Features

5 reasons to get excited about the 5.5-inch ASUS ZenFone 3 Max

Published

October 7, 2016

Marvin Velasco

As much as we adore the ZenFone 3 Max with its large battery and sleek physique, we can’t help but feel ASUS could do better — and, we may be right. Based on a newly launched product page on the company’s official website, there’s a larger 5.5-inch model on the way. With a ZC553KL model name, it looks to be more than a cosmetic update. Here are five reasons why we think the upcoming ZenFone 3 Max will rock.

[irp posts=”3533″ name=”ASUS ZenFone 3 Max hands-on”]

It’s larger yet thinner than the ZenFone 3 Max…

The most obvious upgrade is the more generous 5.5-inch display. Up from the original ZenFone 3 Max’s 5.2-inch screen, gaming and movie watching will be far more enjoyable on this amount of real estate. On top of that, the resolution is given a boost, going from a measly 720p on the original to a Full HD 1080p resolution on the newer model.

Surprisingly, the added size doesn’t affect the thinness of the phone. In fact, the 5.5-inch ZenFone 3 Max is thinner than the 5.2-inch version: 8.3mm compared to 8.6mm. Woah!

… but its battery is still massive

Seriously, the real highlight is the battery capacity. Still having a 4100mAh battery despite the shaved profile means you’re getting 19 hours of web browsing on Wi-Fi and 72 hours of music playback on a single charge.

With a 4G standby time of 38 days (even more if you rely on 3G), going over a day of heavy usage shouldn’t be any trouble at all. Turn on Super Saving mode, and you’ll be able to squeeze out 30 hours of standby time when your battery’s down to 10 percent.

It doesn’t settle for low-end specs anymore…

One qualm we had with the smaller ZenFone 3 Max was its entry-level, quad-core MediaTek processor. While we appreciate the chip’s battery-conscious energy consumption, it simply didn’t meet our performance standards. That changes with the larger ZenFone 3 Max’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core processor.

It’s such a step up in quality, we wonder why ASUS didn’t implement it in the first place. Even last year’s battery life king, the 5000mAh-capacity ZenFone Max, had an older version of this Qualcomm processor. The updated chipset is a lot more capable of handling graphics-heavy games, and shouldn’t significantly reduce the overall battery life.

[irp posts=”1196″ name=”Zenfone Max Unboxing & Initial Impressions”]

… and has an even better camera than the ZenFone 3 Laser’s

The biggest surprise — and we’re not making this up — is how the 5.5-inch ZenFone 3 Max has a better camera setup than the ZenFone 3 Laser’s. For those unfamiliar with the ASUS lineups, the Max series is designed to have the longest battery lives, while the Laser line specializes in offering the best shooting performance in its price range.

For some reason, ASUS decided to disrupt the flow by equipping the new ZenFone 3 Max with a 16-megapixel, f/2.0 aperture camera, along with a laser and phase detection autofocus system for better subject tracking, plus three-axis electronic image stabilization. This is like having the two lineups mashed together, but better.

Let’s not forget: It’s a power bank in disguise

You won’t have to worry about running out of juice when you have the upcoming ZenFone 3 Max with you, but sadly, this doesn’t apply to all your gadgets. Carrying an extra power bank is also out of the question for some light travelers. Luckily, this Max has you covered, too.

Using the bundled USB OTG (on-the-go) adapter, you can connect any mobile device to the 5.5-inch ZenFone 3 Max and treat it like any other portable charger. Trust us, your friends will thank you.

Bonus: It comes in four sweet flavors!

Sand gold, titanium gray, glacier silver, and rose pink are so hot right now. Unfortunately, there’s no official word on price or the release date yet.

Are you as excited as we are? Let us know if you’re looking forward to more from GadgetMatch on this maxed-out ZenFone. For now, watch this promo video from ASUS:

Source: ASUS

Hands-On

Dyson Airwrap hair tutorial and real-life hold test

Is it hard to use? Does it really work?

Published

November 17, 2018

Isa Rodriguez

The Dyson Airwrap, ever since its announcement, has been the stuff of hairstyle dreams and legends. The high-tech curling iron revolutionizes the way we do our hair!

But, does it really work? Can a normal girl like myself actually get her hair to look as fab with this new-fangled hair gadget? I put it to the test.

In the video above, you see me doing my hair and the final looks. I try a total of two styles — curly and straight — and take my ‘do out and about to see if my hair would hold. And yes folks, this was only the second time I used the Airwrap on myself, ever.

The results impressed!

If you’re having trouble viewing this video, click HERE to watch.

Stay tuned for the full review of the Dyson Airwrap on Her GadgetMatch. For similar topics and features, visit the website here.

Deals

Plan for Black Friday early with these amazing deals

It’s time to ready your shopping list and wallet

Published

November 17, 2018

Koy Mapolon

We’re midway through November already, inching towards Thanksgiving and one of the most awaited dates for shopping — Black Friday. To help you get yourself and your wallet ready, we scoured through the internet to find some of the best tech deals that’ll be popping up next week. Here are some offers that you might want to take advantage of on November 23rd.

17.3-inch ASUS TUF gaming laptop (US$ 999)

This ASUS Gaming Laptop will be going down by US$ 400, so if you’ve been wanting a gaming laptop, this might be the time to cop one. And if you have a more limited budget, you could also check out the HP Pavilion CX0056WM Gaming Laptop for under US$ 600 with over US$ 100 worth of extra gaming software at Walmart.

HyperDrive USB Type-C Hub for MacBooks (US$ 69.99)

This would make a perfect gift for that person you know who lives the #donglelife. Check out the deal at Best Buy.

Sony PS4 1TB Slim Spider‑Man Bundle (US$ 199) and Xbox One S 1TB Minecraft Creators Bundle (US$ 299)

The best console deals come out this time of year, and next week, both the Spider-Man PlayStation 4 bundle and the Minecraft Creators Xbox One S bundle will be up for grabs!

Nintendo Switch Super Mario Kart Deluxe Bundle (US$ 299)

Another console being featured this Black Friday is the Nintendo Switch. Why not get the Switch with an amazing party game for your holiday gatherings? You can check the deal out at Best Buy or Walmart.

Pac-Man or Galaga Retro Arcade Machine (US$ 249)

For retro gamers or those who want to reminisce about the arcade days, this would definitely be a great item to pick up. Check it out at Target.

Amazon Echo Dot (Gen 3) (US$ 25) and Google Home Mini (US$ 25)

Get in the smart home/speaker game with the Amazon Echo Dot at half the price! You can also go with the Google Home Mini, if Alexa’s not your jam.

Microsoft Surface Pro 6 (128GB) with keyboard (US$ 599)

Why not get a powerful and portable device? The Surface Pro 6 will be US$ 360 cheaper on Friday, and it might be a good time to pick it up. The deal will be available at Best Buy.

65-inch 4K Smart Roku TV (US$ 398) and 40-inch Hisense 1080p TV (US$ 99)

This Walmart deal is probably one of the best TV deals we’ve ever seen. But if 65 inches is too big or you have a more limited budget, there’s also a 40-inch option that’s an incredible deal, as well.

Bose SoundSport Wireless Headphones (US$ 99)

It might be a great chance to pick up a pair of wireless buds from one of the best audio companies out there for under US$ 100. If that’s still a bit too steep though, the Skullcandy Method Wireless Earbuds will also be available at Best Buy for US$ 25, and they’re good quality too.

Anki’s Cozmo (US$ 139.99) and Vector (US$ 199.99) Robots

Anki has been making their rounds on the internet with these two adorable little robots. They would make for a great gift for children and adults alike, and will be marked down at Best Buy this Thanksgiving weekend.

There you have it! Just a few sneaky bits we found ahead of all the ads. We’re sure there’ll be loads more amazing stuff to check out, but this is a good place to start. We hope you enjoy your holidays, and be careful if you’re planning to face the Black Friday mobs. Happy Thanksgiving!

Features

Huawei, ZTE face ban amid 5G arms race: Weekend Rewind

It’s a security issue

Published

November 17, 2018

Rodneil Quiteles

Here are this week’s top stories on GadgetMatch.

1. Huawei and ZTE facing more potential bans

Huawei and ZTE have had a relatively hard time breaking through the US and it looks like they’ll face similar problems in other countries. While the US has allowed both Chinese companies to operate in their soil, the likes of Australia, Japan, the UK, and Germany aren’t exactly eager to welcome these two.

The cause for concern is China’s newly implemented National Intelligence Law. This law forces Chinese companies and individuals to serve the Chinese government when needed. Other countries fear this could compromise security.

Huawei and ZTE are gearing up towards 5G but with this current development, it looks like they’ll need to look elsewhere to establish their infrastructure.

2. PLDT, Smart activates first 5G towers in PH

Speaking of 5G, the Philippines isn’t one of the countries that’s blocking China. In fact, the government may be too welcoming. Partnering with Huawei and Ericsson, telecommunications company PLDT along with its wireless arm Smart has activated two 5G cell sites in the country.

The first one is located in Makati City where the company’s headquarters is also found. The other is in Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, a neighboring region of Metro Manila.

3. MediaTek gearing up for 5G

Still on 5G, MediaTek is already hard at work in developing its 5G-capable chip. In a media tour in Taiwan, the company showcased the Helio M70 which does just that.

MediaTek says commercial rollout won’t happen until 2020 but they’re already prepared to showcase the chip at the next MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, Spain.

Image source: LetsGoDigital

4. Apple patents holed iPhone design

Is Apple killing the notch? That appears to be the case if the latest patent they filed is any indication. LetsGoDigital reported that Apple is planning a holed smartphone.

According to the patent, the front-facing camera could be hidden underneath the screen through that hole. Whether or not this will be the case for the next iPhone remains to be seen. We all just have to wait and see.

5. PlayStation to skip E3 2019

PlayStation won’t be present when annual gaming convention E3 comes around in 2019. This marks the first time in the show’s 24-year history that Sony won’t be present.

In a statement sent to multiple outlets, Sony said, “As the industry evolves, Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to look for inventive opportunities to engage the community. PlayStation fans mean the world to us and we always want to innovate, think differently, and experiment with new ways to delight gamers. As a result, we have decided not to participate in E3 in 2019. We are exploring new and familiar ways to engage our community in 2019 and can’t wait to share our plans with you

It’s all very vague at this point but the company could be all hands on deck for an even more major reveal *cough* PlayStation 5 *cough* and they want the attention all to themselves instead of sharing it with other platforms.

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.