In a recent media briefing, HONOR told GadgetMatch that it’s only been about a year and a half since they split with Huawei. This was in response to our question asking why, despite the split, the Huawei DNA is still all over HONOR’s.
It’s a fair answer to a fair question.
It doesn’t take a genius to see the traces. After all, they used to be firmly tied together. They first came back with a solid but middling offering with the Honor 50.
A few months ago, they came out with a set of devices headlined by the HONOR Magic4 Pro. Which, if nothing else, looks like a Huawei Mate deadringer.
But as HONOR mentioned, it does take a while to completely develop a new, separate identity. Which, to their credit, they may slowly be on their way to.
But before we look forward, let’s look at where they are at. Specifically, their current flagship – the HONOR Magic4 Pro.
HONOR Magic4 Pro
I have lived with the device for a few months now. It’s taken the place of my primary Android phone for a better part of the year, taking turns with the OPPO Find X3 Pro and whatever other phone I need to produce content on.
Dated look?
The variant I have comes in this silver-bluish colorway. It’s glossy, slippery, and a bit of a fingerprint and smudge magnet. It would have benefitted from a really nice case. Instead, you get a negligible jelly case that comes in the box. I really think brands can do better than jelly cases. But that’s a topic for another day.
It has a beautiful display that curves to the edges. It had palm rejection problems early on. But it was immediately addressed via a software update. It works perfectly with my chubby hands now.
All the relevant buttons (power, volume) are on the right side.
And at the bottom, there’s the SIM card tray (Dual NANO SIM), USB-C port, and speaker grille.
At the back you see the circular camera module which is the most HUAWEI Mate thing ever.
Overall, it’s… an okay design. It looks good but definitely has some drawbacks that have since been addressed by other phone makers.
Beautiful photos
Going back to that camera module. Here’s what’s on it:
- 50MP f/1.8 wide camera
- 50MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
- 64MP f/3.5 periscope telephoto lens
Up front, you have a wide camera with 100-degree FOV and a 3D Depth Camera.
I didn’t really have that many interesting things to take photos of during my time with the HONOR Magic4 Pro. Just a brief trip to New York and some outtakes of shooting a video with the team.
I personally think the photos are fantastic. It’s easily the best thing about this smartphone. Here’s a quick look at the samples.
New York trip
Shooting outtakes
Food
Magic UI needs more magic
I have little qualms about the performance. It is, after all, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. And it’s accompanied by 8GB of RAM with 256GB of internal storage.
But I really like that hardware was held back by a less than stellar Android skin. Currently running Magic UI 6, it just feels like EMUI with a different name.
I can’t quite put my finger on it, but EMUI has always felt like an Android skin that exists in an alternate universe. Like something about just feels a little off. And I feel the same way about Magic UI.
It just doesn’t feel as smooth and snappy as the Samsung Galaxy S22+ I used months ago. I also encountered a few Wi-FI issues when it goes on standby mode for an extended period of time. Although, like the palm rejection issue, this has been addressed after some software updates.
Thankfully, HONOR said it is making improvements to Magic UI. If they really want to set themselves apart from Huawei, the UI is a good place to start.
HONOR Ecosystem
Along with the HONOR Magic4 Pro, the company also launched a few accessories to go along with it. These are the HONOR SuperCharge Wireless Stand (Max 100W), the HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro, and the HONOR Watch GS 3.
That last one we haven’t gotten around to using as much, but we’ll get there… eventually. But quickly shifting back to the other two, they are great accessories to have.
Honor SuperCharge Wireless Stand
My personal favorite is the HONOR SuperCharge Wireless Stand. Wireless charging is great and is a feature I now look for in any smartphone that dares to attach the word ‘flagship’ to itself.
It’s actually the fastest charger I have in my collection of devices – wired charging included. It’s so fast that it takes longer for me to prepare lunch than for it to fully charge phones that support wireless charging.
Thankfully it’s the type that doesn’t overcharge your phone. Because more often than not, what happens is I leave the phone docked and get lost either in my work in a YouTube blackhole completely forgetting that I’m charging the phone.
HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro
The HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro reminds me of the Airpods Pro and the HUAWEI Freebuds Pro. One for the looks, the other for the performance.
Really, the only thing I didn’t like about this is that it’s too much of a deadringer of the Airpods Pro. That gives off a cheap knockoff vibe.
But there’s nothing cheap about its performance. The sound produced is clean and crisp, the noise cancellation is superb, and the voice pickup for calls is fantastic for its size.
HONOR also sent us the Watch GS 3 but I didn’t really get to use it as much so here’s a photo instead.
Overall, that’s a nice portfolio of devices as they try to regain relevance in the incredibly competitive consumer tech market.
IFA 2022
The company is also set to unveil a new set of devices during IFA 2022. They need a strong showing on a tentpole event to continue occupying space in the general public’s consciousness.
Can HONOR have your GadgetMatch?
The answer is ‘never say never.’ HONOR is facing a tough uphill battle. But if they continue to hit the market with quality hardware and develop software to set them apart from HUAWEI, they are well on their way.
The HONOR Magic4 Pro and its accompanying devices are just tiny steps forward in what is an early phase to complete independence. As they are now, these are devices worthy of your attention. Do they have traces of Huawei? Yes. But HONOR is on the rebounds following an untimely split. And we’re looking forward to what the future holds for the company.
Phones flip and fold. Now webcams do too.
Foldable screens have found their way into phones, tablets, and laptops in recent years. Now, OBSBOT is taking that idea in a considerably smaller direction: the webcam.
The OBSBOT Meet Flip is the company’s first foldable 4K webcam packing:
- 1/2-inch stacked CMOS sensor
- intelligent audio
- a collection of AI-powered meeting tools
All of these inside a body weighing just 37.7 grams.
A fold that does something, not just a gimmick
The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t foldable just to make it easier to throw into a bag.
Closing the webcam physically blocks the lens and puts the device into sleep mode. Open it when you want to be seen, flip it shut when you don’t.
A physical privacy cover isn’t novel in itself. What’s clever here is how it’s part of the folding design.
As someone with a love-hate relationship with data privacy, I almost always keep some physical barrier over my laptop webcam. And if I can avoid having a webcam there entirely, even better.
Serious camera hardware in a pocket-sized webcam
Despite its size, OBSBOT hasn’t treated the Meet Flip like a basic laptop-camera replacement.
Inside is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology, capable of recording 4K UHD at 30 fps or 1080p at 60 fps. It also packs an f/1.8 aperture, HDR, PDAF autofocus, ISO 100–6400, and up to 4x digital zoom.
At its core is a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology.
It can record:
- 4K UHD at 30fps
- 1080p at 60fps
You also get:
- f/1.8 aperture
- HDR
- PDAF autofocus
- ISO 100–6400
- up to 4x digital zoom
On paper, that gives the Meet Flip a better shot at handling the situations built-in laptop webcams often struggle with: dim rooms, harsh backlighting, changing lighting conditions, or simply moving around in front of the camera.
HDR helps keep faces visible against bright backgrounds, while PDAF autofocus continuously adjusts focus as you move closer to or farther from the lens.
The wider f/1.8 aperture should also help in less-than-ideal lighting.
The point is that once the Meet Flip is set up, you shouldn’t have to spend much time thinking about the camera itself.
It listens differently depending on the room setup
The Meet Flip also uses an intelligent dual-microphone system combining omnidirectional and directional microphones.
Instead of relying on one pickup pattern for every situation, it offers four audio modes for different setups:
Directional Mode focuses on sound coming from the front, making it the obvious choice for solo calls.
Dual-Directional Mode listens to both the front and rear of the webcam, which could be useful for interviews or conversations between two people sitting across from each other.
Smart Omni Mode is designed for group meetings, picking up voices from around the room.
And Pure Audio Mode provides unprocessed left and right stereo channels for users who would rather handle the audio themselves in post-production.
Auto Gain and AI Noise Reduction also work across the first three modes, helping clean up audio without requiring much manual adjustment.
It gives the Meet Flip more flexibility than a typical webcam microphone, especially if you regularly switch between solo calls, interviews, and group meetings.
AI that doesn’t intrude
AI has become an almost obligatory addition to new hardware in 2026, but several of the Meet Flip’s features put it to work on real-world meeting annoyances.
AI Auto Framing keeps you in frame, with options for:
- Group
- Single Close-up
- Upper Body
- Full Body
Gesture controls can also toggle Auto Framing or adjust the zoom without reaching for a keyboard or mouse.
More interesting is AI Magic Notes.
Through OBSBOT Center, it provides real-time transcription and can automatically generate meeting summaries with key points, decisions, and action items. It works across Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
Although AI Magic Notes is offered as a subscription service, every Meet Flip includes 120 complimentary minutes to get started.
MORE with OBSBOT Center & OBSBOT Live
There are plenty of other software features as well. OBSBOT Center includes:
- Background Blur and Background Replacement
- Real-Time Beauty Mode
- Picture-in-Picture overlays
- Smart Eye Tracking
- Teleprompter support
- Detailed image adjustments
The Meet Flip isn’t limited to laptops or desktops either. Through OBSBOT Live, it can connect directly to smartphones and tablets over USB-C for mobile streaming and content creation.
Flip it open. Fold it away.
None of those features reinvent the webcam on their own.
Taken together, though, they make the Meet Flip a more thoughtful take on a piece of hardware whose basic design and features have barely changed.
The flip may grab your attention first, but it’s how OBSBOT uses that design alongside its camera, audio, and software features that makes the Meet Flip interesting.
The OBSBOT Meet Flip is now available at US$ 119 and is currently available through OBSBOT’s official store, Amazon US, and select retailers.
Features
Getting the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 at 0% Interest with Maya Mini Payments
What convinced me to upgrade and how Maya Mini Payments made paying for it easier~
I don’t upgrade simply because there’s a newer model on the shelf.
Last year, I upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 after spending three years with the iPhone 13 as my daily driver.
Even then, the decision wasn’t about chasing the latest release. It was about finding a device that better matched how I work.
I’m a firm believer that every upgrade has to earn its place in my pocket, especially when there are already perfectly capable phones sitting on my desk.
So when I decided to pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, the decision wasn’t simply about getting the newest device.
It came down to two questions: It came down to two questions: Is this a smart upgrade? And if it is, what’s the smartest way to own it?
The first question was answered by the device itself. The second is where Maya Mini Payments entered the conversation.
For me, the Flip8 addresses the reasons to upgrade. Maya Mini Payments addresses one of the biggest reasons people hesitate: big purchases that could be paid in 3, 6, 9 or 12 monthly payments.
Changing how I shoot and use my phone
I spend most of my day switching between shooting, editing, and posting, sometimes all within the same hour.
One of the biggest reasons the Galaxy Z Flip8 caught my attention is the cover screen. It’s finally useful enough that I can shoot, preview, and interact with content without constantly opening the device.
That may sound like a small change, but it makes a difference when you’re trying to capture candid moments before people notice a camera pointed at them.
It also makes everyday tasks easier. I can check a script, review a shotlist, reply to messages, or glance at notifications without unfolding the phone every few minutes.
For years, foldables often felt like they required some compromise. You gained a unique form factor and flexibility, but sometimes gave up a little on the camera experience. The Flip8 feels like it’s closing that gap.
Samsung’s improvements in low-light performance and stabilization are especially noticeable for the kind of run-and-gun content I create.
I haven’t spent enough time with it to call this a full review yet, but my first impressions have been positive. The experience feels more refined and more dependable than previous generations.
Features alone don’t convince me to upgrade. They have to solve a real problem. The more useful cover screen, the improved camera experience, and the overall refinement were the first signs that the Flip8 was offering something I’d actually use every day rather than another feature to add to a spec sheet.
The battery and multitasking finally match my day
The less exciting reason I’m upgrading is also the one that affects me the most.
Between filming, reviewing footage, answering emails, coordinating campaigns, and managing social media, my phone is constantly working.
My old device usually drops into battery-saving territory before dinner. It gets the job done, but I spend too much time thinking about charging instead of working.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 feels better equipped for that reality. The battery efficiency is improved, and multitasking feels more natural when juggling multiple apps throughout the day.
Those aren’t flashy features, but they’re the kinds of upgrades that quietly improve everyday productivity. They’re also the features that convinced me this wasn’t simply a want. It was an upgrade I could actually justify.
Once I was convinced the Flip8 was worth upgrading to, I realized the decision wasn’t really over. A smart upgrade also deserves a smart way to pay for it.
Making a big upgrade more manageable
Of course, deciding a device is worth upgrading to is only half the equation. The other half is figuring out how to pay for it.
The Galaxy Z Flip8 is a premium device, and for most people, the upfront cost is what gives them pause. That’s often where upgrade decisions get delayed, even when the device itself makes sense.
That’s why Maya Mini Payments stood out to me. Any Samsung purchase paid with a Maya Credit Card can be converted into Mini Payments directly through the Maya app, making it easier to spread the cost into monthly installments instead of paying for everything upfront in one go.
You can choose installment plans of up to 12 months at a fixed monthly add-on interest rate of 1%.
For Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Flip8 purchases, cardholders can enjoy a 3-month Mini Payment plan at 0% interest, making the upgrade more manageable without additional interest costs on the installment plan.
What I like about the concept is that it mirrors the reason I like the Flip8 itself.
The Flip8 makes it easy for me to shoot, edit, communicate, and multitask throughout the day. Maya Mini Payments makes it easy to purchase by turning one large expense into a payment plan that fits more naturally into a monthly budget.
Both are practical solutions to real-world problems. Also, the entire process can be managed directly within the Maya app, making it easy to track and manage installment conversions without additional paperwork.
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Still on the fence?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 feels like one of the strongest cases yet for upgrading to a foldable.
For me, the cover screen is more useful, the camera experience feels more capable, and the battery and multitasking improvements better match how I actually work every day.
If you prefer a larger screen for productivity, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 follows the same philosophy while giving users even more room to multitask and create.
If you’ve already decided Samsung’s latest foldables are your next devices, there’s also a smarter way to make that upgrade happen.
All your Samsung purchases made using a Maya Credit Card can be converted into a 3-month Mini Payment plan at 0% interest, with zero processing fees until September 30, making it easier to enjoy Samsung’s latest innovations without one big upfront payment.
Pre-orders run until August 13, with devices available in-store beginning August 14.
Apple Pay is officially in the Philippines!
Pushing the country forward into a cashless and cardless future, Apple has now brought its contactless payment system to the Philippines. As with other countries, Apply Pay will work seamlessly and easily even for those who have problems with technology.
Now, despite how easy it is, sometimes we need to be pointed in the right direction. Here’s how you can set up Apple Pay on your iPhone:
Everything starts with the Wallet app. First, open your Wallet app. Tap the “+” button on the top and select “Debit or Credit Card.”
Normally, this is where you can input your card details (which you can still do, by the way), but the default method now is to just tap your card on the back of your iPhone. Your phone does the rest. You might need to confirm with your bank, but it’s as easy as a single tap.
Pick which cards to use. Once you have your cards online, you might need to change which one is the default card. Again, it’s easy. Just drag your preferred card to the front.
Afterwards, you can tap to pay in supported stores by priming the Wallet app for use. Tapping to pay is also available for Apple Watch. Meanwhile, online transactions can also work on MacBook.
Secure, all the time. If you’re worried about your security especially with online transactions, Apple keeps your information only between you and the seller. They don’t store your data.
Also, it’s not easy to make a transaction without your consent. You need Face ID, Touch ID, or your password. If you lose your phone, you can easily shut your phone down with the Find My app to prevent malicious parties from making transactions.
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