Features

Xiaomi’s Mi Mix 3 is legit: Weekend Rewind

No mixed feelings here

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Here are this week’s top stories on GadgetMatch.

1. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is legit

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is finally saying goodbye to awkward selfies. After two iterations featuring a front camera located on the chin of the phone, Xiaomi has opted to implement a sliding system for its dual front camera system.

We first saw this implemented on the OPPO Find X this year but Xiaomi claims they’ve been tinkering with this kind of system since 2015.

That said, the Mi Mix 3 is showing a lot of promise with flagship specs like the Snapdragon 845 chip, up to 256GB of storage, and for the “Forbidden City” variant, a whopping 10GB of RAM.

It’s not the first smartphone with that much RAM, though.

2. The Black Shark Helo isn’t playing around

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 shares the 10GB RAM distinction with another Xiaomi phone — the Black Shark Helo.

Helo is a bit of a surprise coming in just half a year after its predecessor was first announced. The upgrades are incremental which can be expected.

Other than the 10GB of RAM, it now uses an AMOLED panel instead of LCD. The front stereo speakers have been improved and an aluminum frame sandwiched by glass panels now give it a more premium feel.

 

Image source: LetsGoDigital

3. Samsung cooking up something exciting?

Samsung has been tinkering with a few new things recently. After releasing a quad-rear camera setup with the Samsung Galaxy A9, there have been a slew of reports indicating that the South Korean company is keen on experimenting.

Reports indicate they recently filed a patent for an all-screen fingerprint sensor. While we’ve seen in-display fingerprint sensors from Vivo, this is limited to a certain portion of the display. Samsung wants you to be able to unlock your phone no matter what area of the screen you touch.

They have also teased that its foldable smartphone might be nearing an actual release date. Samsung first showcased this tech at CES 2013 but there has been few updates since. However, there could be some exciting details coming at the Samsung Developer Conference happening November 7 to 8, 2018. We can’t wait to see what they have in store!

4. Pixel 3 XL scratch gate

Looks like there are more issues with the Pixel 3 XL’s hardware other than its notch that people seem to hate so much.

YouTuber JerryRigEverything discovered that the Pixel 3 XL’s all-glass back, despite the matte finish on the lower part of the device, is prone to scratches. However, YouTuber Erica Griffin quickly countered this saying the scratches aren’t at all deep and can be washed off with water, soap, and a toothbrush.

That said, we shouldn’t really have to wash our phones with that trio, should we? Here’s to hoping these hardware mishaps are addressed in next year’s iteration of the Pixel.

5. iPhone XR doing well globally

Apple’s marketing seems to be working really well. Billed as the “affordable” iPhone, the iPhone XR which is the less souped-up sibling of the iPhone XS and XS Max, is selling out fast globally.

In the US, color options like yellow and Product Red are already unavailable on launch day and will ship in November instead. That’s crazy!

Make no mistake though, while it’s definitely cheaper than the iPhone XS and XS Max, it still has a pretty hefty price tag. If you’ll decide whether or not you should get one, maybe our review can help.


Weekend Rewind is our roundup of top news and features you might have missed for the week. We know the world of technology can be overwhelming and not everyone has the time to get up to speed with everything — and that includes us. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the rewind.

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

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Lenovo LOQ

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.


This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

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Buyer's Guide

2024 Samsung TV: Buyer’s Guide

Which 2024 Samsung TV is your GadgetMatch?

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With all the options available in the market, shopping for TVs can get overwhelming.

One brand Michael Josh recommends whenever someone asks? It’s none other than Samsung.

They have TVs for every price point and every feature a user might prioritize.

But which one is right for you?

Keep watching our 2024 Buyer’s Guide to find out the latest Samsung TV that best matches your needs.

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Features

Why choose the MSI Claw?

Is it the gaming handheld for you?

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MSI Claw

The MSI Claw is the latest gaming handheld from a major PC and laptop brand. The competition in this emerging gadget segment is tighter than ever. So, what is it about the MSI Claw that can scratch your gaming itch? Here’s a quick list. 

Best grip in the game

One quick glance and it’s hard not to compare the claw with another popular gaming handheld. But a closer look and actually holding the thing will reveal that its grip easily feels better. 

It has a slightly deeper groove that makes it easier to hold. So, MSI’s “Grip and Game” tagline isn’t all talk. Its design truly does provide one of the better feeling handles among its competition. 

The overall design makes sure it’s made for extended gameplay sessions. The buttons are where you expect them to be. That includes the four mini buttons on the upper edges of the screen. These are the View, MSI Center M, Menu, and Quick Settings buttons.

In addition, the face buttons and d-pad all feel great. The face buttons, in particular, feel comparable to those of regular console controllers. 

The rest of the buttons and triggers have a very satisfying tactile feel. It also uses Hall Effect technology to get rid of any stick drift issues. 

Up top, you’ll find the power button, MicroSD Card slot, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, audio jack, and the volume buttons. These are intuitively placed and just makes sense given the overall design approach. 

As cliché as it sounds, you’ll really think you got your money’s worth once you hold, touch, press, and grip the MSI Claw.

Dragon Vision 

Now, MSI isn’t really calling it that but I thought it sounds pretty cool. A big part of the whole gaming experience is the display. Balancing resolution and frame rates is always tricky but the MSI Claw does it convincingly. 

With this gaming handheld, you get a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Looks great on paper and it’s even better in real life. It’s the sweet spot in terms of both size and performance. There’s enough here to immerse you all while delivering a satisfying level of crisp and smoothness.

It’s comfortable to view whether you’re on the couch, on a desk table, or lying down getting a quick game in before you get some shut-eye. 

Battery Life 

At 53Whr, the MSI Claw has a 36% larger battery capacity than its contemporaries and promises 50% more play time.

MSI claims “elevated performance with extended endurance” using the Claw with faster charging capabilities. 

These percentages are hard to measure in real life usage. What we can say for certain is that you get the expected performance and playtime typical of a handheld. That’s a little under two hours for graphically demanding titles, and close to four hours on less demanding ones. 

The charging claim is legitimate. The MSI Claw juices up faster than most other handhelds, going from 20% to 100% in about a little over a K-Drama episode (roughly a little over an hour).

MSI Center M 

Any self-respecting gaming handheld has its own software to make navigating the thing more manageable. While its direct competitors have an armoury crate and a space, MSI went with Center M. 

The best part about MSI Center M is it puts your installed games front and center. Right when it launches, you get immediate access to the titles you have available on your machine.

MSI Afterburner is already the most commonly used app for taking a look at how your machine is performing while you play. That functionality is built-in to the MSI Claw. You can access it view the Quick Settings buttons. 

Layout and functionality-wise, the MSI Center M is certainly one of the better Gaming Handheld softwares available right now. 

Competitive Performance

A defining trait of the MSI Claw is that It’s the first gaming handheld to be powered by Intel Core Ultra. With it comes Intel XeSS tech. What it does is leverage AI upscaling to boost the fps of select titles.

As of launch, 50 notable games are supported. That number will certainly grow throughout the device’s lifespan. Some of the titles include Hi-Fi Rush, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, Returnal, and many, many more. 

Naturally, results will vary depending on the game mode you’re using. But in general, AAA games get anywhere between 10% to 45% better frame rate performance with Intel XeSS. 

For our part we played TEKKEN 8 and the recently launched Horizon Forbidden West. Both graphically demanding games played relatively well on the MSI Claw. Frame rate performance on TEKKEN 8 is crucial and we got a relatively consistent fps, never dropping below 40. 

Horizon Forbidden West is a much more graphically demanding game. We were able to run it in Medium Settings and while it doesn’t look as incredible, it still played relatively well with a frame rate surprising for a gaming handheld. 

Extras 

MSI made sure that if you wanted to, you could get some extra stuff with the MSI Claw. Its separately sold accessory set includes the Claw Travel Case, Nest Docking Station, Claw Lanyard, and Claw Keychain. 

On paper, the MSI Claw lists its ergonomic design, AI Engine, and App Player as distinct advantages over its competition. 

Whether it’s the Gaming Handheld that matches your needs is still ultimately up to you. If you have the opportunity to test drive the device, we suggest you do so. That might just solidify your purchase decision. 

Price and availability in the Philippines

 

The MSI Claw will be available in three configurations in the Philippines. There are priced as follows:

MSI Claw A1M-075PH (PhP 45, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 processor 135H 
  • 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Claw A1M-076PH (PhP 50, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 7  processor 155H
  • 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Claw A1M-077PH (PhP 53, 995).

  • Intel® Core™ Ultra 7  processor 155H
  • 1TB NVMe PCIe Gen4x4 
  • LPDDR5 16GB, dual channel
  • Intel® Arc™ Graphics

Ongoing Promotion

You can still get your own MSI Claw with exclusive bundled freebies 𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐃 until 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟑𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒!


This feature article is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and MSI Philippines.

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