Features

The laptop I wish I had when I was in University

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i

Published

March 8, 2022

All work and no play is a sure fire formula to burn out. Nobody wants that. Especially not students. Waaaaaay back when I was still in university, I kept on wishing I had a machine that I can use for my studies but also to quench my thirst for gaming. But I never had that.

Taking the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i for a spin, this is precisely the kind of laptop I wish I had all those years ago.

No game, no life

Indulge me on a little trip down memory lane. You see, I had quite the rocky time in University. More precisely, Universities. I was doing miserably in the Engineering course I initially took up. Eventually, I gave up.

At the time, I also stepped away from gaming. I was riddled with guilt about how I was failing my parents. I eventually chose to go after a Communications degree as it was the closest to multimedia I could get. There’s a whole other chapter in between, but we’re not gonna get into that right now.

So, fast forward to my Comms student life. I was doing fairly well. But I struggled a little bit every time we had to do film/video projects. I just didn’t have the equipment to really be ultra competitive.

Not only that, by this point, I had been years removed from any kind of gaming. We had a decent PC where I lived, but it could only really handle office stuff. I mostly buckled down and just made the most of what I could with what I had.

Computer shop hopping

To get some of our multimedia requirements done, I resorted to computer shop hopping. They were still a dime a dozen during those days. Naturally, that came with some issues. Files were frequently lost, jumbled, and worse, corrupted.

I kept thinking, if I had my own machine, none of this would have happened. My files would be more secure, and I would have had instant access to them wherever I was.

Using the IdeaPad Gaming 3i for some time, I couldn’t help but think how it would have made my life a thousand times more convenient.

Why the IdeaPad Gaming 3i?

Here’s a brief overview of the specs:

11th Gen Intel Core i5-11320H Processor
Windows 11
15.6” FHD (1920×1080) IPS 120Hz/165Hz
8GB RAM
512GB SSD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050/3050Ti1

That’s plenty powerful for a machine that starts at PhP 52,995. It’s hard to imagine how it’ll perform just by staring at an info sheet. In practice, it’s so much more convincing.

Elsewhere on the laptop, you’re also getting an ample serving of ports:

2x USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only)
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet (RJ-45)
Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
Power connector

Lenovo also has your safety and security in mind. The 720p webcam has a camera shutter so you can be at ease when it’s not in use.

When you’re just watching our YouTube videos since you have to make GadgetMatch your daily habit, it fares pretty well. The Stereo speakers (2W x2, Nahimic Audio) are plenty loud both for watching and playing.

Much as I wanted to play straight away, I had to get some work done first. I spent a couple of days typing a few articles on the IdeaPad Gaming 3i. I even had it for our Mobile World Congress grind.

The full-size keyboard and that numpad on the side was super helpful since I had to deal with typing a lot of numbers. In fact, because of my time using it, I’m even considering getting a mechanical keyboard with a numpad. I digress.

But one of my key learnings throughout the years is that taking breaks are criminally underrated.

Getting my gaming fix

After stepping away from the laptop for a bit, I browsed Steam for games I could play. I already had Control and Death Stranding in my library, but I wasn’t really down to playing those. As I browsed, I was surprised to find that DragonBall FighterZ was on a massive sale.

Bought the game right away and installed it. The game demands that you use a controller, so I paired the IdeaPad Gaming 3i with my Midnight Black DualSense controller. Afterwhich, I think I stayed up more than I should have playing the game I had always wanted to play for the past few years but somehow managed to stay away from.

Naturally, I wanted to try other games too. So while I was giving Majin Buu a beatdown as Mystic Gohan, I was downloading and installing Valorant in the background.

My Valo experience was less joyful. Only because of the jarring realization that I one hundred percent suck at first-person shooter games. I felt bad for the people I played with. I totally dragged the team down.

You know what I didn’t mind at all during my entire gaming session? How the IdeaPad Gaming 3i performed. Personally, I think that’s the hallmark of a really good machine. When it takes a backseat to your experience of the game. It just works.

In case you were wondering, the games were running on Medium settings. I only checked this afterwards. It was more than enough for the FHD screen which really prioritizes refresh rate performance. This thing was built for gaming and it shows.

The right choice to get started

I have loftier requirements for my machines now, but the IdeaPad Gaming 3i still impressed me. If you asked me to use the laptop for the rest of the year, I probably wouldn’t mind.

It also helps knowing that if you get this now, you’re entitled to three (3) years of Lenovo Premium Care. That’s Lenovo’s superb after sales service.

They promise support from real people, real fast. And I know it’s standard practice to promise these things, but I personally know a handful of people who have experienced this first hand and it’s truly a fantastic service.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i is built to help you finish your tasks early, so you can play more. Lenovo understands that it’s important to have that kind of balance. And this machine can help with that.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i starts at PhP 52,995 and is available in Legion Exclusive Stores, Lenovo Experience Stores, and authorized resellers nationwide. Visit legion.lenovo.com for more information and follow @lenovolegionph both on Facebook and Instagram

Hands-On

OPPO Reno15 F 5G hands-on

More question marks than exclamation points?

Published

March 6, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G made its way to the Philippines last month, and reception has been pretty great so far.

With a powerful camera package, AI, and a slew of upgrades, there’s a lot to love and not much negative to say. But that’s with both the standard and Pro models.

On the other hand, with the Reno15 F 5G — the series’ supposed budget-friendly “lite” variant —there were more question marks than exclamation points.

I attack this piece once more from a consumer standpoint: shelling out PhP 23,000 to PhP 26,000 for a midrange smartphone that feels and performs like it’s a few notches below its segment doesn’t sound too pleasant.

Performance

With a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, the OPPO Reno15 F performs pretty much like any sub PhP 20,000 mid-ranger. It’s acceptable, but does not punch above its weight as expected.

No major hiccups for light and casual usage. But performance struggles a lot for demanding video games.

It also heats up significantly just 10 minutes into a title like Honkai: Star Rail. This is a stark contrast to the marketed 25℃ and up to 10 hours straight of smooth gameplay.

Although, the experience was still enjoyable with several wins and MVP runs in Call of Duty Mobile. It only means the F variant remains a more camera-centric phone rather than an a hard-hitting all-arounder.

As with other devices, the 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC is a strong suit. You’re fueled from dawn ’til dusk, with much to spare. Recharging takes a breeze, too.

Display

The OPPO Reno15 F has a 6.57-inch 120Hz display, with a 92.8% screen-to-body ratio. At least, that allows you to focus on content on the screen.

Content leans more towards the cooler tone, so you’ll have to adjust it manually if you want a warmer or more vivid look.

The 397ppi pixel density is fine to ensure sharper visuals, while the 1400 nits peak brightness is helpful outdoors.

Camera

The device’s 50MP main camera captures decent quality. The color science leans on being natural anew, without being too dull nor washed out. You can pull off smooth portraits too.

I hardly used the phone for stills as I focused on videos, but here are some samples, on the occasions I was able to take the handset with me:

The 50MP front camera is an intriguing add-on, as it is capable of up to 4K video and a wide 100° field of view.

What this does is it essentially removes the need to flip your phone for the popular “0.5” shots. And the quality doesn’t get compromised given the pixel count.

Here are some selfies from different focal lengths:

To its credit, filming with the back camera at 60fps does look and feel smooth, although it can be improved.

Same with the front camera; and the zoom range can be switched from 0.6 to 2x without cutting the recording.

Although, it’s still best to use a selfie stick or small tripod if you’re just after talking head videos.

Speaking of which, here are a few I’ve made with just this device:

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♬ Kìa Bóng Dáng Ai – Pháo

@manilaconnoisseur

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♬ original sound – Manila Connoisseur – Manila Connoisseur

But for travel and on-the-go captures, as OPPO markets for the series in general, even the Reno15 F can cover a lot of background along with your or your groups’ faces.

Make no mistake, there are some useful AI editing features here. In particular, AI Portrait Glow gives your raw capture an effect to make it look it was taken with flash.

I do not recall the device heating up as well when taking many photos or videos, so you can say it’s more optimized for that task rather than gaming.

Connectivity issues

Meanwhile, AI LinkBoost 3.0, as in the case of the OPPO A6 Pro, doesn’t seem to punch above its weight either.

Once, I also played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the session opened to a jittery start despite being on Wi-Fi and having a stable connection. I don’t know what triggered this.

Design, feel

We got the Aurora Blue variant which does kind of resemble the northern lights when you tilt the phone a certain way and when light hits its back panel.

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The cursive “Reno” on the large, protruding camera island gives it more style.

However, it’s all just aesthetics. On the downside, the phone is all sorts of slippery.

I couldn’t hold it properly without think of it slipping away from my hands; nor could I put it on my lap with confidence.

So I guess it’s good that it has structural integrity and waterproofing, because you’ll need that.

oplus_16

The 6.57-inch body does have a good balance between being too compact and too large, like ultras and pro maxes.

It has a squarish body and has already adapted to the premium, aluminum frame look from the sides.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Sadly, the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is a Swipe Left unlike its bigger, more capable siblings. There are plenty of plus points for the camera package but take that away, and I don’t see much difference between the Reno15 F and something like the A6 Pro.

Granted, the asking price of this phone will drop significantly in a few months. But throw in a little more, and you’ve got a legitimate mid-ranger that’s more on the premium side rather than the cheap end of the spectrum.

Smartphones

Unboxing: HONOR Magic8 Pro Photography Kit

A modular accessory setup

Published

February 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

The new HONOR Magic8 Pro isn’t just getting a camera upgrade — it’s getting an entire system built around long-range photography.

At the center of this unboxing is the HONOR Magic8 Pro Professional Imaging Kit. It’s a modular accessory setup designed to push mobile telephoto shooting further. With the attachable 2.35x Telephoto Extender, protective case, and Shot Imaging Grip, the Magic8 Pro reaches an equivalent 200mm focal length. It can also digitally extend far beyond that. It’s a bold attempt to solve one of smartphone imaging’s hardest problems: clear, stable zoom at night.

The hardware story is just as ambitious. The Magic8 Pro features a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto camera with a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, wide f/2.6 aperture. It also has an CIPA 6.5-rated stabilization — an industry-leading benchmark for optical image stabilization. HONOR says this new system shifts from passive shake correction to proactive prediction, improving micro-shake detection and keeping distant details sharp even in low light.

Color science also gets an upgrade. The new AiMAGE Color Engine focuses on true-to-life tones, balancing complex lighting scenes like blue hour skylines or neon-lit streets. Expect cleaner highlights, preserved shadow detail, and more consistent skin tones across environments.

But the real story of this kit is experience. The Shot Imaging Grip adds DSLR-style ergonomics, complete with a shutter button, zoom lever, and quick-launch controls. There’s even support for 67mm filters, opening the door to more creative shooting setups.

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