News
vivo X300 Pro headlines Dimensity 9500 and Sony’s LYT-828 image sensor
Alongside Samsung’s custom-engineered ISOCELL HPB sensor
In line with vivo’s annual product roadmap lies the refresh of their grandest smartphone line.
The vivo X300 and X300 Pro were finally revealed in China as the industry’s newest smartphones leading the mobile photography and Dimensity 9500 race.
Two Flavors, One Flagship
Qualcomm already announced their first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 phones with the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. vivo then pioneers the X300 series as the first batch of Dimensity 9500-running flagships.
Unlike last year though, there are only two models in the X300 lineup instead of three.
The vivo X300 adapts a smaller 6.31-inch flat screen, ditching the 6.67-inch of X200 last 2024. This not only is the “mini” successor of the X200, it also effectively replaces last year’s X200 Pro mini altogether.
Moreover, the Pro variant still rocks the same 6.78-inch panel as last year’s X200 Pro with “finely curved straight-edged bezels.”
These ZEISS Master Color displays are 8T LTPO 120Hz displays based on BOE’s Q10 AMOLED. Both support HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Netflix HDR content as well.
They also feature eye-protection features like 2160Hz PWM Dimming, TÜV Rheinland Flicker Free and SGS Low Blue Light certifications, and as low as 1 nit of screen brightness.
Finally, the base vivo X300 adopts an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor that was previously exclusive to the Pro and Ultra models.
When it comes to battery, the X300 has a 6040mAh battery while the Pro variant packs a bigger 6510mAh capacity.
vivo boldly claims that these Silicon-Anode BlueVolt batteries are comparable to phones with 7000 and 7500mAh batteries through software and hardware energy optimizations.
Both support 90W FlashCharge plus 40W Wireless FlashCharge standards.
Pocket Pro-tography
The X300 phones wouldn’t be complete without their revolutionary flagship-grade camera system.
| vivo X300 Pro | vivo X300 | |
| Wide | 50MP f/1.57 1/1.28” Sony LYT-828 sensor |
200MP f/1.68 1/1.4” Samsung ISOCELL HPB sensor |
| Ultra-Wide | 50MP f/2.0 1/2.76” Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor |
50MP f/2.0 1/2.76” Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor |
| Telephoto | 200MP f/2.67 ZEISS APO 1/1.4” Samsung ISOCELL HPB sensor |
50MP f/2.57 ZEISS APO 1/1.95” Sony LYT-602 sensor |
| Selfie | 50MP f/2.0 1/2.76” Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor |
50MP f/2.0 1/2.76” Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor |
While both phones possess an identical ultra-wide and selfie shooters, the biggest differences can be seen between their wide and telephoto modules.
The X300 Pro headlines the all-new Sony LYT-828 1/1.28-inch image sensor together with vivo’s self-developed VCS 3.0 imaging technology. That’s then partnered by Samsung’s custom-engineered 200MP ISOCELL HPB sensor for its telephoto shooter.
Interestingly, the same sensor is also being utilized by vivo as the main camera sensor for the base X300. In return, the X300 packs a different 50MP telephoto module based on Sony’s LYT-602 with VCS technology.
Other than the power of MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500, the X300 series achieves an efficient “Dual-Chip Integration” with vivo’s in-house V3+ imaging chip (plus VS1 in the X300 Pro).
This further provides robust computational power for both advanced imaging processing and system operations.
With their long-lasting partnership with ZEISS, stylized portrait features still remain. Aside from the new Style Portrait and ZEISS Natural Portrait, the X300 Pro also has an added a newer ZEISS Mirotar Telephoto Style Bokeh that wasn’t found on previous models.
There’s even the Adaptive Zoom Flash feature as well as other enhancements that solves night-time portraits against complex lighting setups.
Last but definitely not the least, both the X300 and X300 Pro have their own Photography Kit — including that 2.35x Telephoto Extender that was only exclusive to the vivo X200 Ultra.
Video Mastery
That pro-tography prowess doesn’t end there.
The X300 Pro alone is finally capable of shooting up to 4K/120fps footages in 10-bit Log format across all focal length options. The X200 Pro can only manage to shoot 4K / 60fps Dolby Vision in 1x wide or 3.7x zoom.
For shake-free footages, vivo also promises gimbal-grade stabilization with an upgraded ±1.5-degree stabilization angle aside from the Dual-Channel EIS feature.
ACES Workflow was also incorporated for better color management and seamless color grading in editing software when synced across multiple devices.
Portrait Video was also improved to 4K / 60fps (previously limited to 4K / 30fps). vivo’s custom styles such as Cold -White or Classic Negative can also be applied when shooting in this mode.
On the other hand, the vanilla X300 is also capable of recording 4K / 120fps clips through Pro mode.
With the special camera kit in mind, it complements the 4K Stage All-in-One Recording found on the X300 Pro together with 20x Long-Range Motion Snapshot and Dual-View Stage Video add-ons.
These might make the X300 Pro the bestest compact concert companion just yet.
Refinements Within
Both of the X300 phones feature a Unibody 3D Glass Design that seamlessly blends the camera hump towards the rear cover.
There’s also the Coral Velvet Glass Technique for that fingerprint-resistant back design that’s also pleasant to the touch.
Both models are also slim just below the 8mm mark (7.95mm and 7.99mm respectively). Durability-wise, these X300 phones still rock dual IP68 and IP69 water and dust resistance ratings.
Other notable improvements include USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port standard, UFS 4.1 storage protocol, as well as Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 6G support for the X300 Pro.
Lastly, the X300 series will premiere the latest OriginOS 6 based on Android 16 with a revamped look a la Apple’s Liquid Glass as well as seamless Apple Ecosystem integration — much like any other Chinese phone brands these days.
It’s said that this version will (finally) kill the long-running Funtouch OS and will be launched in India on October 15.
Pricing and Availability
The vivo X300 is available in Black, Blue, Pink, Purple, and Red colorways.
Meanwhile, the X300 Pro is available in four shades: Black, Brown, Blue, and White.
Pricing and configuration in China are as follows:
- 12+256GB = CNY 4399 (US$ 620 / EUR 535 / GBP 465 / SG$ 800 / MYR 2610 / PhP 36,000 / INR 54,790)
- 16+256GB = CNY 4699 (US$ 660 / EUR 570 / GBP 500 / SG$ 860 / MYR 2790 / PhP 38,490 / INR 58,530)
- 12+512GB = CNY 4999 (US$ 700 / EUR 610 / GBP 530 / SG$ 910 / MYR 2970 / PhP 40,900 / INR 62,260)
- 16+512GB = CNY 5299 (US$ 745 / EUR 645 / GBP 560 / SG$ 965 / MYR 3145 / PhP 43,360 / INR 65,995)
- 16+1TB = CNY 5799 (US$ 815 / EUR 705 / GBP 615 / SG$ 1060 / MYR 3440 / PhP 47,450 / INR 72,230)
- 12+256GB = CNY 5299 (US$ 745 / EUR 645 / GBP 560 / SG$ 965 / MYR 3145 / PhP 43,360 / INR 65,995)
- 16+512GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 845 / EUR 730 / GBP 635 / SG$ 1095 / MYR 3560 / PhP 49,085 / INR 74,715)
- 16+1TB = CNY 6699 (US$ 940 / EUR 815 / GBP 710 / SG$ 1220 / MYR 3975 / PhP 54,815 / INR 83,435)
- 16+1TB Photographer Kit Edition = CNY 8299 (US$ 1165 / EUR 1010 / GBP 880 / SG$ 1520 / MYR 4930 / PhP 67,910 / INR 103,360)
* These are only rough, rounded-off price estimates
There’s no word on global availability just yet but it’s expected to rollout months after the Mainland China launch.
Press materials also suggest that global versions will only come with a maxed out config of 16+512GB as opposed to China’s 1TB variants.
Apple has unveiled its new iMac powered by the M6 chip, bringing faster performance, enhanced on-device AI capabilities, and improved connectivity to its all-in-one desktop computer.
Announced on October 27, the new iMac retains its slim design and 24-inch display while introducing hardware upgrades for everyday productivity, creative workflows, and AI-powered applications.
Apple claims the M6-powered iMac delivers up to 18 times faster performance than the most popular Intel-based iMac. It also offers up to five times faster on-device AI performance than the previous-generation M4 model.
The new iMac comes in seven colors: blue, green, pink, yellow, purple, orange, and silver.
M6 brings faster performance and AI capabilities
The new iMac features Apple’s M6 chip, with configurations offering either a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU or a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU.
The 12-core CPU delivers improved performance for everyday applications, multitasking, and demanding workloads. Meanwhile, the GPU now features Neural Accelerators in every core to accelerate AI processing and graphics-intensive tasks.
Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the graphics performance of the M4 model. Users can expect improvements in photo editing, video production, and gaming, including titles that use ray tracing.
The M6 also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which delivers up to twice the AI computing performance of the previous generation. Combined with memory bandwidth of up to 170GB/s, the chip can handle demanding on-device AI workloads, including running large language models.
Apple highlights several performance improvements over previous generations:
- Up to 2.5 times faster performance in Microsoft Excel compared to the M1 iMac.
- Up to 3.3 times faster graphics performance in applications such as Affinity compared to the M1 iMac.
- Up to 12 times faster on-device AI prompt processing in LM Studio compared to the M1 iMac.
- Up to twice the gaming performance with ray tracing compared to the M4 iMac.
These improvements make the iMac a more capable desktop for professionals, students, and creators who need additional computing power without moving to a separate desktop tower.
A desktop built for AI
Apple is positioning the new iMac as a platform for its expanding AI ecosystem.
Running macOS 27, the desktop supports Apple Intelligence features and Siri AI, Apple’s next-generation assistant. Users can ask questions, search for information across their messages and emails, and perform actions across supported applications.
Siri AI is also integrated into Spotlight, allowing users to search for information and ask follow-up questions. Visual Intelligence lets users interact with content on their screen, whether it’s a chart in a spreadsheet or an image in a browser.
Other AI-powered features extend to everyday applications. Safari can automatically organize tabs into topics and notify users about website changes, including product restocks and price drops. Users can also create Shortcuts automations by describing what they want to accomplish.
For creative professionals, Apple Intelligence adds tools for photo editing and other productivity tasks. The iMac also supports third-party AI applications optimized for Apple silicon, including LM Studio and Topaz Studio.
Apple says these capabilities allow users to run supported AI workloads locally, helping preserve privacy by processing certain tasks directly on the device.
Siri AI is available in beta in macOS 27.2, with language and regional availability restrictions applying to some Apple Intelligence features.
24-inch 4.5K Retina display
The new iMac retains its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, which offers a resolution of 4,480 x 2,520 pixels and 500 nits of brightness.
The display supports the P3 wide color gamut and more than one billion colors, making it suitable for photo editing, video production, and everyday entertainment.
Apple also offers an optional nano-texture display finish on supported configurations to reduce reflections and glare in challenging lighting conditions.
For video calls, the iMac features a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View. Its three-microphone array and six-speaker sound system deliver an integrated audiovisual setup without requiring additional peripherals.
The speakers feature force-cancelling woofers and tweeters, with support for Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos.
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and faster storage
Connectivity receives an upgrade with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
The higher-end configuration can also be equipped with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, offering up to 2.5 times faster wired connectivity than the previous generation.
Apple claims the new iMac delivers up to twice the SSD read and write performance of its predecessor, helping applications launch faster and large files load more quickly.
Port availability depends on the configuration. The higher-end model includes four Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing users to connect external storage, docks, and other accessories.
The iMac also supports up to two external 6K displays, providing additional screen space for demanding workflows.
Apple continues to bundle color-matched accessories with the desktop. Depending on the configuration, these include a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and either a Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad. The accessories feature USB-C charging ports.
macOS 27 and sustainability
The new iMac runs macOS 27, which brings refinements to the Liquid Glass interface, system performance, and search.
Users can adjust the transparency of Liquid Glass through a new setting, choosing an appearance that ranges from clearer to more tinted. Apple has also refined app icons and other interface elements.
The iMac continues Apple’s sustainability efforts. Its stand uses 100 percent recycled aluminum, while its magnets use 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. Apple-designed printed circuit boards also use 100 percent recycled gold plating and tin solder.
Apple says the new iMac is manufactured using renewable electricity across its supply chain. The company continues working toward its goal of becoming carbon neutral across its entire footprint by 2030.
iMac with M6 pricing and availability
In the United States, the new iMac with M6 starts at US$1,499 for the configuration with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU. Education pricing starts at US$1,449.
The higher-end configuration, featuring a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, starts at US$1,699, with education pricing starting at US$1,599.
Pre-orders in the United States and 34 other countries and regions begin on October 28, 2026. Availability starts November 6.
In the Philippines, the new iMac with M6 starts at PHP 109,990 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration. Eligible students and educators can purchase it for PHP 105,990.
The higher-end configuration with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU starts at PHP 124,990, with education pricing at PHP 117,990.
Apple says the new iMac will be available soon through the Philippine Apple Store online and Apple Authorized Resellers. Local availability dates have yet to be announced.
In Singapore, the new iMac starts at SGD 2,099 for the 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU configuration, with education pricing at SGD 2,029.
The 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU configuration starts at SGD 2,399, with education pricing at SGD 2,259. Pre-orders in Singapore begin on October 29, with availability starting November 6.
Apple has introduced the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with its M6 chip, bringing faster CPU and GPU performance, improved on-device AI capabilities, and up to 24 hours of battery life.
Announced on October 27, the latest MacBook Pro is designed for students, business professionals, developers, and content creators who need more computing power for demanding workloads.
The M6 chip features a 12-core CPU and a 12-core GPU, each with two more cores than its predecessor. Apple claims the new processor delivers up to 30 percent faster graphics performance and up to 25 percent faster on-device AI performance compared to the M5.
For users upgrading from an M1-powered MacBook Pro, Apple promises even more substantial gains, with up to 11 times faster graphics performance and up to 13 times faster AI performance.
M6 brings faster performance and AI capabilities
The M6 chip is built to handle demanding workloads, from multitasking and software development to video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming.
Its 12-core GPU features Neural Accelerators in every core, alongside a third-generation ray-tracing engine and Dynamic Caching. These technologies help accelerate graphics-intensive applications and AI-powered tasks.
The chip also features a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, which Apple says delivers up to 1.9 times faster performance than the M5. This helps accelerate workloads such as image generation, image upscaling, and super-resolution processing.
Apple highlights several performance improvements in specific applications. Compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1, the new model delivers up to 13 times faster time-to-first-token performance for large language model processing, up to 11.7 times faster ray-traced rendering in Blender, and up to 3.3 times faster image processing in Affinity.
Developers can also expect faster builds in Xcode, with Apple reporting up to 2.5 times faster project compilation compared to the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro.
The new MacBook Pro starts with 16GB of unified memory and can be configured with up to 32GB. Memory bandwidth reaches up to 170GB/s.
Up to 24 hours of battery life
Apple says the new 14-inch MacBook Pro delivers up to 24 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac.
The company claims users upgrading from an Intel-based MacBook Pro can gain up to 14 additional hours of battery life. Those moving from an M1-powered model can expect up to four additional hours.
The laptop supports fast charging, allowing it to reach up to 50 percent battery capacity in 30 minutes when paired with a compatible higher-wattage USB-C power adapter, such as Apple’s 96W adapter.
Liquid Retina XDR display and improved connectivity
The new MacBook Pro retains its 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, which offers up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.
Apple also offers an optional nano-texture display finish designed to reduce reflections and glare in challenging lighting conditions.
For video calls, the laptop features a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera with Desk View. A three-microphone array and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio round out its audiovisual features.
Connectivity receives an upgrade with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The laptop also includes three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, a MagSafe 3 charging port, an SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack. It supports up to two external displays.
The MacBook Pro is available in space black and silver.
macOS 27 and sustainability
The new MacBook Pro runs macOS 27, which brings improvements to system performance, search, and the overall user experience.
Apple has also refined the operating system’s Liquid Glass interface, adding options to adjust its transparency and appearance. Updates to Spotlight, Photos, Mail, Safari, Maps, Notes, and Podcasts aim to make everyday tasks more responsive and convenient.
The laptop continues Apple’s sustainability efforts. Its enclosure uses 100 percent recycled aluminum, while the device contains 45 percent recycled material overall. The battery uses 100 percent recycled cobalt, and multiple capacitors use 100 percent recycled tantalum.
Apple says the new MacBook Pro is manufactured using renewable electricity across its supply chain and is designed to be durable and repairable.
MacBook Pro with M6 pricing and availability
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at US$1,999 in the United States. Education pricing starts at US$1,899.
Pre-orders in the US and 34 other countries and regions begin on October 28, 2026. The laptop will arrive at customers’ doors and Apple Stores, as well as authorized resellers, starting November 6.
In the Philippines, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at PHP 144,990. Eligible students and educators can purchase it at the education price of PHP 137,990.
In Singapore, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 starts at SGD 2,699, with education pricing starting at SGD 2,499. Customers can order the new MacBook Pro soon through the Apple Store online and the Apple Store app in Singapore. Availability details are available through Apple’s local store.
Apple says the new MacBook Pro will be available soon through the Philippine Apple Store online and Apple Authorized Resellers. Local availability details have yet to be announced.
Apps
Firefox ad reunites all your favorite memes from decades ago
The Numa Numa Guy, Annoying Orange, and Chocolate Rain are back!
Before Tung Tung Tung Sahur and Skibidi Toilet, the early internet was populated by charismatic personalities looking to make their presences felt in a land that didn’t have a lot of rules yet. As early users, we danced to “Dragostea din tei,” belted out “Chocolate Rain,” and copied “Shoes” word-for-word. Today, Firefox is bringing all those good memories back for a grand reunion.
In a new ad, the web browser featured ten of the biggest stars of the early internet including the aforementioned Numa Numa Guy, Tay Zonday, and Shoes’ Kelly. You can also see Annoying Orange, Chuck Testa, Overly Attached Girlfriend, Bad Luck Brian, Where the Hell is Matt?, the Apparently Kid, and the Success Kid.
Now, this isn’t just a reunion. The ad has a clear message about today’s most concerning issue: AI. Everything has “built-in AI, always asking, asking, asking,” as the Annoying Orange said.
“They make money by following us, and somehow, I’m the creepy one?” the Overly Attached Girlfriend asked.
All these famous personalities are asking what happened to the internet today. Obviously, the big takeaway is that we should all go back to Firefox.
Compared to other browsers, Firefox has a lot of built-in features that offer a lot of control for users. For one, it has its own VPN for privacy. Secondly, reflecting the ad’s message against AI, the browser has a toggle to minimize AI features.
SEE ALSO: Google illegally destroys 250,000 trees for a single AI data center
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