News

The new iPad Air carries Apple’s most advanced chip

The most powerful iPad Air ever

Published

September 16, 2020

Rodneil Quiteles

Apple’s latest chip — the A14 Bionic — was probably supposed to debut on the iPhone 12 but the pandemic happened and that announcement had to be delayed. Regardless, it still made a splash as the headlining component of the new iPad Air.

Most Powerful iPad Air with A14 Bionic

The A14 Bionic chip offers a new six-core design for a 40 percent boost in CPU performance. There’s also a new four-core graphics architecture for a 30 percent improvement in graphics.

Apple showed side-by-side shots of a game and it showcased how the new chip helps in rendering an overall better visual experience of the game. There’s also no lag despite the more demanding graphics settings.

Its combination of the new Neural Engine, CPU machine learning accelerators, and high-performance GPU enables powerful on-device experiences for image recognition, natural language learning, analyzing motion, and more.

More colors, new finishes

The upgrades aren’t all on the inside. The new iPad Air features a completely new thin and light design in five gorgeous finishes: silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue.

The new all-screen design features a larger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display for a stunning visual experience.

To allow the display to extend on all sides, a next-generation Touch ID sensor is integrated into the top button. It provides the same fast, easy, and secure way to unlock iPad Air, log in to apps, or use Apple Pay that customers know and love.

The iPad Air is compatible with Magic Keyboard and its floating design, and built-in trackpad, Smart Keyboard Folio, and new Smart Folio covers. It will also work with the Apple Pencil which attaches magnetically to the side for easy pairing, charging, and storing.

Upgraded camera, USB-C port

The new iPad Air now features the same 12MP rear camera used in iPad Pro for higher resolution photos and 4K video capture. The new design features stereo speakers in landscape mode for a much better audio experience.

Also, Apple finally relented and opted for a USB-C port for up to 5GBps of data transfer. This is standard for connecting cameras, hard drives, and external monitors up to 4K. Highly unlikely though that we’ll see the same port on the iPhone 12. But we’ll see.

Distinct experience with iPadOS 14

Hardware is only half the battle. The biggest draw of the iPad over other tablets is iPadOS and the latest of which — iPadOS 14 — will run on the new iPad Air.

It better integrates Apple Pencil into the iPad experience for better note-taking capabilities, and new ways to work with handwritten notes. Smart Selection can now distinguish handwriting from drawings. Handwriting can be selected, cut, and pasted into another document as typed text using gestures that iPad users will be familiar with.

Shape recognition allows users to draw shapes that are made geometrically perfect and snap right into place when adding diagrams and illustrations in Notes.

Data detectors work seamlessly with handwritten text, recognizing phone numbers, dates, addresses, and links, making it easy for users to perform actions like tapping a handwritten number to make a call.

All of these will be available on the IPad Air plus more IPadOS 14 features.

Most environmentally friendly iPad Air

Perhaps this is the best thing about the new iPad Air that will likely go unnoticed. Apple already promised to bring its carbon footprint to net zero by 2030 and they’ve already started.

The iPad Air uses a 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure and 100 percent recycled tin for the solder on its main logic board. The new speakers in iPad Air also use magnets with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements.

It remains free of harmful substances, is highly energy efficient, and uses wood fiber packaging that is recycled or comes from responsibly managed forests.

Pricing and availability

The new iPad Air will be available starting next month on apple.com and in the Apple Store app in 30 countries and regions, including the US. Wi-Fi models will be available with a starting price of US$ 599 and Wi-Fi + Cellular models start at US$ 729. It comes in 64GB and 256GB configurations, and will be available in five beautiful finishes including silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue.

iPadOS 14, the powerful operating system designed specifically for iPad, ships for free with the new eighth-generation iPad and new iPad Air, and will be available as a free software update tomorrow for all iPad Pro models, iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, and iPad mini 4 and later.

Apple Pencil (2nd generation), available for purchase separately for US$129, is compatible with iPad Air.

Magic Keyboard and the Smart Keyboard Folio for iPad Air are available for purchase separately for US$ 299 and US$ 179, respectively, both with layouts for over 30 languages, including simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

Smart Folios are available for iPad Air for US$ 79 in black, white, and three new seasonal colors including deep navy, cyprus green, and pink citrus.

Education pricing for individuals, including current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels, is available for US$ 549 for the new iPad Air. The second-generation Apple Pencil is available for US$ 119, the Smart Keyboard Folio is available for US$ 159, and Magic Keyboard for US$ 279. For more information, visit apple.com/us-hed/shop.

Related Topics:iPad iPad Air iPadOS 14 new iPad Air

Finance

EastWest rolls out Google Pay access for debit cardholders

For fast, seamless, and secure payments

Published

March 8, 2026

GadgetMatch

Eastwest continues to make banking easier as its EastWest Debit Card is now on Google Pay. This enables users to pay with just the tap of their phone.

The integration brings a globally accepted payment experience closer to home. With Google Pay now supporting EastWest Debit Cards, customers can add their card to Google Wallet to enjoy fast, seamless, and secure payments.

That’s whether for everyday purchases, online shopping, or even when traveling overseas. Specifically for Eastwest Priority clients who travel frequently, Visa Infinite Debit Cardholders can enjoy more benefits, like:

Low foreign exchange fees of 1.7% (with no foreign exchange bank conversion fees promo until March 31)
Waived interbank domestic withdrawal fees
Up to 10 free international ATM withdrawals per year (with free and unlimited international ATM withdrawals promo until March 31)
24/7 access to Visa Infinite Concierge

From casual cafe purchases to grocery checkouts and even online purchases and international trips, having EastWest on Google Pay transforms the smartphone into a secure, all-in-one wallet.

As with other banks offering the same capabilities, users do not need to carry their physical card with them anymore. A simple tap with a compatible Android device or wearable completes the transaction.

EastWest’s Debit Cards are powered by Visa, and are accepted at millions of merchants worldwide.

News

Globe postpaid opens pre-orders for Samsung Galaxy S26 series

Enjoy a double the storage promo and more perks

Published

March 8, 2026

GadgetMatch

Globe has officially opened pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S26 series through its postpaid plans.

Customers can choose from three different models: the Samsung Galaxy S26, the Galaxy S26 Plus, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

As with Globe GPlans with previous flagship releases, the higher the postpaid plan you avail, the less you have to shell out as a one-time cashout fee.

Postpaid plans start at just 599 pesos, with a 24-month lock-in period and reward points for corresponding expenditures.

And as part of Globe’s pre-order offer, customers can enjoy double the storage when they avail of any device until March 17.

Here’s a quick breakdown of how much you will spend depending on the plan you choose:

Globe GPlan 599

Inclusions: 2GB data, 100 minutes mobile and landline calls, 100 minutes all-net texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 47,400 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 59,400 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 67,400 cashout

Globe GPlan 799

Inclusions: 3GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 46,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 58,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 66,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 999

Inclusions: 5GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 44,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 56,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 64,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 1299

Inclusions: 8GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 42,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 54,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 62,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 1499

Inclusions: 10GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 38,600 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 50,600 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 58,600 cashout

Globe GPlan 1799

Inclusions: 13GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 35,300 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 47,300 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 55,300 cashout

Globe GPlan 1999

Inclusions: 15GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 33,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 45,000 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 53,000 cashout

Globe GPlan 2499

Inclusions: 25GB data, unlimited all-net calls (including landline) and texts

Galaxy S26 (512GB): PhP 28,500 cashout
Galaxy S26 Plus (512GB): PhP 40,500 cashout
Galaxy S26 Ultra (512GB): PhP 48,500 cashout

In addition, customers can enjoy 0% interest installment up to 36 months via select bank credit cards, like UnionBank, BDO, BPI, Metrobank, EastWest, Chinabank, and more.

Enterprise

Nintendo sues the United States

The Japanese company wants a refund for illegal tariffs.

Published

March 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? After a year of wrestling through tariffs from the current American administration, Nintendo has decided to sue the United States.

Last year, the Trump administration was trigger-happy with implement tariffs on countries everywhere. Though the controversy mostly circulated around geopolitics, major corporations also found themselves on the receiving end of Trump’s ire. All over the world, the tariffs sparked product delays and price hikes.

Nintendo is no exception. As a result of the fiasco, the company had to delay the launch of the Switch 2, in anticipation of disruptions caused by the tariffs. First reported by Aftermath, the Japanese gaming giant is now going after the American government over refunds associated with the tariffs.

Now, the tariffs aren’t a big issue anymore. Notably, the Supreme Court scratched off the White House’s implementations that the former found illegal. While a big sigh of relief for future business, corporations like Nintendo have already paid duties and deposits in the past. As a result, Nintendo is now looking for recompense for what they paid before.

Nintendo isn’t the first company to seek restitution over the illegal tariffs. Others, including FedEx and Revlon, are also asking for refunds. However, the Japanese giant is certainly one of the biggest names to cross the government’s path. After all, the company is notoriously litigious over anything it considers as an affront to its business, including small streamers using Pokémon on their broadcasts.

With all its global resources, Nintendo likely won’t just give up without a fight.