First Look
Sony PlayStation 4 Pro and Slim first look and pricing for Southeast Asia
We all knew they were coming, and now it’s official: Sony’s new and improved PlayStation 4 Pro and PlayStation 4 Slim are here. We had the privilege of taking a closer look at the consoles during the launch in Hong Kong, and we even have the full price list for Southeast Asia.
PlayStation 4 Pro
As you can tell by the moniker, the Pro version of the PlayStation 4 has more power than the original – enough, actually, to provide 4K resolution gaming and an improved VR experience once PlayStation VR is released on October 13, 2016. This is made possible through an upgraded processor and graphics chip, so you can also expect smoother frame rates for graphics-intensive games. Of course, this means you need an Ultra HD television to output the higher resolution, but Sony guarantees that support for Full HD 1080p TV sets won’t be left behind.
Sony has placed priority on the hard disk as well, which now comes with 1TB of storage out of the box. This should give you enough space to accommodate all the games, videos, and demos you can handle. In addition, if you’re a fan of streaming services, the PlayStation 4 Pro is capable of 4K video playback from services like YouTube and Netflix. Oh, and about 4K Blu-ray playback; no, none of the PS4 units available today can or will support it. Sony claims that the feature simply isn’t important yet.
Unfortunately, no fresh set of colors has been announced. You’re going to have to settle for the traditional black look for the Pro. Pricing in Southeast Asia is as follows: SGD 599 for Singapore, MYR 1,799 for Malaysia, THB 16,990 for Thailand, and PHP 22,900 for the Philippines. Out of the four countries, only Singapore has a confirmed release date of November 10, 2016.
In case you’re wondering about the rest of the world, the United States will receive the PlayStation 4 Pro in November, 2016 with a price tag of USD 399. Hong Kong will have it for HKD 3,180, while the Taiwan and Korea retail prices will be NTD 12,980 and KRW 498,000, respectively.
PlayStation 4 Slim
Like previous Sony consoles, the PlayStation 4 is getting a trimmed-down version. There’s really not much to talk about, other than the fact that the PS4 Slim takes up significantly less space than the original PS4. If you want to get technical, the newer model is 30 percent smaller, 16 percent lighter, and consumes 28 percent less energy than its predecessor. The rest of the specs are pretty much the same as before, and there are two storage options to choose from: 1TB and 500GB.
Prices and release dates for Southeast Asia are a little tricky, so try to follow us on this one: SGD 449 (500GB) and SGD 499 (1TB) for Singapore with a September 17 launch; MYR 1,349 (500GB) and MYR 1,499 (1TB) for Malaysia with a mid-October launch; THB 12,990 (500GB) and THB 13,990 (1TB) for Thailand with an October 1 launch; finally, PHP 17,300 (500GB) and PHP 18,900 (1TB) for the Philippines with a September 24 launch.
It’ll be even more affordable in the U.S., where consumers can purchase the unit for only USD 299 starting on September 15, 2016. Fans in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea will be excited to find out that the PlayStation 4 Slim will be available beginning tomorrow, September 9, way ahead of everyone else.
Bundles and Peripherals for the Philippine Market
In other news, we have a list of new PlayStation 4 bundles and peripherals to be released in the Philippines. The PlayStation 4 Slim NBA 2K17 bundle pack will come out on September 24, 2016 with a sticker price of PHP 18,990, while the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare bundle will be released on November 4, 2016 and priced at PHP 20,490.
There’s a slightly updated DualShock 4 controller to look forward to. It now enables light from the light bar to emit in different colors to signify visual cues in games, and allows USB communication so you don’t have to rely solely on the wireless Bluetooth connection to play. It’ll retail at PHP 2,495 and come out on September 24, same as the NBA 2K17 bundle.
Next is the redesigned PlayStation Camera, which is only different in form and how it adjusts. The more attractive PS Camera will cost PHP 2,990 and will be released sometime in October 2016. Finally, we have the vertical stand specifically modeled for the PS4 Slim and Pro. It’s translucent, has a release date of October 24, 2016, and is priced at PHP 1,399.
What about the original PS4?
Sony says that the old PlayStation 4 will still be on sale, since the new models simply complement it. However, the company isn’t setting any updated prices, and is leaving that to distributors to figure out. In that case, you’re better off going to your favorite store or online shop to ask for the best deal available.
The good news is that all PlayStation 4 versions (old, Slim, and Pro) will be receiving a software update allowing HDR gaming soon. This feature makes all your games look prettier, thanks to a wider range of colors, shadows, and highlights. Again, an HDR-compatible TV is needed for it to work, so we suggest you start saving up to take advantage of the new capabilities.
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Apple’s first ever foldable is finally here! Say hello to the iPhone Duo.
In this video, THE Michael Josh shares his first impressions.
Those include the design, display, cameras, performance, and what it’s actually like to use Apple’s latest iPhone.
Is the iPhone Duo the future of the iPhone or just an interesting experiment?
We take a closer look and share everything that stood out during our hands-on experience.
I sometimes admittedly fall into the trap of having some good ideas in my head but never actually writing them down.
And specially in this era where you can easily be distracted by the pace of life, the external stimuli, and pretty much just stressful moments, it pays to have a companion to help you become organized.
Otherwise, those thoughts I mentioned about would just fly above my head.
That’s where the Boya Notra Neo comes in. It’s a pretty straightforward portable AI recorder. As its slogan suggests, it’s for meetings, calls, and ideas.
It’s Boya’s more accessible, more affordable answer to the earlier Boya Notra.
Everyday AI note-taking made accessible
The Neo is incredibly lightweight and something you can sneak into your pocket easily.
I’ve been only able to use it a couple of times in casual settings, when ideas start to flow naturally in the middle of conversations.
Honestly, it’s great to have a companion device for such scenarios.
Although by default, your initial thought when such ideas arise is “Write that down”, sometimes, we are either pre-occupied or distracted by what’s in front of us.
The Boya Notra Neo makes sure we don’t miss note-taking. One tap and it will automatically record audio.
This convenience translates to school group meetings and projects to even more professional settings.
Then, there are journalists like me who occasionally have to interview resource persons and attend press conferences, so this recorder comes in handy.
There are three recording modes to suit real-time needs: Ambient, Phone Call, and Bluetooth.
Post-handling of audio recordings are likewise a breeze. Through the Boya OS app, you can connect the device via Bluetooth to sync previous recordings.
If you’re not initially connected to the internet, the device will still be able to record a considerable length with its built-in 8GB memory.
Then, you can just sync the recordings to your device. You can then transcribe the recording on the app with its easy-to-understand interface.
You can even choose from over 140 languages, the style of the transcription from 60 professional templates, and the AI model to help you with generating the text.
Beyond that, you can generate a summary or a mind map to quickly review what has been discussed, be it a meeting, a quick call, or a brainstorming session. You can likewise do an AI search across the recording to find more important notes or quotes and their timestamps.
Boya Notra Neo now available for pre-orders
The Boya Notra Neo is now available for pre-orders, ahead of its September 4 launch at IFA 2026.
Pre-ordering now entitles customers to a discount, so they can get the recorder for just US$ 69.99 (SRP: US$ 79.99).
Customers can purchase here.
What’s good about the Notra Neo is its ample free recording minutes per month, as it is meant for everyday casual recording to begin with.
This allowance resets every month, so you can start using the device for free.
Subscriptions, on the other hand, are available for those needing more minutes and access to other features.
And oh, there are four colors to choose from to match your smartphone and fashion sense.
Samsung surprised everyone by introducing not one, but two book-style foldables this year. Alongside the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, the company also unveiled the all-new Galaxy Z Fold8, offering users two distinct takes on the foldable experience.
We’ve only spent a short time with both devices, so this isn’t a full comparison. Think of this as a quick side-by-side look at what immediately stood out during our first hands-on.
In the hand
The biggest difference becomes apparent before you even unfold either device.
Folded shut, the Galaxy Z Fold8 immediately feels more natural in the hand. It’s easier to grip, feels better balanced, and slips into a pocket more comfortably. If you’ve been waiting for a foldable that behaves more like a conventional smartphone when closed, the Fold8 leaves a strong first impression.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, on the other hand, feels more familiar. It carries forward the traditional book-style Fold experience with a larger footprint that longtime Fold users will instantly recognize.
When it’s time to work
Once unfolded, the gap narrows considerably.
Both devices offer enough room to comfortably write, edit documents, answer emails, or multitask without feeling cramped. During our hands-on, neither device felt noticeably better for productivity.
The same goes for typing. Both provide enough keyboard space to comfortably write articles, answer emails, or even draft letters you’ll never send.
At least from our limited time with both devices, there’s no clear winner here.
Watching videos
Media consumption is where the Galaxy Z Fold8 stands out.
Its wider display makes videos feel more at home, with fewer black bars when watching content like YouTube. It’s a subtle difference, but one that’s immediately noticeable once both devices are unfolded side by side.
The Ultra still offers a larger display overall, but its proportions remain closer to what we’ve come to expect from traditional book-style foldables.
The hinge
Samsung’s two foldables also differ slightly in how they open and close.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra’s hinge feels firmer and more deliberate. It comfortably holds its position across multiple angles, making Flex Mode feel a little more reassuring.
The Galaxy Z Fold8, meanwhile, feels smoother throughout the motion. Once it reaches a certain point while opening or closing, it naturally continues the movement on its own instead of holding intermediate angles as firmly as the Ultra.
Neither approach is inherently better. They simply offer a different feel in everyday use.
First impressions
After a brief hands-on, it’s clear that Samsung isn’t positioning these devices as direct replacements for one another.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra continues to refine the company’s established Fold formula. The Galaxy Z Fold8, meanwhile, explores a different direction—one that prioritizes a more familiar in-hand feel while keeping the productivity benefits that make foldables unique.
It’s still too early to draw conclusions about cameras, battery life, or long-term performance. Those answers will have to wait until we’ve spent more time with both devices.
For now, these are the differences that stood out most after our first look.
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