News
Qualcomm launches a phone for Snapdragon Insiders, costs $1500
It’s literally called Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders
In the world of Android, Qualcomm is infamous for its Snapdragon-branded processors. Instead of launching a new chip, the American giant has surprised us with a phone called Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders.
Snapdragon Insiders is a community of Qualcomm enthusiasts who get a closer look at the workings of the chipset giant. It currently comprises 1.6 million members, and the company wanted to provide cutting-edge performance to its inner circle.
Obviously, it sports a Snapdragon 888 processor that can be clocked up to 2.84 GHz and consists of eight cores. It also includes Adreno 660 GPU, 5G support, and WiFi 6. It’s quite disappointing that it doesn’t get the Snapdragon 888+ because it takes away the fad of being on the cutting-edge of technology.
Coming to the cameras, the Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders has a triple-camera array with a 64-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel wide-angle lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto sensor with 3x magnification.
There’s a 4000mAh battery inside with support for 65W Quick Charge 5 charging speeds. But you only get a 35W power adapter inside the box. It’ll run on stock Android 11 out-of-the-box, with 4 years of guaranteed security updates and OS upgrades.
The phone has been made in partnership with ASUS, who’ll also be responsible for pushing out four years of guaranteed security and software updates.
Snapdragon sound
It may look like an exclusive offering for the Snapdragon Insiders community, but sales shall be open-ended. Meaning, anyone can buy it if they want to. It’ll only be available in Midnight Blue color and carries a price tag of US$ 1,499 (PHP 75,000). For that heavy price, you’ll get the phone, a Quick Charge 5 charger and cable, a bumper case, and a pair of TWS earbuds from Master & Dynamic (MW0851).
Keep in mind, it isn’t a gaming phone. Much of the specs are already available on the ROG Phone 5, which also supports airtags for seamless gaming. The phone will initially go on sale in China, Germany, Japan, Korea, the US, and the UK. Release in other markets like India will be done in the second wave.
HUAWEI will officially launch the HUAWEI FreeClip 2 in the Philippines on February 19.
HUAWEI says the only Airy C-Bridge open-ear TWS earbuds is the next evolution of open-ear listening.
It is designed for users who want premium sound, all-day comfort, and a truly secure fit — not just as a cutting-edge audio wearable but also as a tech jewelry.
There are several trendy colorways: Denim Blue, Black, Rose Gold, and White. Users can also style the FreeClip 2 with interchangeable accessories, like the Star, Butterfly, Flake, and Tassel designs.
Building on the first-generation FreeClip, the FreeClip 2 introduces a lighter, softer, and new design.
The Acoustic Ball, which houses the audio driver, is contoured and weighted to sit naturally near the ear canal. This change allows directing sound precisely while maintaining an open-ear design.
The counterbalance is the Comfort Bean, a broad and soft contact surface for a stable and ergonomic fit. This rests gently behind the ear and distributes pressure across a wider area.
Meanwhile, the Airy C-Bridge design is crafted from skin-friendly liquid silicone and high-performance shape-memory alloy. It is 25% lighter and is tested to withstand 25,000 bends.
Crystal-clear calls, powerful audio
Performance wise, the FreeClip 2 boasts of clearer sound and more reliable calls in real-world environments.
It is equipped with an advanced three-microphone system, including a Voice Pick Up bone-conduction mic.
The powerful dual-diaphragm driver in a TWS design is also engineered to deliver impressive sound. Users can expect a better bass performance for fuller and more dynamic audio for music, podcasts, and even video calls.
An integrated NPU AI Processor also elevates the listening experience with precise audio processing.
With Adaptive Volume, the wearable detects ambient noise and automatically adjusts playback. Adaptive Voice Enhancement also intelligently amplifies voice based on the content being played or surrounding noise.
Other features include up to 38 hours of usage, iOS and Android compatibility, and IP57 rating.
For its Philippines release, HUAWEI is offering Early Bird Vouchers worth PhP 1,000. On Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok, customers can also get PhP 500 vouchers and two sets of accessories, as well as a one-year, one-time loss compensation service.
Events
Apple’s March 4 Event signals something BIG is coming
When Apple breaks tradition, it usually means something big
Apple is gearing up for a big announcement, and the date is set — March 4, 2026.
Invites have gone out for an in-person “Apple Experience” happening simultaneously in New York, London, and Shanghai.
Typically, Apple hosts just two major in-person events each year: WWDC in June and the iPhone launch in September, both held at its Cupertino campus.
The last time the company staged a third in-person event was in spring 2024 for what became its largest-ever iPad refresh.
In-person events are usually reserved for major product launches, fueling speculation that Apple is preparing to introduce something significant.
While the company hasn’t officially confirmed the lineup, rumors point to a new entry-level Mac laptop featuring an aluminum chassis and bright color finishes.
Noted Apple leaker Mark Gurman says the invite’s yellow, green, and blue accents match colors Apple has reportedly tested for these upcoming devices.
Worth pointing out the three colors from the invite are light green, blue and yellow — which just so happen to be the colors Apple has tested the low-cost MacBook with, as I wrote yesterday. Coincidence? We shall see. https://t.co/1FFVkfw9JZ pic.twitter.com/ssKDDzdJsw
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 16, 2026
Additional reports suggest Apple could unveil an iPhone 17e, updated iPad and iPad Air models, upgraded MacBook Pro configurations powered by M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a refreshed Studio Display, and an enhanced version of Siri with Google Gemini integration.
Whether all of these products make an appearance remains to be seen — but if the rumors hold true, 2026 is shaping up to be a major year for Apple.
Doomscrolling is the greatest enemy to everyone’s productivity today. The temptation to keep on scrolling for hours is an ever-present temptation. Taking a very strong stance against the phenomenon, the European Commission is now investigating TikTok for having an addictive interface.
Via Politico, Brussels is now prodding TikTok to change its interface. Very technically, the European Commission is not out to get doomscrolling, specifically. However, the major changes that they want to introduce “disabling infinite scrolling, setting strict screen time breaks, and changing its recommender systems.”
App addiction is a persistent problem today. Besides concerned parents, governments around the world have been trying to regulate addiction, especially when it comes to children. The European Commission, as is apparent from this new initiative, is at the forefront of preventing addiction.
Though the target is explicitly TikTok right now, changing addictive interfaces will also affect other social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and X. Most platforms nowadays thrive on encouraging users to keep scrolling through more content.
Right now, TikTok isn’t set to change just yet. However, the report states that the European Commission is willing to work with platforms for a better, non-addictive interface. It’s less abrasive than the region’s recent privacy initiatives, which requires users to verify their age before accessing mature content.
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