they’re releasing not just one, not two, but three Sony Xperia Z5 smartphones! Just like its older brothers the Sony Xperia Z5 series will have an amazing camera and this time, these smartphones will now be powered by the latest Snapdragon 810 processors.

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium specs

  • 5.5-inch 4K display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of expandable storage
  • 23-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front camera with Exmor R sensor
  • LTE
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 3430mAh battery

Sony Xperia Z5 specs

  • 5.2-inch Full HD Display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 32GB of expandable storage
  • 23-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front camera
  • LTE
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 2900mAh battery

 

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact specs

  • 4.7-inch HD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor
  • 2GB of RAM
  • 32GB of expandable storage
  • 23-megapixel rear camera
  • 5-megapixel front camera
  • LTE
  • Android 5.1 Lollipop
  • 2700mAh battery
There are three Sony Xperia Z5 smartphones and the most affordable of them all is the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact which has an SRP of P29,990 while the Z5 is priced at P35,990. However, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium doesn’t have an SRP yet.

Buy and sell in less than 30 seconds with Shopee

Jam Ancheta
-
1
Buy and sell in less than 30 seconds with Shopee

Smartphones are getting cheaper and cheaper everyday, and right now, you can even buy a smartphone for as low as P1,999. A lot of us rely on smartphones for everything. Whether communicating with our friends or loved ones, and even buying and shopping online. Speaking of shopping, I recently discovered this app called Shopee. It’s the newest mobile marketplace where you can buy and sell easily and securely.

 

Because Shopee makes it fast and easy to start selling products, it’s really good for people who are looking for a  mobile platform that has all the features needed to make transactions in one place, even if they are on-the-go. All you need to do after signing up is to upload a photo of your item, input the product details, set the price and shipping fee, and that’s it! In fact, if you’re already an Instagram seller, you can use the IG Import to get your photos from your account.

 

One of the main reasons why a lot of us Filipinos don’t trust online transactions is because we’ve all heard the horror stories of both buyers and sellers getting scammed. Well, Shopee has you covered because they can ensure you that you will receive your order or get your money back. This is what they call the “Shopee Guarantee”, where the payment is only released to the seller once the buyer confirms that they’ve received their purchases.

 

Another feature that sets Shopee apart from other online marketplaces is their Live Chat. It’s real time and it works great especially if you want to make an offer to a seller for a product you’re interested in, or if you want to make an inquiry about it. It’s a really convenient feature that cuts down the time and effort needed to switch from one app to another, to get in touch with the seller.

 

With Shopee, you can create and browse listings for free. They have a wide range of products, whether you’re looking for game consoles, computers, smartphones, and even fashion items. After buying an item through Shopee, you can also share it with your friends and family using your social media accounts.

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With all these features, there’s no reason to wait! Check out Shopee now by downloading the App store or Play Store; and if you’re on your laptops, you can check out the marketplace at shopee.ph.

 

Be sure to check out their social media accounts because not only you’ll get to know more about them but you’ll also be able to check out the latest promo codes for Shopee. Head over to their Facebook and like their page or follow them on Twitter and Instagram. So what are you waiting for? Check out Shopee now at shopee.ph!

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