Eat Well. Travel Often: tech

Showing posts with label tech. Show all posts

Jun 2, 2023

POCO smartphones slash prices up to 50% in 6.6 sale

During the highly anticipated 6.6 Sale on Shopee, which runs from June 6 to 8, 2023, POCO is offering massive discounts on its best-selling phones.

Value shoppers, gears, and gadget enthusiasts can look forward to incredible discounts of up to 50% on POCO smartphones. This sale is a testament to POCO's unwavering commitment to satisfying its loyal fan base.

POCO smartphones are known for seamlessly combining innovation, performance, and affordability, making them the preferred choice for young and tech-savvy individuals. With a range of devices available, POCO ensures that there is a perfect device for every fan to enjoy. From the powerful POCO F5 series with impressive performance to the feature-packed POCO M5 and POCO X5 5G models, POCO caters to diverse preferences.

Here is a list of remarkable POCO gadgets that will be available at significantly discounted rates during the 6.6 Sale:

Product Name	SRP	Promo Price
POCO Watch	3,999	1,999
POCO C40 3+32	6,499	3,499
POCO C40 4+64	7,499	4,999
POCO M5 4+64	9,499	5,990
POCO M5 6+128	10,499	6,990
POCO M5s 6+128	10,899	7,999
POCO M5S 8+256	12,499	9,999
POCO X5 5G 6+128	14,999	11,999
POCO X5 5G 8+256	15,999	12,990
POCO X5 PRO 5G 6+128	16,999	14,590
POCO X5 PRO 5G 8+256	18,999	16,290
POCO F5 8+256	20,999	18,299
POCO F5 12+256	22,999	20,099
POCO F5 PRO 8+256	26,999	23,999
POCO F5 PRO 12+256	28,999	25,999
POCO F5 PRO 12+512	30,999	27,999

To take advantage of these incredible deals, visit the official POCO store on Shopee.

For more information about POCO, visit their official Facebook page.

May 23, 2023

TECH REVIEW: Redmi Note 12

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is a highly anticipated smartphone that boasts an impressive combination of features at an affordable price. Let's take a closer look at its design, display, camera, performance, and battery life.

DESIGN

The Redmi Note 12 showcases a sleek and modern design that is both eye-catching and ergonomic. It features a polycarbonate back panel with a matte metallic finish, giving it a premium feel. However, it's still a fingerprint magnet, you can use the free clear jelly case that comes with it.

The phone is well-built and feels solid in my hand. The volume button and fingerprint scanner are conveniently located on the right side while the sim card tray is located on the left. At the back, you will see the triple camera set up with LED flash.

The overall design of the Redmi Note 12 is undoubtedly pleasing and reflects Xiaomi's commitment to aesthetics.

DISPLAY

The smartphone sports a large 6.67-inch AMOLED Dot Display with a Full HD+ resolution and is equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The screen delivers vibrant colors and sharp details, making it a joy to consume multimedia content and play games.

The bezels are reasonably slim on the side and upper part but have a slightly thicker one at the bottom. Good enough to provide an immersive viewing experience for the users.

This mid-range phone has a max refresh rate of 120Hz. You can choose the standard 60 Hz to save battery but everything is better when you set it to 120 Hz. You'll enjoy a faster, crisp, and clearer screen.

CAMERA

The Redmi Note 12 packs a versatile camera setup that's fit for daily use and social media posting. It features a triple-camera system, led by a 50-megapixel primary sensor. The camera produces well-detailed and vibrant photos in good lighting conditions, with accurate colors and minimal noise.

The dedicated ultra-wide-angle lens expands the creative possibilities, capturing wider scenes with decent quality. Additionally, the depth sensor and macro lens offer satisfactory results, although they might not be as impressive as the main camera. Night photography might be a struggle for this phone as it turns grainy and blurry.

On the front, the device boasts a 13-megapixel selfie camera that captures good self-portraits.

STANDARD AND WIDE SHOTS

PORTRAIT/SELFIE SHOTS

STANDARD VS NIGHT SHOTS

PERFORMANCE

Under the hood, the Redmi Note 12 is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 685, accompanied by a max of 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The phone handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, ensuring a lag-free experience while navigating through apps and multitasking. It also handles graphically demanding games quite well, offering a smooth gaming experience with minimal frame drops.

I was expecting major lags when I installed Mobile Legends on this phone, but to my surprise, it was smooth and can deliver ultra graphics. There are minor frame skips here and there but overall, I'm impressed.

BATTERY LIFE

One of the standout features of the Redmi Note 12 is its impressive battery life. Equipped with a substantial 5,000mAh battery, the phone easily lasts through a full day of heavy usage, including web browsing, media streaming, and gaming. You can say that it's a reliable companion for users who are constantly on the move. When it comes to charging, the Redmi Note 12 supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed.

PRICING

The Redmi Note 12 is priced at P8,999 for 4+128 GB (online only), P9,999 for 6+128 GB, and P10,999 for 8+128 GB. Customers may purchase these devices online through Xiaomi's official stores in Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop as well as Authorized Xiaomi Stores and partner retailers nationwide. For those who want flexible payment options, Home Credit financing is available at 0% interest.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 is an excellent mid-range smartphone that offers an attractive design, a vibrant display, a versatile camera setup, reliable performance, and remarkable battery life. With its feature-packed offering at an affordable price point, the Redmi Note 12 is certainly worth considering for those looking for a capable smartphone without breaking the bank.

[full_width]

May 19, 2023

Live Vivid with Redmi Note 12 Series in Davao

Jexx Hinggo 3:00 AM events , lifestyle 0 Comments

Xiaomi aims to showcase their newest smartphone lineup and portfolio of products in this year’s Xiaomi Fan Festival (XFF) roadshows, after a successful kickoff of the Redmi Note 12 Series and Xiaomi Fan Festival 2023 in Manila.

The festival has become even bigger as it brings the “Live Vivid” campaign to various locations across the Philippines from April to May. Xiaomi held a media event at Mr and Mrs B in Davao on May 5, where guests saw the Redmi Note 12 Series up close.

On May 6, the Xiaomi Fan Festival was held at Gaisano Mall Davao, where Xiaomi fans can join fun booth activities and avail of special XFF deals on select Xiaomi smartphones and AIoT products. Other Xiaomi products are also up for grabs at special prices, and the festival will continue in SM Dasmariñas (May 10 to 14) and SM Pampanga (May 17 to 21).

“Xiaomi is happy and excited to bring the Xiaomi Fan Festival to Davao and be able to meet its Davaoeño fans. Our mission has always been to be a brand that equips young people with the latest technology available, so they can “Live Vivid” on their own terms,” says Tomi Adrias, Xiaomi Philippines’ Head of Marketing.

The Redmi Note 12 Series delivers remarkable enhancements to the features that matter most to Xiaomi fans, especially the younger generation. Both the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G and Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G are equipped with 12Hz Flow AMOLED displays, supported by Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®.

The phone series sports an impressive triple camera system with an up to 200MP primary camera with OIS, ultra-wide camera, and macro camera. The cameras’ advanced AI software algorithms, accelerated image processing, and other useful features also help to provide an unparalleled user experience.

The Redmi Note 12 Series is equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset to ensure smooth and reliable 5G performance and has a powerful 5,000mAh long-lasting battery.

The Redmi Note 12 is priced at P8,999 for 4+128 GB (online only), P9,999 for 6+128 GB, and P10,999 for 8+128 GB.

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+5G (8+256 GB) retails at PHP 21,999, while the Redmi Note 12 Pro 5G is offered in two options: the 8+128 GB variant priced at PHP 16,999 and the 8+256 GB model at PHP 17,999.

Customers may purchase these devices online through Xiaomi’s official stores in Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop as well as Authorized Xiaomi Stores and partner retailers nationwide, with Home Credit financing available at 0% interest.
[full_width]

Mar 19, 2023

TECH REVIEW - HONOR X8a

Jexx Hinggo 10:23 PM tech , tech review 0 Comments

HONOR Philippines has recently unveiled their latest addition to their X-series lineup, the HONOR X8a smartphone. The device stands out from its competition due to its sleek design, stunning display, and powerful camera capabilities. I had the opportunity to test the device prior to its release, and here are some reasons why I found it impressive.

Sleek and Compact Design

The HONOR X8a boasts a slim and stylish flat-edge design that feels comfortable to hold. It comes in three beautiful colors, including Titanium Silver, Midnight Black, and Cyan Lake. Personally, I found the Titanium Silver variant to be the most stunning.

Immersive Display

The device features a 6.7-inch FullView Display with thin bezels, measuring just 1.1mm. This provides an immersive gaming and video streaming experience. It also features HONOR Display Color calibration technology, which ensures minimal color difference between the screen and real life. Moreover, the device is equipped with TUV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and offers Dark Mode, Eye Comfort Mode, and E-Book Mode.

Powerful 100MP Triple Camera System

One of the most impressive features of the HONOR X8a is its 100MP Rear Triple Camera System, which includes a 5MP Wide and Depth Camera and a 2MP Macro lens. The front camera is 16MP. I tested the camera over the weekend and here are some sample shots.

During my testing, I found the photos taken to be crisp and vibrant, with even small details captured clearly. The High-Res mode produces billboard-quality photos, while HDR mode provides high-contrast photos. The wide shots are decent, and the portrait rear and selfie shots are also impressive. The selfie portrait shots were Bokeh-heavy but you can disable it.

STANDARD SHOTS

HIGH-RES MODE SHOTS

NIGHT MODE SHOTS

SELFIE AND PORTRAIT SHOTS

Long-lasting Battery

The device comes with a 4500mAh battery that lasts a day, and it also supports a 22.5W SuperCharge adaptor that can charge the battery from 0% to 50% in just over 30 minutes.

Gaming Experience

Thanks to its wide display, the HONOR X8a offers an immersive gaming experience. I tested the device while playing some games, and while I did experience some stutters while playing Mobile Legends in High-level graphics, switching to low or medium graphics produced a better gaming experience.

Here are some of the specs you'd like to know

HONOR X8a SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions and Weight	Height 162.9 mm	Depth 7.48 mm
Dimensions and Weight	Width 74.5 mm	Weight Approx. 179g (including the battery)
Display	Size 6.7 inches	Aspect Ratio 19.9:9
	Color 16.7 million colors	Type LTPS LCD
	Resolution 2388*1080	Gestures Multi-touch gestures, up to 10 touch points supported
Processor	CPU Model MediaTek Helio G88	GPU Mali-G52 MC2
System	Operating System MagicUI 6.1 (based on Android 12	User Interface MagicUI 6.1
Memory	6GB+128GB 8GB+128GB
Rear Camera	Triple Rear Camera 100MP Main Camera(f/1.9) +5MP Ultra Wide & Depth Camera(f/2.2) +2MP Macro Camera(f/2.4)	Image Resolution Support up to 11584*8688 pixels
	Video Shooting Support 1080P video shooting	Video Resolution Support up to 1080*1920pixels
	Focus Mode Up to 10x digital zoom	Capture Mode Rear camera: Photo, Portrait, Wide Angle, Aperture, Time-lapse, Watermark, Dual-view, Story, Super Macro, PRO, Panorama mode, HDR, HIGH-RES, Night, Capture smiles, etc.
Front Camera	Front Camera 16 MP Camera (f/2.45 aperture)	Video Shooting Support 1080P video shooting
	Image Resolution Support up to 4608*3456 pixels	Capture Mode Front camera: Photo, Portrait, Capture smiles, Mirror reflection, Gesture control, etc.
	Video Resolution Support up to 1080*1920pixels	Face Recognition Support 2D Face Recognition
In the Box Phone (battery included)x 1 Super Charger x 1 USB Type-C Cable x 1 Quick Start Guide x 1 Eject pin x 1 TPU Protective case x 1 TP protective film x 1 Warranty Card x 1

Price and Availability

From March 14 to 24, the HONOR X8a will be available for pre-order for only Php 10,990 with FREE HONOR Earbuds worth Php 1,590 via all HONOR kiosks and partner online stores – Lazada (http://bit.ly/40iFPjB), Shopee (http://bit.ly/3mNbds1), and Tiktok Shop (http://bit.ly/3ZYbqqy).

Overall, the HONOR X8a is a stylish and powerful device that is definitely worth considering.

You may subscribe to my YouTube channel for the unboxing and video/camera tests.

Mar 18, 2023

Pre-order deals for the new Samsung Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G

Jexx Hinggo 4:02 AM tech , 0 Comments

The latest Samsung Galaxy A Series phones allow everyone to access awesome self-expression and entertainment anywhere they go. From March 15 to 30, 2023, the Samsung Galaxy A54 and A34 5G are available for pre-order. Customers who pre-order can enjoy a discount of PHP 2,949 and receive a free travel adapter and a storage upgrade. Different memory variants of the two phones are available at discounted prices during the pre-order period. Trade-ins are also accepted, with savings of up to PHP 10,150. Bundle deals with other Samsung devices are available as well.

The Galaxy A54 5G and A34 5G receive awesome upgrades to their design, including a slim and sleek unibody design for a more comfortable hand feel, and minimalist camera housing. The metallic finish is also upgraded with a glossy back glass panel for the A54 5G and a prism-patterned back panel for the A34 5G. The phones also come in trendy colorways, making them #aesthetic.

The Galaxy A54 5G and A34 5G deliver awesome photography and videography with creative editing tools for stunning images and videos. The phones have main, selfie, ultrawide, and macro cameras, with improved optical and video digital image stabilization for clearer videos. Night mode helps capture more detail, while the enhanced object eraser makes removing unwanted shadows, reflections, and objects easier. The phones also have enhanced photo and gif remastering tools for better-quality photos and gif videos.

Both phones feature immersive Super AMOLED displays with hyper-reactive displays and improved brightness for realistic colors even in different lighting conditions. The phones also offer up to four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates to maximize the smartphone lifecycle.

The Galaxy A54 5G and A34 5G also offer fast 5G connectivity, super-fast charging, and long battery life for uninterrupted content creation, video playbacks, and gaming sessions. The phones are built to last and are designed to withstand dust, sand, and up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 20 minutes. Customers can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G or the A34 5G to meet their awesome new best buddy.

During the pre-order period, the 8+256 GB memory variant of the Galaxy A54 5G is priced at PHP 24,990 instead of PHP 26,990, while the 8+128GB variant of the Galaxy A34 5G is priced at PHP 19,990 instead of PHP 21,990.

Pre-order through samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online.

Feb 2, 2023

Samsung Galaxy S23, S23+, and S23 Ultra Specs, Pricing, and Pre-order Details

Jexx Hinggo 5:10 PM samsung , tech 0 Comments

Samsung just unveiled the new Galaxy S23 premium smartphone lineup! The new Galaxy S23, S23 Plus, and S23 Ultra are now available for pre-order in all Samsung stores nationwide. Here are the complete specifications of each model plus pricing in the Philippines.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Galaxy S23 Ultra
Display	6.8-inch QHD+ Edge* Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz) 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode Vision booster Enhanced comfort
Display	*Measured diagonally, actual viewable area is less due to rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight	78.1 X 163.4 X 8.9mm, 234g
Camera	12MP Ultra-Wide Camera F2.2, FOV 120˚ 200 MP Wide Camera F1.7, FOV 85˚ 10MP Telephoto Camera 3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36˚ 10MP Telephoto Camera 10x Optical Zoom, F4.9, FOV 11˚ 12MP Front Camera F2.2, FOV 80˚
Camera	*100X Space Zoom includes 10x Optical Zoom and 10x digital zoom with AI Super Resolution technology. Zooming in past 10x may cause some image deterioration.
AP	Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory	12GB + 1TB 12 + 512GB 12 + 256GB
Memory	Available storage capacity is subject to preloaded software. Memory option may vary by market.
Battery	5,000mAh
Battery	* Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 4,855mAh. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging*	Wired charging: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter* and 5A USB-C cable* Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare***
	*Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC.
	**45W Power Adapter sold separately. Use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables.
	*** Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 45W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23 Ultra while device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors.
	****Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
	*****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, Z Fold 4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OS	Android 13 One UI 5.1
Network and Connectivity
	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E ready**, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
	Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors. Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. **Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment.
Security	Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
Water Resistance	IP68
Water Resistance	* IP68 Rating: Water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.

Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+
	Galaxy S23	Galaxy S23+
Display	6.1-inch FHD+* Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode Vision booster Enhanced comfort	6.6-inch FHD+* Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (48~120Hz) 240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game Mode Vision booster Enhanced comfort
Display	*Measured diagonally, Galaxy S23’s screen size is 6.1-inch in the full rectangle and 5.9-inch with accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S23+'s screen size is 6.6-inch in the full rectangle and 6.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.
Dimensions & Weight	70.9 x 146.3 x 7.6mm, 168g		76.2 x 157.8 x 7.6mm, 196g
Camera	12MP Ultra-Wide Camera F2.2, FOV 120˚ 50 MP Wide Camera F1.8, FOV 85˚ 10MP Telephoto Camera 3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36˚ 12MP Front Camera F2.2, FOV 80˚
AP	Snapdragon® 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy
Memory	8 + 256GB 8 + 128GB			8 + 512GB 8 + 256GB
Memory	*Available storage capacity is subject to preloaded software.
Battery	3,900mAh			4,700mAh
Battery	*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3,785mAh for Galaxy S23 and 4,563mAh for Galaxy S23+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.
Charging	Wired Charging: Up to 50% charge in around 30 mins with 25W Adapter* and 3A USB-C cable* Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare***			Wired charging: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter* and 5A USB-C cable* Fast Wireless Charging 2.0 Wireless PowerShare***
	*Wired charging compatible with QC2.0 and AFC.
	**Power Adapter and data cable sold separately. Using the original Samsung 45W Power Adapter and data cable is recommended for Galaxy S23+ and the original Samsung 25W Power Adapter and data cable recommended for Galaxy S23.
	***Results from internal Samsung lab tests, conducted with 25W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23 and 45W Travel Adapter connected to newly pre-released version of Galaxy S23+ while a device had 0% of power remaining, with all services, features and screen turned off. Actual charging speed may vary depending on the actual usage, charging conditions and other factors.
	****Wireless charging compatible with WPC.
	*****Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S23 Ultra, S23+, S23, Z Fold 4, Z Flip4, S22 series, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 series, Z Fold2, Note20 series, S20 series, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch5, Watch 5 Pro, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. During PowerShare, it may affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.
OS	Android 13 One UI 5.1
Network and Connectivity
	5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E ready**, Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth® v 5.3
	5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment. Availability of LTE model varies by market and carrier. ** Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment.
Security	Samsung Knox, Samsung Knox Vault
Water Resistance	IP68
Water Resistance	* IP68 Rating: Water resistant in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and protected from dust, dirt, and sand. Rinse residue/dry after wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

From February 2 until February 23, 2023, customers who pre-order the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+ , or the Galaxy S23 Ultra through samsung.com will enjoy discounts of up to PHP 76,000, including a FREE Memory Upgrade worth up to PHP 8,000. They will instantly get the higher memory variant for the price of the lower variant within the same model lineup.

Those who will trade-in their old devices can also enjoy savings of up to PHP 13,000 on top of their old phone’s residual value. In addition, they will get an e-voucher worth up to PHP 5,000, a 50% discount on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, and 30% off on the Galaxy Watch5 Series. On top of this, they will also get a FREE 1-year Samsung Care+ coverage worth PHP 5,999, and earn double Samsung Rewards points.