Accessories
Huawei Sound X: A smashing good time
As soon as the Huawei Sound X was revealed during the Huawei P40 series launch, I was intrigued and wanted to try it right away. After all, it’s not everyday you see a relatively tiny Hi-Fi speaker.
Fast forward months later and having spent a couple of weeks with it, I can say with absolute certainty that having the Sound X is a balls to the wall smashing good time!
It’s so small for its device category, it fits in a shelf meant for toy figures
Its power source is located underneath and tucks in nicely when set up
With a P40 series phone, tapping on the NFC area makes for an easy and immediate pairing
But you can pair it via bluetooth with any phone you have. This ties in nicely with Huawei’s 1+8+N strat which is essentially a connected life starting with your phone.
In fact, this is the first product to come to the Philippines that’s not the usual phone, laptop, tablet, or wearable variety. And if this is the first peripheral accessory that you’ll add to that Huawei Life you’re building, then it’s a damn good way to start.
Up top are its volume and pairing controls
You can do more with it on the Huawei AI Life App
It’s co-engineered with Devialet
Devialet is a global audio brand known for its premium High-Fidelity products. They’ve garnered numerous awards for their inventive products that boast thunderous power and unparalleled performance within a limited-sized body. That’s actually a perfect way to describe the Sound X.
It gets really loud
Throughout my time with the Sound X, I never once turned it up to max volume. One. because I never really needed to. Two, even if I wanted to, I’m afraid my neighbors would come banging at my door for disturbing their peace.
It sounds f*cking amazing
There’s really no other way to describe it. Playing practically anything on the Huawei Sound X feels almost like an out-of-body experience — one that’s typically reserved for when you’re listening to live music.
See, the thing about music is it has the ability to transport you into certain times and places in your life. I know I sound dramatic but it’s true. This is exactly what I experienced with the Sound X.
One Sunday morning I decided to listen to the classics that my parents used to blast on our stereo speakers. Hearing “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin and the legendary riffs of “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple, I felt like that kid again quietly jamming to the music from my childhood.
Later on I decided to switch things up and put on Usher and Alicia Keys’ “My Boo,” and instantly I was my pre- and early teen self again. I wanted to keep the RnB streak going and ended up listening to Neo’s “Go on Girl” which brought up memories of being cheated on.
I picked up my mood by putting on what I listen to mostly these days for an instant shot of happy — which is of course K-Pop girl group TWICE. Lastly, I rounded up the day by pumping myself up with soundtracks from Boku No Hero Academia.
That roller coaster of emotion was magical. I doubt it would be possible if the Sound X didn’t sound the way it does. It really does bring that X-factor to whatever you’re listening to.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
At PhP 19,990 (US$ 405), this makes for a big ticket item for most people especially for its intended purpose. For the most part, you can live with just using your smartphone’s speakers or your earphones or headphones for listening to music. But if you want to elevate and share that experience, the Huawei Sound X is a fantastic choice.
The tech behind it is fantastic for sure. You have stuff like Devialet‘s patented signal-processing SAM (Speaker Active Matching) technology, iconic Push-Push symmetrical structure, and all that whatchamacallit.
However, the thing that makes the Sound X an excellent speaker is no matter how impressive the fancy tech looks on paper, it all takes a backseat once you start using it. At that point, it’s all magic and that’s what good tech is. It stays in the background and all you’re left with is a magical experience.
The one thing that I really, really don’t like about the Sound X is that I have to give it back to Huawei. 😢
Accessories
Peak Design’s new City Line combines minimalism and color
Less padding, more personality
Known for its camera-friendly bags with generous padding to protect photography gear, Peak Design is taking a different approach with the City Line.
The new collection prioritizes lightweight construction and everyday functionality, stripping away unnecessary bulk while still delivering the thoughtful organization the brand is known for.
The new collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the 15L City Tote, the City Crescent in 6L and 12L options, and the compact 2L City Sling. While each bag serves a different purpose, they all share the same minimalist aesthetics and intuitive organization.
To achieve that lighter design is Peak Design’s new weather-resistant MonoShell material, along with a seam-reduced construction that cuts down on unnecessary bulk.
It also comes with Peak Design’s built-in BagLev hook, allowing you to hang your bag from a table instead of placing it on the floor.
Beyond the neutral and muted finishes we’ve seen in the past, Peak Design is also introducing brighter options that add more personality to the collection.
The vibrant Lapis blue, in particular, stands out as a fun alternative for anyone looking to move beyond the usual black everyday bag.
The City Line is now available through peakdesign.com and authorized retailers worldwide.
DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.
The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.
Freedom behind the lens
The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.
On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.
FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.
ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.
It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.
None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.
And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.
The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.
The trade-offs in touch
The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.
DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.
You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.
Finding your ideal workflow
The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.
If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.
Price, availability
DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.
- Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
- Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
- Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.
Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?
The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.
If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.
Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.
Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.
And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.
Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.
This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.
Last year, the Sony WH-1000XM6 quickly became our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The audio quality pairs remarkably well with its ANC capabilities. Now, a year into the accessory’s life cycle, new colors are still coming out. Today, the acclaimed WH-1000XM6 is getting an Olive Gray variant.
A few months ago, Sony expanded the WH-1000XM6’s colorway options with a Sandstone version, launching alongside the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION. At the time, the new color added a splash of life to an already blossoming lineup.
Now, much like the rest of the lineup, the new Olive Gray version is a subdued mashup between olive green and gray. Though it stands out on its own, the color is still cool enough to mix well with the contours of the user’s head.
Other than that, the new version is still identical to the inner workings of the original device. The Sony WH-1000XM6 comes with a new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, providing 12 microphones for effective noise cancellation. In terms of audio quality, the headphones support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC support.
Also, the accessory sits comfortable on the head with a high rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, cushioned well with synthetic leather.
As always, the Olive Gray version, launching today, will sell for US$ 459.99.
In Singapore, the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Olive Gray is available starting today through Sony Stores, the Sony Store Online, and authorized dealers for S$649, matching the pricing of the existing color options.
SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation
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