News

Xiaomi launches their first Leica smartphone with the 12S Ultra

Paired with a mirrorless-like 1-inch camera sensor

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A short time ago, Xiaomi launched the 12 Series as the world’s first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-touting smartphones. Just after several months, we’re already getting an update — including Xiaomi’s first set of phones with Leica-engineered cameras.

S means Super Flagship

Sitting at the throne is none other than the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. It’s the company’s best flagship to date. On its front, there’s a huge 6.73-inch LTPO2 AMOLED E5 Quad HD+ display. It has an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate as well as 1500 nits of maximum brightness with a pixel density of 522 ppi.

Image by GadgetMatch

For a full-on entertainment experience, it has an advanced Dolby Vision TrueColor Display as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR, and even HLG. And just like previous Xiaomi phones, it has a set of Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

Image by GadgetMatch

Going inside, the 12S Ultra has a 4860mAh battery that supports Xiaomi’s proprietary 67W Turbo Charging (sadly, not the blazing fast 120W one from the 12 Pro and 11T Pro line) plus 50W if you’ll use the wireless one. Paired with the P1 charging chip and G1 battery management chip, charging should be fast enough without compromising the phone’s battery health.

It’s also one among the first smartphones to ship with the updated Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset with either 8 or 12GB of LPDDR5 memory and 256 or 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. It was also mentioned that it has a whole new heat dissipation system that further improves cooling. As reported by a lot of users, overheating is a problem among Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagships.

Image by GadgetMatch

But the biggest star of the show can be seen at its back. With a huge Leica-like camera module and a “leather-like” back, Xiaomi has decided to take cues from the camera design language of many Leica cameras — although it’s not there just for the aesthetics.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is one among the many few smartphones that ships a gigantic 1-inch sensor beneath it. For comparison, last year’s Mi 11 Ultra had a “smaller” 1/1.12-inch sensor. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra can definitely sit alongside the 1-incher club, namely Sony’s Xperia PRO-I and the Sharp AQUOS R6 — which also bears the Leica branding and optics.

Image by GadgetMatch

For the ultimate camera geeks, here are the specifics of Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s gigantic camera hump:

  • 50.3MP f/1.9 main/wide (Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor) with octa-PDAF
  • 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (Sony IMX586 1/2-inch sensor) with dual-PDAF
  • 48MP f/4.1 periscope (Sony IMX586 1/2-inch sensor) with dual PDAF
  • Leica Summicron 1:1.9-4.1 / 13-120 ASPH. camera system
  • 32MP RGBW front camera

To make it even more photography-centric, it has some nifty features like the main camera’s 8P aspheric lens with Multi-layer ALD ultra-low reflectance coating, HyperOIS, Leica filters, and two Leica photographic styles. Aside from being able to shoot in JPEG and HEIF file formats, the 12S Ultra also lets you shoot 10-bit Adobe RGB RAW through DNG.

If you’re into mobile videography, the 12S Ultra can shoot in several resolutions. From 720p, 1080p in 30/60/120/240/480fps slow-motion, 4K in 30/60fps, and as extreme as an 8K/24fps footage. Default file formats are in H.264 or H.265 but you can now record HDR videos through 10-bit Dolby Vision Rec.2020 HLG.

If you’re worried about shooting in wet conditions, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.

S also means Slightly upgraded

Other than the flagship bearer, Xiaomi has also announced two smartphones in the 12S lineup: the 12S and 12S Pro.

Image by GadgetMatch

The design of the new 12S series hasn’t changed from the preceding models of 2021. The 12S sports the same 6.28-inch AMOLED display as Xiaomi 12, while the 12S Pro and 12 Pro are equipped with the bigger 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel. The cameras are neither different. Heck! Even the batteries are the same with 4500mAh and 4600mAh capacities respectively.

Image by GadgetMatch

So what’s changed? Well, apart from the new Leica-branded cameras at the back, it’s now powered with the newest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 that should make performance better and battery consumption more efficient. Also, both phones now have a 12GB + 512GB configuration that the 12 series never had.

S as a Substitute

To complete the list, the Chinese company has also announced a MediaTek version of their Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered 12 Pro, dubbed the Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition. Very obvious from its mouthful name, it has MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9000+ 5G chipset that’s based on a 4nm process.

Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition

Just like its Snapdragon counterpart, it’s also the first smartphone in the world to feature Dimensity 9000+. Other than that, all the specs are similar to the Xiaomi 12 Pro — including the same set of display, battery, charging technology, cameras, and even the absence of Leica branding on its camera hardware and software.

Pricing and Availability

Currently, the new flagship series of Xiaomi is now available for pre-order in China. The SRP in Chinese Yuan (Renminbi) are as follows:

Xiaomi 12S Ultra (Classic Black/Verdant Green)

  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 5999 (US$ 895 / SG$ 1250 / ₱49,330)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 6499 (US$ 970 / SG$ 1354 / ₱53,390)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 6999 (US$ 1045 / SG$ 1459 / ₱57,495)

Xiaomi 12S Pro (White/Black for all models, Wild Green/Purple only for 256GB models)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 4699 (US$ 701 / SG$ 980 / ₱38,598)
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 4999 (US$ 746 / SG$ 1042 / ₱41,065)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 5399 (US$ 806 / SG$ 1126 / ₱44,351)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 5899 (US$ 880 / SG$ 1230 / ₱48,459)

Xiaomi 12S (White/Black for all models, Wild Green/Purple only for 256GB models)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 3999 (US$ 597 / SG$ 834 / ₱32,848)
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 4299 (US$ 642 / SG$ 896 / ₱35,313)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 4699 (US$ 701 / SG$ 980 / ₱38,598)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 5199 (US$ 776 / SG$ 1084 / ₱42,705)

Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition (Black/Blue)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 3999 (US$ 597 / SG$ 834 / ₱32,848)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 4499 (US$ 672 / SG$ 938 / ₱36,955)

Pricing and availability in other regions have yet to be announced.

Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Revelation arrives in Spring 2027

The journey ends

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Final Fantasy VII revelation

Square Enix has officially unveiled Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the third and final entry in the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy. The game launches in Spring 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Xbox PC.

Revealed at Summer Game Fest Live

The announcement debuted during Summer Game Fest Live. Director Naoki Hamaguchi and Vincent Valentine voice actor Matt Mercer also showcased the game’s first trailer and an extended gameplay presentation.

Revelation picks up as Cloud Strife and his allies race to stop Meteor and prevent the destruction of the planet. Sephiroth stands closer than ever to godhood, while the party takes flight aboard the iconic Highwind airship for the trilogy’s final adventure.

For the first time in the Remake series, players can freely explore the entire world using the Highwind. They can parachute into locations, tackle objectives in different orders, and make decisions that affect parts of their companions’ stories. The hybrid combat system also returns with new playable characters and expanded abilities.

Major locations revealed

The gameplay showcase revealed several major locations, including Wutai, Mideel, and the Northern Continent. Vincent Valentine and Cid Highwind will also join the playable roster. A new FITS system lets players equip outfits that unlock different abilities inspired by classic Final Fantasy jobs such as Black Mage and Warrior.

Producer Yoshinori Kitase described Revelation as the culmination of 30 years of Final Fantasy VII storytelling. Director Naoki Hamaguchi added that the game’s central theme is “resolve” as Cloud and his companions move toward the battle that will decide the planet’s fate.

Remake and Rebirth available in multiple platforms

Players can prepare for the finale by playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, both of which are already available across current platforms. Save data from those games will also unlock bonus summon materia in Final Fantasy VII Revelation.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation launches in Spring 2027.

Watch the trailer: 

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Malaysia

HONOR Magic V6 debuts in Malaysia

Pre-orders now open

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HONOR Magic V6

HONOR has officially launched the Magic V6 in Malaysia, bringing its latest foldable flagship to the market ahead of a wider rollout across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and other regions.

Price and availability

The device starts at MYR 7,699 (roughly over USD 1900), with pre-orders running from June 4 to June 11, 2026. Customers who place an order during the promotional period will receive freebies and protection benefits worth up to MYR 3,797 (around USD 940). These include a 2-Year Worry-Free Quality Assurance plan and a 1-Year Worry-Free Crack Protection plan.

The HONOR Magic V6 will be available in Red, Gold, White, and Black color options.

HONOR positions the Magic V6 as a foldable that eliminates the usual trade-offs between portability, durability, and performance. The device measures just 8.75mm when folded and 4.0mm when unfolded, while weighing around 219g. Despite its slim profile, it carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance and uses HONOR’s new Super Steel Hinge with a tensile strength of 2,800MPa.

Massive battery in a slim foldable

One of the biggest highlights of the Magic V6 is its 6,660mAh silicon-carbon battery. HONOR says it is the largest battery ever fitted inside a foldable smartphone. The company achieved this through a new battery design featuring roughly 25% silicon content and an energy density of 921Wh/L.

Charging is handled through 80W wired HONOR SuperCharge and 66W wireless charging. The device also supports wireless reverse charging.

The foldable is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, paired with LPDDR5X memory and UFS 4.1 storage. HONOR says its Vulkan graphics engine enables up to 120FPS gaming in supported titles while taking advantage of the larger foldable display.

Built for productivity

The Magic V6 features a 6.52-inch outer display and a 7.95-inch inner foldable display. Both panels support adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz. Peak brightness reaches 6,000 nits on the cover screen and 5,000 nits on the inner display.

Running MagicOS 10, the device introduces several AI-powered tools and productivity features. These include AI agents designed to assist with settings, photos, content creation, and contextual actions. HONOR also adds Fast Flex and PC-level Multi-Flex modes, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously and take advantage of the larger screen for multitasking.

The company is also emphasizing cross-device compatibility. The Magic V6 works with iPhones, Macs, AirPods, and Apple Watches through HONOR Share. Users can transfer files, share notifications, and even use dual-screen workflows with compatible Apple devices. Quick Share support also enables easier file transfers between Android and supported Apple hardware.

AI-powered cameras and Gemini integration

For photography, the HONOR Magic V6 uses a triple-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 64MP periscope telephoto camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. The system is supported by AI-powered imaging tools such as AI Color Engine, Magic Color 2.0, Magic Video Color, and AI Image to Video 2.0.

The device also comes with Google Gemini integration, allowing users to interact through text, voice, and images. HONOR is bundling a three-month Google AI Pro trial, which includes access to advanced Gemini features, NotebookLM, Flow, Veo-powered video generation tools, and 5TB of cloud storage.

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News

realme launches P4 Series 5G, including Power with 10,001mAh battery

realme P4 Power becomes 1st smartphone with 10,001mAh battery

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realme has officially launched the realme P4 Series 5G in the Philippines. This marks the first time consumers in the market can avail of the devices. In the past, realme has offered just models from the C, numbered, and GT Series.

The P4 Series 5G is a new lineup built around long-lasting battery life, along with reliable performance and 5G connectivity. Products under the roster are designed for users who need power throughout the day — and beyond.

The lineup consists of the realme P4 Power 5G, realme P4x, and realme P4 Lite.

The series headliner is the realme P4 Power 5G, which becomes the first smartphone in the country to bring a 10,001mAh battery.

This battery supports 80W Ultra Charging, 27W wired reverse charging, and a TÜV Rheinland 5-Star Battery Rating.

The device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra and comes with a 144Hz 1.5K HyperGlow 4D Curve+ Display and 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera. It is likewise rated IP66/IP68/IP69 for water and dust resistance.

This variant is offered at a special promo price of just PhP 19,999, exclusively on the realme Official Shopee Store.

Meanwhile, the realme P4x comes with an 8,000mAh Titan Battery, 45W Fast Charging, and reverse charging support. It is available for pre-order via Shopee.

Lastly, the realme P4 Lite has a 7,000mAh Titan Battery. It also has a Military Grade Standard shock resistance (MIL-STD-810H).

The P4 Lite is readily available on TikTok for the 4GB+64GB variant at PhP 4,897 (SRP: PhP 7,499) and on Shopee for the 4GB+128GB variant at PhP 6,136 (SRP: Php 8,999).

The published introductory prices are available until June 10.

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