realme has announced an upgraded 4GB+128GB storage variant of its recently launched Note 50 smartphone. The new model is now available exclusively on realme’s official Lazada store in Midnight Black color for PHP 4,599.
The Note 50 was initially launched last month with a 4GB+64GB configuration. The company says the higher 128GB storage will allow users to store more photos, videos and files on their device. The 4GB RAM can also be expanded up to 8GB using realme’s Dynamic RAM Expansion technology.
Other specifications of the Note 50 (4GB+128GB) remain unchanged from the original variant. Key features include a 6.7-inch 90Hz HD+ display, 7.99mm slim body with IP54 water and dust resistance rating, and a unique Mini Capsule interface to monitor battery, data usage and steps.
The Note 50 garnered strong initial response with 4,000 units selling out in minutes during its launch on TikTok Shop last month.
Popular drone maker DJI has announced the launch of the DJI Mic 2, a new wireless microphone aimed at content creators and production professionals. The DJI Mic 2 promises crystal clear audio quality and intelligent noise cancellation in a compact, user-friendly package.
The microphone system features 32-bit float internal recording and what DJI describes as “powerful noise-cancelling performance.” It has an omnidirectional recording pattern to capture ambient audio. According to DJI, the Mic 2 can filter out noise even if it originates just one meter away.
Other key features highlighted in the announcement include 18 hours of battery life when used with the included charging case, Bluetooth connectivity for wireless control, and a range of up to 250 meters between transmitter and receiver.
The DJI Mic 2 launched globally on January 18. It is compatible with a wide variety of devices thanks to its 3.5mm TRS output. The system also includes a built-in touchscreen for monitoring and controls.
The new microphone line represents DJI’s ongoing expansion into content creation devices like action cameras and audio gear. While best known for its camera drones, DJI said it aims to provide high-quality creative tools to consumers and professionals at reasonable price points.
With its focus on convenience and premium sound quality, the company hopes the Mic 2 will become a popular audio upgrade for vlogging, interviews, live streaming, and related applications. More details on the microphone’s specifications and performance are expected as the launch continues worldwide.
DJI Mic 2 Price and Availability in the Philippines
The DJI Mic 2 retails for PHP 19,000. It is available both online and at DJI retail stores including SM Aura, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Palawan and Greenbelt 5 Makati. You can also purchase it at Shopee and Lazada
Samsung has finally unveiled their upcoming wearable device that is set to be centered around health and wellness, the Samsung Galaxy Ring.
According to Samsung’ VP Dr. Hon Pak, the Galaxy Ring will be able to track heart rate, movement, breathing and more. Similar to what Oura smart rings can offer but this time, the Galaxy Ring will be on the Galaxy ecosystem.
The Samsung Galaxy Ring will be compatible Samsung Galaxy phones but they’re planning to make it work with other Android devices as well. It will also come with different sizes to fit your fingers.
realme has been making waves in the budget smartphone market, and their latest offering, the realme Note 50, is no exception. With its attractive price point of under Php4,000, this device aims to capture the attention of budget-conscious consumers.
But does it deliver on its promises? Let’s find out!
realme Note 50 Design
In terms of design, the realme Note 50 comes in a stylish Sky Blue colorway with a two-tone finish. The glass-like material at the top and matte finish for the rest of the back panel give it a flashy yet elegant look. However, while the design is eye-catching, the material feels a bit cheap and is prone to scratches and fingerprints. Its protruding camera lenses look like it comes with three cameras. But in reality, it only has two, as the other one only houses the LED flash. A clever effort to make it look like a premium phone.
Sky Blue
Overall, the phone boasts a slim and lightweight body, making it comfortable to use even with just one hand. It’s also worth mentioning that the realme Note 50 is IP54 rated for protection against dust and some water splashes.
realme Note 50 Multimedia
The realme Note 50 features a 6.74-inch IPS LCD screen with an HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. While the display is decent for multimedia consumption, its brightness is too dim, making it slightly challenging to use under direct sunlight. Therefore, we suggest turning off its adaptive brightness to choose the best brightness level for your preferences.
Dew-Drop Notch
At first glance, you’ll notice its dated design featuring a dew-drop notch to accommodate its selfie camera. But considering its price point, we appreciate this design choice. Furthermore, it comes equipped with a Mini Capsule feature, copying the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, which adds gimmick not only to its display features but also to its entire offerings.
In terms of audio, it delivers a hit-and-miss performance. For instance, the loudspeaker provided satisfactory sound quality, but we also encountered sound distortion at maximum volume. On the other hand, we’re glad it includes a 3.5mm audio jack, catering to budget-conscious users who prefer wired, affordable earphones. By the way, the sound quality remains acceptable when using earphones.
realme Note 50 Software
realme UI T Edition based on Android 13
Running on realme UI T Edition based on Android 13, it offers a clean and intuitive user interface. With a stock Android-like experience and an app drawer, navigation is straightforward and user-friendly.
The Mini Capsule feature adds convenience by displaying various notifications and details, such as charging status.
Mini Capsule
Meanwhile, our unit comes with 64GB of internal storage, with the option to expand via a dedicated microSD slot. As a result, we had to delete various pre-installed apps to make room for more of our preferred apps.
realme Note 50 Performance
Under the hood, the device is powered by an entry-level chipset, the Unisoc T612, paired with 4GB of RAM, an additional 4GB of virtual RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage.
realme Note 50 Benchmark Scores
We encountered no major issues while using the phone as our main device. However, we did notice some visible lag when switching between apps, especially with multiple apps running in the background. This is to be expected, given its specifications.
Call of Duty Mobile
In addition, while the realme Note 50 can handle gaming, you should expect to play games at low settings. For example, we could run Call of Duty Mobile, but we kept it at low settings despite the device’s 90Hz refresh rate. We also noticed that the device tends to heat up after extended gaming sessions, particularly lasting over an hour.
realme Note 50 Camera
Equipped with a 13-megapixel main camera and a black-and-white camera, the phone captures acceptable images in well-lit environments. Daylight shots came with vibrant colors and sharp details, while indoor shots may suffer from noise.
Night photography is not the device’s strong suit, with noticeable noise and graininess even in Night mode.
However, features like in-app Retouch and Portrait mode help enhance selfies captured by the 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
Sample Photos:
Indoor
Indoor
Food
Food
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor Night Photo
Night
Selfie w/Portrait
Selfie
Night Selfie w/Portrait
Night Selfie
Night
Night Portrait
Indoor Selfie
Indoor Portrait (Lowlight)
realme Note 50 Battery Life
The device boasts a 5000mAh battery paired with 10W charging capabilities. During our extensive usage as our primary device, we found that it could last up to 8 hours on a single charge. This heavy usage included extensive social media browsing, casual gaming, basic communications, and video streaming.
Conversely, with more moderate usage limited to social media browsing, video watching, and basic communications, the battery life extended to over 12 hours.
When charging the phone from 30% to 100%, it took over two and a half hours to reach a full charge.
Meanwhile, we attempted to install the PCMark Battery Life Test app but encountered an issue where the device was not permitted to install it.
realme Note 50 Verdict
realme Note 50 Verdict
Priced at Php3,599, the realme Note 50 offers decent overall performance for its price range. The device excels in battery life, making it an ideal choice for users prioritizing long-lasting usage between charges.
If you’re on a tight budget and need a reliable smartphone with extended battery life, the device is worth considering.
At a MWC 2024 in Barcelona,Xiaomi unveiled an array of new products expanding its artificial intelligence of things (AIoT) portfolio. The announcements included three new wearable devices – the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi Watch S3 and Xiaomi Watch 2 smartwatch.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro
The Smart Band 8 Pro fitness tracker features a sleek design with a large 1.74-inch rectangular AMOLED display with 60Hz refresh rate and 336 x 480 pixels resolution. The color screen enables displaying notifications, health stats and over 200 stylish watch face options.
Weighing just 22.5g, the metal-bodied band is 9.99mm thin and uses Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for protection. Easy release straps allow quickly customizing different band color options.
For health and fitness tracking, the Smart Band 8 Pro offers over 150 sports modes, pace reminders for runs, and new 4-channel heart rate monitoring. The built-in GPS allows tracking outdoor workouts without carrying a phone. Xiaomi claims an impressive 14 days typical battery life from the 289mAh battery.
Xiaomi Watch S3 Smartwatch
The new Xiaomi Watch S3 features a classic circular watch design with a 1.43-inch round AMOLED screen protected by 3D curved Sapphire glass. Users can customize looks by mixing and matching watch straps and bezels.
Built on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the smartwatch connects faster with phones and boasts up to 15 days battery life or 2 days from a 5 minute charge. Health features include heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking and advanced sleep analysis.
Offering over 150 sports modes, the Watch S3 includes new skiing activity features using dual-band positioning for improved GPS accuracy in snow. Gesture controls allow controlling music or taking calls with wrist flicks.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Smartwatch
Xiaomi’s first global Wear OS smartwatch, the Xiaomi Watch 2 delivers smoother performance and supports over 200 apps. The thin and light aluminum body houses a 1.43-inch AMOLED screen and weighs just 37g.
Powered by the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 platform, the Watch 2 packs 32GB storage and promises up to 65 hours battery life in typical usage. Sports modes exceed 160 covering niche winter activities as well.
The Xiaomi Watch 2 brings a connected camera control feature to preview and control phone’s camera. Health monitoring capabilities have also been upgraded with more accurate data.
Availability and Pricing
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, Watch S3 and Watch 2 will be soon available in global markets and it is priced as follows:
Xiaomi Smart Band 8: starts from EUR 69
Xiaomi Watch S3: starts from EUR 149
Xiaomi Watch 2:starts from EUR 199
HONOR has just launched the MagicBook Pro 16 at Barcelona today. HONOR is marketing the MagicBook Pro 16 as an AI-powered device with seamless cross-platform collaboration features.
HONOR Magicbook Pro
The MagicBook Pro 16 sports a 16-inch 3072×1920 display with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage and up to 165Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it is powered by a high-performance Intel Core Ultra 7 processor and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Series GPU inside
On the software side, the laptop comes with Windows 11 but HONOR has made it work to have a cross-device collaboration with HONOR MagicOS 8.0. HONOR claims the MagicBook Pro 16 sets new standards for intelligent computing capabilities in a consumer laptop and advanced cross-device collaboration with HONOR devices.
HONOR MagicBook Pro 16 Pricing and Availability
The HONOR MagicBook Pro 16 comes in White and Purple color options. It will initially be launched in China, with a global release expected in Q2 2024. Specific pricing details have not yet been revealed.
Xiaomi today expanded its Android tablet portfolio with the launch of the new Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro 12.4. It features a 12.4-inch 120Hz display, powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and software enhancements, the Pad 6s Pro aims to deliver a productivity and content consumption focused experience on a tablet.
The Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro is the 12.4-inch WQXGA+ display with a resolution of 3048 x 2032 pixels and an aspect ratio of 3:2. Xiaomi claims the tablet can reproduce over 68 billion colors and supports HDR content playback.
The screen can dynamically adjust refresh rates from 30Hz to 144Hz based on the content. For protection, it uses a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 panel. Xiaomi rates the display brightness at 900 nits peak.
Under the hood, the new Xiaomi tablet utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. It is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. Xiaomi claims the tablet can sustain peak performance even during demanding workloads thanks to the advanced vapor chamber liquid cooling system.
Out of the box, the Pad 6s Pro runs the latest Xiaomi’s HyperOS with Unique software additions for improved productivity. While for the battery, it comes with 10000mAh battery with 120W Charging. The tablet includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port. 5G mobile connectivity is not supported in the Pad 6s Pro.
Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro 12.4 Accessories
Xiaomi has announced a new stylus called Xiaomi Focus Pen with 8192 pressure levels and 240Hz sampling rate for low 5ms latency. Also available is a dedicated keyboard case with backlit keys and trackpad.
Pricing and Availability
The Xiaomi Pad 6s Pro 12.4 launches soon in select markets globally. Exact pricing, colors and availability details will be revealed later.
Xiaomi has officially launched the Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra smartphones at the MWC 2024 in Barcelona. The phones are the latest flagships from the Chinese company and boast high-end specifications and a sleek design with the Ultra packing a powerful quad-system camera.
The Xiaomi 14 features a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED 1200p display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and has up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The phone has a triple-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP main sensor, 50MP telephoto sensor, and 50MP ultrawide camera. While the selfie camera is a 32MP selfie camera.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra has a larger 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED WQHD+ display with the same 120Hz refresh rate. It is also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor and has up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. The Ultra model has a more advanced quad-camera system on the back co-engineered with Leica, consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide sensor, a 48MP telephoto sensor, and a 5MP periscope sensor. The front-facing camera is also 32MP.
Both phones have large batteries: the Xiaomi 14 has a 4,610mAh battery, while the Ultra model has a 5,300mAh battery. Both batteries support 67W fast charging.
Xiaomi 14 Philippine price and availability
The official Philippine price of Xiaomi 14 will be revealed during the local launch on February 29.
Xiaomi 14 Series Global Price
The Xiaomi 14 starts at €1,000, while the Xiaomi 14 Ultra starts at €1,500. The phones will be available for purchase in Europe and other select markets starting in April.
Xiaomi 14 Specs
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform
Display: 6.36″ 120Hz LTPO AMOLED, 2670 x 1200 resolution
ASUS Philippines recently announced an expanded 4A Quality and Service program along with improvements to its ASUS Premium Care warranty packages. The 4A program aims to provide enhanced quality, support, coverage and added value for ASUS product customers.
A Quality & Service banner
The announcement comes as ASUS looks to further improve product quality and after-sales service. “At ASUS, we want our customers to have complete confidence in our products. That is why we are introducing this new 4A Quality & Service with improved and comprehensive warranty coverage, so our customers can rely on ASUS with confidence, knowing that their devices and investments are in good hands,” said ASUS Philippines Country Manager George Su.
Military-Grade Testing Standards
The company touted its rigorous testing procedures for laptops, including compliance with the latest MIL-STD 810H military testing standards. ASUS states that all of its laptops undergo a suite of over 12 test methods that simulate tough environmental and physical conditions. This is meant to ensure durability and reliability even with rough handling.
4A Quality and Service Program
The new 4A program focuses on four key areas:
Assured Quality: ASUS utilizes military testing standards and expert service technicians to provide quality and durability.
Always-on Support: Customers can access support through multiple channels like social media, email, chat, or a dedicated call center.
All-around Coverage: ASUS offers service centers in over 63 cities plus international coverage.
Added-value Experience: Customers get access to a dedicated support portal and accidental damage protection.
Standard and Upgraded Warranty Offerings
All ASUS laptop models come with at least a 2-year international warranty. Premium phones have a 1-year local warranty. ExpertBook business laptops include a 3-year international warranty, while business desktops and AIO models feature a 3-year local warranty plus on-site support.
Users can also purchase extended coverage through ASUS Premium Care packages starting from PHP 2,995 within 6 months of purchase. Options include warranty extensions, accidental damage protection, data recovery services for storage drives, on-site upgrades and battery replacements.
Service Capabilities
ASUS cited fast repair times across its over 100 directly managed service centers. The company also claims fast support call response enabled by a dedicated call center. A 24/7 on-site service booking platform allows customers to schedule appointments anytime.
Additional membership benefits include one-time preventative maintenance and local accidental damage coverage to help extend product lifetimes. The company positions this as an effort to reduce e-waste.
TNT has recently announced several new mobile data offers aimed at budget-conscious consumers.
The offers include Utang Na Load which allows users to borrow PHP 5 for 100 MB or PHP 10 for 200 MB to use for one day. The borrowed amount will be deducted from the user’s next top-up.
There is also the SurfSaya 30 combo offer which provides 1.2GB of data plus unlimited calls and texts valid for 3 days. Of the mobile data, 450MB can be used for all sites while 750MB is allotted for select apps like Facebook, Messenger, Mobile Legends, Instagram, and TikTok.
For streaming video, TNT has the GIGA Video 60 promo which offers a total of 5GB data valid for 3 days. This includes 2GB for all sites/apps, 1GB per day for YouTube, Netflix, Smart Livestream, and iWantTFC, plus unlimited texts.
Heavy data users can avail of the UNLI 5G 99 offer which provides unlimited 5G and 4G data for one whole day.
These offers can be availed via the Smart App, available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei Mobile Services. They aim to provide affordable mobile data access so TNT users can enjoy online activities without worrying about data charges.
