Features

5 smartphones that are Beautiful in Blue 

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While Greenery may be the new Pantone color of the year for 2017, blue is undoubtedly the color that’s caught the imagination of the smartphone industry.

From Shenzhen to Silicon Valley, smartphone manufacturers the world over gave users a shiny new color to pick from. Move over rose gold; this year, blue is the new black.

Here are five phones that come in awesome shades of blue. Warning: None of these photos do them justice!

SAMSUNG GALAXY S7 EDGE / GALAXY A5 and A7 (2017)

While the Galaxy Note 7 may be gone for good, one our favorite color-ways lives on in other Samsung phones. Last year’s Galaxy S7 Edge comes in the exact same “Blue Coral” and the new Galaxy A5 and A7 (2017) smartphones come in “Blue Mist.” Samsung’s take on our unofficial color of the year is either a light metallic shade that echoes the blues of the sky when hit by the right light which contrasts surprisingly well against a gold trim (for Blue Coral — our favorite) or a lighter periwinkle shade that’s closer to power blue (for Blue Mist).

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S8 secrets revealed

GOOGLE PIXEL

Take my money now! Sure, the Google Pixel has a lot going for it tech-wise, but I would have bought this phone just for its its limited edition color alone, if only the blue model didn’t sell out mere minutes upon the pre-order page going live. The phone comes with a white face and a glass and metal back painted in a rich royal blue. Google calls it Really Blue and we agree!

SEE ALSO: Google Pixel review (3 months later)

SONY XPERIA XZ and X COMPACT

Sony couldn’t decide between dark or light blue, so it gave us both. The Xperia XZ comes in a luxurious midnight blue that’s shiny plastic up front and metallic on its back. Lay it face down on a table and it’s hard not to admire. It’s little brother the Xperia X Compact comes in a soft powdery hue.

SEE ALSO: 7 reasons why the Sony Xperia XZ succeeds

XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 4

Blue on a budget, the Redmi Note 4 is one of our favorite budgets phablets of last year. Initially available in the usual colors (gold and silver), the Chinese tech giant delivered a dark blue model in time for the holidays and it’s flying off shelves. For $225, it’s hard not to see why.

SEE ALSO: Xiaomi’s new Redmi Note 4 sets another budget benchmark

HONOR 8

Talk about shiny! The online-only Honor 8 smartphone by Huawei catches the light in the most amazing of ways, giving it a luminescent glow. For a midrange offering, this phone is in every way a winner already, but if you find yourself in doubt, its good looks should be enough to win you over.

Are we missing any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section!

SEE ALSO: Best Premium Smartphones (February 2017 Edition)

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Buyer's Guide

Buyer’s Guide: Xiaomi Pad 8 Series

Do you need the base or the Pro?

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Choosing between the Xiaomi Pad 8 and the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro feels like picking between a “sweet treat” and a “full-course meal.”

It’s deciding between a reliable travel companion and a specialized workstation. Both tablets rock a slim 5.8mm profile and a manageable 485-gram weight, and a 9200mAh battery.

However, under the hood, they are playing in different leagues. Especially since the “Pro” moniker adds serious muscle to the internals, and a solution for that glossy screen distraction.

Specs at a glance

Product Xiaomi Pad 8 Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro
Processor Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm) Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Display 11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz) 11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)
Surface Ultra-Glossy Glass Optional Matte Nano-Texture
Storage/RAM Up to 12GB LPDDR5X / 256GB Up to 16GB LPDDR5T / 512GB
Rear Camera 13MP 50MP
Front Camera 8MP 32MP
Charging 45W Turbo Charge 67W HyperCharge
Pricing Starts at PhP 20,999 Starts at PhP 38,999

Why you should pick the Xiaomi Pad 8

The standard Pad 8 is that “Goldilocks” device, hitting that sweet spot between price and premium hardware.

It’s ideal if your tablet usage is centered on media consumption and light productivity. Since it shares the same 11.2-inch screen size as the Pro, it fits perfectly on an airplane tray table, making it a dream for frequent flyers.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is no slouch; it still runs titles like Racing Master at 60fps on Ultra-High settings. If you’re a fan of XG or KiiiKiii, you’ll appreciate the quad-speaker setup and Hi-Res Audio support without needing to pay the “Pro” tax.

It’s the smart choice for those who want a capable second screen to complement their main laptop.

Why you should level up to the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro

The “Pro” is for those who found the standard model’s limitations — like the glossy screen reflections or the 128GB storage ceiling — to be a dealbreaker.

The biggest upgrade is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a powerhouse chip that turns the tablet into a legitimate workstation for video editing in CapCut or heavy multitasking in HyperOS 3.0.

Beyond power, the Pro version offers a Matte Glass Edition, which completely solves the “reflection” issue that can ruin your movie sessions or drawing time under bright lights.

You also get significantly better cameras, such as a 32-megapixel front sensor for professional-looking video calls. There’s also a 50-megapixel rear camera for high-res document scanning.

Finally, the 67W HyperCharge means you spend less time tethered to a wall and more time being productive.

Which Xiaomi Pad is your GadgetMatch?

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 if you want the best value for your money.

It’s thin, light, and powerful enough for 90% of users. It handles gaming, writing, and music playback with ease, making it a worthy recipient of a seal of approval for anyone on a budget.

Just be sure to skip the 128GB entry model and go for the 256GB version to ensure you get those faster storage speeds.

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro if you are a “power user” who hates screen glare. If you plan to use the Focus Pen Pro for serious creative work or need 512GB of space for a massive game library, the Pro is worth the extra investment.

It’s a high-speed machine that charges faster, captures better photos, and runs every app with flagship-level fluidness.


The Xiaomi Pad 8 starts at PhP 20,999 with Normal Keyboard while the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro starts at PhP 38,999 with Touch Keyboard. Both tablets come with free Focus Pen Pro.

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Apps

The No-Nonsense guide to mid-year shopping

Let AI do the heavy lifting for you this Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale

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The mid-year sale season is here, but the days of mindless impulse buying are over.

Shoppers are shifting toward intentional, value-driven decisions, focusing on quality, authenticity, and actual utility over flashy, low-quality gimmicks.

From 8:00 PM on June 5 until 11:59 PM on June 8, 2026, the Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale is dropping major discounts. But the real win is using the platform’s tools to maximize your budget.

Lock in the baseline discounts

Before diving into specific items, map out how to stack the core offers.

You can stretch your money by hunting down LazFlash Deals for up to 90% off, collecting up to PhP 3,000 in stackable vouchers, and ensuring every order qualifies for the free shipping offers available throughout the event.

True value comes from combining these three layers of savings on things you already need.

Jisulife: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Filter for authentic value

Shopping smart means avoiding the trap of “too good to be true” counterfeits that end up in the trash.

Data shows a massive consumer shift toward trusted quality, with LazMall growth vastly outperforming standard listings during major sales.

To ensure your money goes toward genuine products with real warranties, restrict your browsing to official, brand-certified stores.

If you are upgrading your tech, parenting gear, or wardrobe, look to trusted names anchoring the sale like UGREEN, JisuLife, ANTA, Maserati Watches, Momcozy, and O.TWO.O.

UGREEN: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Outsmart the noise with built-in tech

Don’t waste hours scrolling through endless listings or guessing which product is better.

The smartest way to navigate a massive mid-year event is to let the platform’s built-in features cut through choice paralysis.

Tools like AI Lazzie and AI Picks allow you to instantly compare similar items, analyze prices, and get personalized recommendations based on actual data rather than generic marketing hype.


Smart Shopper Tip: True value is a mix of the right price, verified authenticity, and a seamless return policy. Use this sale period to stock up on everyday essentials and high-quality upgrades rather than panic-buying items you’ll regret later.

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Computex 2026

Postcards from MSI’s 40th anniversary expo

A visual journey through four decades of hardware artistry at COMPUTEX 2026.

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Stepping into MSI’s 40th year anniversary exhibition space felt less like exploring a traditional tech pavilion and more like embarking on a time-travel expedition.

From the nostalgic, raw engineering of 1986 legacy motherboards to the breathtaking, AI-driven flagships and starry-night inspired laptops of tomorrow, four decades of continuous craftsmanship were brought to life under the watchful eye of the iconic dragon motif.

This photo journal captures that vibrant atmosphere. It’s a visual walk through the heritage and the sheer hardware artistry that defined MSI’s historic celebration in Taiwan.

Photos by Vincenz Lee

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