Accessories

2023 GadgetMatch Approved Devices

Gadgets that truly deserve the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval

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We wouldn’t call ourselves “GadgetMatch” without being able to recommend you “gadgets” that “match” your needs, right?

Aside from smartphones, our members also gave other devices the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval — whether that’s a tablet, smartwatch, smart TV, desktop, laptop, wireless earbuds. Heck, there’s even more than just one handheld gaming console!

Just like the smartphone version of GadgetMatch’s Approved list, this is in descending order from most recently published.

GameSir G8 Galileo

“Most smartphone controllers prioritize portability. Thus, they’re more compact. The GameSir G8 Galileo changes all of that because of its size. It’s also not just larger. Its ergonomics are great too. Your hands will sit nicely on the nice, curved handles for a more comfortable, more enjoyable handheld gaming session.

The feel of the controller is fantastic and is easily the most enjoyable out of every other smartphone controller that I’ve tried before.” Rodneil

READ MORE: The GameSir G8 Galileo is great for PS Remote Play

Samsung HW-Q600C Q Soundbar

“The Samsung HW-Q600C Q Soundbar makes you feel your entertainment in both tangible and intangible ways. It adds something extra to your favorite movies, shows, music, and everything in between.” Rodneil

READ MORE: The Samsung HW-Q600C Q Soundbar lets you feel your ‘entertainment’

ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)

ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023)

“I have already said this at the start of the article, but it bears repeating. The ROG Zephyrus G14 is an all-eggs-in-one-basket machine that can keep up with you in play, work, and everything else in between.

If I, a long-time Mac user, absolutely HAD TO switch to Windows, this is the laptop that I will go for. “ Rodneil

READ MORE: The ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) is my top choice

Lenovo Legion Go

“Is this your GadgetMatch? If you’re new to the handheld console market, absolutely. For its price point, you’re getting more than your money’s worth. While Sony is currently struggling with its return to handheld gaming, the Lenovo Legion Go offers an all-around, powerful solution for mobile entertainment.” Luigi

READ MORE: Lenovo Legion Go review: There’s a new king in town

Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)

“As I transition into becoming a recreational athlete who aims to stand on the podium one day, the Garmin epix Pro is the smartwatch I’ve always dreamt of. It’s not my ideal type, but it’s everything I need. I think that’s what matters — both in smartwatch preferences and in our love life.” MJ

READ MORE: I ditched my Apple Watch for the Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2)

Apple M3 iMac

“If you’re looking for an all-in-one computer for your home, there’s no better choice than the 2023 iMac.

If you’re a PC user looking to switch to a Mac, this might just be your best bet. If you own an Intel model, now is a great time too.” — Michael Josh

Apple M3 Max MacBook Pro

“If you feel like you need more power, more performance, more battery life, go out and buy an M3-powered MacBook Pro. I can go on and on, but simply put, there’s nothing like it in the market today.” — Michael Josh

Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

“When it comes to Android tablets, nothing quite comes close to the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra from Samsung. It’s definitely best in its class.” — Michael Josh

Xiaomi Pad 6

Xiaomi Pad 6

“The Xiaomi Pad 6 has to be the easiest Android tablet to recommend right now. It’s the ultimate bang-for-your-buck tablet, squeezing out plenty of features and functionality for a package price that’s more than reasonable. Xiaomi has a winner on their hands. One that deserves the GadgetMatch seal of approval.” Rodneil

READ MORE: The Xiaomi Pad 6 is great for the editor on-the-go

ROG Ally

“The ROG Ally is an exciting handheld gaming console. On its own, the ROG Ally is a truly compelling gaming gadget. A relatively affordable handheld with the power to play AAA titles whenever and wherever. It’s pretty easy to justify its place in your gaming lifestyle. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty polished for a first generation device.” Rodneil

READ MORE: ROG Ally review: New handheld gaming king?

Samsung Neo QLED 4K QN90C

“If you’re in the market for a new TV, I highly recommend the Samsung Neo QLED 4K QN90C. I think it offers excellent picture quality, plenty of connectivity options, and some extras, all at a reasonable price tag. — Michael Josh

Apple Mac Studio

“If you would consider yourself semi-pro or pro and require more power, then a Mac Studio is definitely worth checking out. Get the Mac Studio if more of your high-end work is done at a desk — whether that be at home or office. I love my Mac Studio, and I know you will too.” — Michael Josh

Apple M2 Max MacBook Pro 16”

“If you need more power and performance, then I also highly-recommend the MacBook Pro. These new M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are so powerful and while it may be more power than what you need right now, if you plan on holding onto your machine for say 5 years — maybe even more, then as apps get more and more demanding, you’ll find that your machine will still be able to handle anything you throw at it for many, many years to come.” — Michael Josh

Apple M2 MacBook Air 15″

“It’s so easy to recommend the MacBook Air. It’s a well-built, thin and light laptop, with an affordable price tag. It has enough power for most users. And, it’s complemented by a rich Apple ecosystem.” — Michael Josh

ROG Zephyrus M16

ROG Zephyrus M16

“Overall, the ROG Zephyrus M16 was always designed to be one of the best gaming laptops out there, and this iteration is just no different. There are more affordable options for this model, with one of them at PhP 169,995 for the RTX 4070 model. Even so, that’s still an impressive piece of work that will elevate the gaming experience further.” GadgetMatch

READ MORE: ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 review: Styling on the competition

Uperfect X14 Pro

“I can wholly recommend this product for people who, like myself, like to live off of their phones as their main computing gadget. It gets the job done, usage is just like using any laptop you’ve ever used before.” — Kevin

READ MORE: Uperfect X14 Pro Wireless Lapdock Review

ROG Flow X16

“The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is a great 2-in-1 device that holds its own with nothing extra needed. With powerful hardware embedded inside a relatively slim form factor, it has everything you need for work and play. Whether you’re a competitive gamer or a content creator at heart, you won’t go wrong with this as an option.” GadgetMatch

READ MORE: ASUS ROG Flow X16 review: Great on its own

Apple M2 Mac mini

“If you’re just looking to get the most affordable Mac that you can get today, then, don’t even think about it. I highly recommend the new 2023 M2-powered Mac mini.

Despite its price, don’t be fooled, this is one powerful machine that can do everything you need for work or play.” — Michael Josh

Accessories

Manila turns up the volume at COVE

Sony Philippines launched its ULT TOWER lineup at Beyond the Beat, with SB19 joining the ULT Squad.

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Sound and style shared the floor at COVE Manila in Okada Manila. Sony Philippines opened its doors for Beyond the Beat: The Next-Level ULT POWER SOUND Experience.

The event marked the company’s biggest ULT POWER SOUND launch in the country, and Sony paced the program like an exclusive night out.

Stacked ULT Towers filled the space. Guests styled themselves with designer pieces from Alser Lumawag, and SB19 closed the evening as the newest Sony ULT Squad members.

MySony members from every tier joined industry guests while the new ULT TOWER lineup set the tempo.

The towers take center stage

Shuhei Sugihara, Sony Philippines’ President and Managing Director, opened the program.

Product Marketing Specialist Keira Ambubuyog then introduced the newest additions to the lineup.

Arbie Bandiling of Personal Audio Systems unveiled the latest ULT Squad video. The clip introduced the artists and personalities fronting the campaign.

The lineup features the ULT TOWER 5, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER MAX. The new series pairs large circular woofers and high-capacity cabinets with ULT DUCT technology.

This design delivers stronger low-frequency bass than earlier models. The ULT TOWER MAX leads the series, described as Sony’s most powerful bass speaker yet.

On another note, Sony pitches the ULT TOWER 7 as stage-worthy sound in a portable frame. Meanwhile, the compact ULT TOWER 5 targets smaller gatherings and features karaoke and DJ capabilities.

Experiential zones bring the sound to life

Guests explored the lineup across several interactive event zones. Step into the Beat paired an arcade-inspired setup with stacked ULT Towers and a dance pad. ULT Selfie Club handled photo ops.

Nearby, ULT Cover Star let guests style ULT Field speakers alongside designer pieces from Alser Lumawag. Here, the speakers served as chic fashion accessories.

The Bass District gave VIPs and influencers a private, nightlife-inspired lounge. Karaoke Lounges invited everyone else to grab a mic and test the party-ready towers firsthand.

The ULT Squad shows up

Fashion influencer and ULT Squad member Angelique Manto-Guison hosted the night.

A-Team opened the show with a high-energy routine before Carlos Serrano III took the stage. David Guison and Jacqueline Jala walked the stage with ULT Models in elevated fashion, and Jeremy G followed with a dynamic musical performance.

KAIA brought a youthful pop sound, while Maki delivered a set in his signature style.

SB19 closed the night, making their debut as the newest Sony ULT Squad members. Sony pairs its sound technology with the group’s influence in Filipino music. This collaboration positions the Squad as a platform for artists shaping contemporary music culture.


The ULT TOWER MAX, ULT TOWER 7, and ULT TOWER 5 are now available at Sony Centres and authorized dealers nationwide.

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Jackery Explorer 300D: Power and portability in one

Uninterrupted workflows for digital nomads, freelance creatives, more

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For digital nomads, freelance creatives, and even work-from-home professionals, staying productive on the move means carrying around multiple gadgets, cords, adapters, and power banks to survive the day.

Having to carry such weight, quite literally, is vital for maintaining workflow continuity.

For a more seamless experience and to have just one extra portable device to power all working parts, there’s the Jackery Explorer 300D.

Launched just last month, this grab-and-go offering from Jackery is designed for the modern lifestyle.

It moves away from Jackery’s traditional aesthetic with a sleek, speaker-like form factor. It weighs just 2.5 kilograms and is 64% smaller than standard 300W units in the market.

This ultra-compact size was made possible by a smart engineering choice of swapping bulky traditional AC wall outlets for highly efficient DC-only and USB-C ports —  which also helps eliminate idle power loss.

With a 288Wh capacity, the Jackery Explorer 300D holds enough juice for up to nine power banks.

It can keep a Type-C fast-charging laptop for up to three to four full cycles, a Wi-Fi router alive for hours, and recharge cameras or drone batteries up to five times for a lengthy production day.

For smaller gadgets like smartphones and portable fans, the power station can juice them up for up to 22 times.

It can even charge five devices simultaneously with a total of three USB-C ports, a USB-A port, and a DC 12V car charger port.

All these ensure users are never disconnected, wherever they may set up their mobile office.

Another brilliant touch is the two-in-one shoulder strap that easily unclips to double as a heavy-duty 140W USB-C charging cable.

The everyday carry is available via Lazada and Shopee, and at the official Jackery kiosk in SM Fairview, as well as other partner stores.

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Apple is reportedly working on its own gaming controllers

It might launch under the Beats brand.

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Last week, the iPhone Duo changed how you look at the ubiquitous smartphone. Foldables are in, and Apple is right there with it. But the company isn’t stopping with the foldable segment. Apple is reportedly working on its own branded game controllers.

According to Bloomberg, Apple has been working on a controller since last year. Further, a piece of code linked to macOS 27.4, spotted by MacRumors, includes references to two unknown gaming controllers.

Because Apple just concluded its huge event this month, it will likely be a while before we see confirmation of this controller. And it could be anything. Of course, because the Duo is fresh on our minds, the easiest answer is a mobile controller than can maximize the foldable’s ability to stand by itself. It could also use Apple’s larger screens like the iPad, the MacBook, or the Mac. Some even speculate that this could be Apple’s stronger push into the gaming market.

Outside of the actual hardware, the reports are also claiming that the controller will arrive by way of Beats, rather than from Apple itself. At first, the branding comes off as a surprise, but then again, Beats hasn’t really evolved past an audio brand in a long, long time. Is it time to revitalize Beats as something more than just a peddler of headphones?

SEE ALSO: First Look: Apple iPhone Duo

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