Features

Samsung OLED S95C: A console gamer’s GadgetMatch

And more

Published

August 23, 2023

If you go through certain console groups online, you’ll notice that Samsung isn’t exactly one of the top TV recommendations to pair with your gaming device of choice. That could very well change with the Samsung OLED TV.

The Samsung OLED TV S95C (which we’ll call S95C from here on out for brevity) is equipped with all the bells and whistles you’d want for your gaming needs. And that goes for any type of gamer.

Let’s go through the fine print.

Listed as its top features are as follows:

Quantum HDR OLED+
Expert Calibration
Motion Xcelerator Turbo Pro
120Hz, Up to 144Hz Refresh Rate
Object Tracking Sound (OTS+)
Dolby Atmos

Also of note are its four (4) HDMI 2.1 ports as well as support for VRR or Variable Refresh Rate. There are more specs but those will probably just fly over our heads. However, in case you’d want to see them, you can check them out on the official product page.

Let’s get down to how I spent my time with it.

A console gamer’s GadgetMatch

NBA 2K23

We primarily used the S95C with a console and played a few different genres. But I spent the most time playing an action RPG and a sports game.

There’s a reason I prefer playing on consoles. I’m not big on having to tweak so many settings before I play. For someone like myself who has to juggle multiple tasks, having something that’s plug and play is a godsend.

To a certain extent, the S95C is the same thing. It’s literally plug and play. I fire up the console and it instantly detects and shifts to that input source. Once there, Game Mode kicks in automatically turning on a bunch of features that will improve your overall gameplay experience.

This includes ALLM or auto low latency mode which reduces the delay from controller input to in-game action. There’s also the S95C’s 144Hz refresh rate with AMD’s Freesync Premium Pro making for an ultra smooth play session.

It sounds like a lot laid out like this. But in reality, all of these kick-in as soon as you fire up the console. It’s not something you have to worry about. It just works. And, personally, that’s the benchmark for truly great tech. It enhances your experience without getting in your way.

But tweaking is most certainly possible

And just because it works great right off the bat, doesn’t mean you can’t customize things to your liking. The thing about Smart TVs, and with the S95C in particular, is it lets you watch and play the way you want.

For instance, when I first fired it up, I thought the HDR kicked in a little too much. Especially since I like to play in the dark. To adjust, I only had to press and hold the play/pause button on the remote control to pull up the improved Game Bar 3.0. From there, I could easily access gaming settings, select HDR, and toggled a few things on-off until I got to the level of HDR I was comfortable with.

This granular control extends to general viewing too. I know some people like it, but I personally am not a fan of motion smoothing. It’s called different names on different TVs. But it’s essentially that “telenovela” effect which is always turned on when you go to see these TVs in store.

It’s a feature that uses the TV’s AI feature to fill-in the ‘gaps’ to match its frame rate settings. For example, a movie shot in 24fps (frames per second) will look drastically different and not at all how its director intended it to be viewed, when it’s trying to match a TV’s 60fps setting.

Thankfully, you can switch this off if you wish to do so. On Samsung, the feature is called Auto Motion Plus. You just have to dig into the Picture settings a little bit. You can lower its effect or turn it off altogether. Whatever the case is, the choice is ultimately yours.

The high FPS is great for gaming though

Samsung OLED S95C | Final Fantasy XVI

You can definitely turn that high fps setting for general viewing, but this doesn’t mean it’s applied to every input on the S95C. It’s smart enough to know whether you’re there to sit back and watch or you’re there to kick some virtual *ss.

Game Mode will kick in only when you fire up your console. And the settings you set will stay as they are so you don’t necessarily have to tweak them again unless you want to. That really depends on the type of games you’re playing.

The Game Bar 3.0 mentioned earlier lets you choose a setting for different genres of games. There’s sport, RPG, First-Person shooter, and a few more. Personally, I didn’t feel the need to change this and mostly played on Standard and the results were still amazing.

During my time with the S95C, I played a lot of Final Fantasy XVI which some gamers were up in arms about having a framerate mode that wasn’t up to par. Playing on the S95C, I stuck with the graphics mode of the game but I was still constantly hitting 60fps thanks to the TV.

The other game I played heavily is NBA 2K23 which put the input latency to the test. I can happily say I pulled off my limited bag of crossovers, stepbacks, and hesitation dribbles with little to no input lag. It’s for this type of game where latency matters since you want your button presses to be as precise as possible.

Elevated sound with the HW-Q600C Soundbar

What are good visuals if you don’t have fantastic audio to go along with it? Thankfully, Samsung also lent us the HW-Q600C Soundbar. With it, both the playing and watching experience is infinitely better.

The Q-Series soundbars are best to pair with Samsung TVs thanks to the Q-Symphony feature. What it does is let you use the TV speakers in tandem with the soundbar for a more full sound.

Apple TV, HW-Q600C Soundbar

It even works great with the 3D audio feature of the console we used. While I can’t say it helped a lot in actual gameplay, it definitely contributed to enriching the experience.

It has support for Dolby Atmos and DTS X so any content with these features you’ll definitely find more enjoyable. During my time with it, I watched Secret Invasion. I also stumbled onto Hijack on AppleTV+ which is easily one of the best shows you can binge right now.

During workdays, I had music videos lined up, most notably those by TWICE subunit group MISAMO. There’s also a healthy mix of K-Pop, K-RNB, and some animé songs here and there. All of which sounded great thanks to the HW-Q600C.

The Samsung S95C OLED TV is for any type of gamer

The Samsung OLED S95C with the HW-Q600C Q Soundbar is a killer combo for gamers. They’re designed to specifically enhance your play sessions making your escape from reality even more enjoyable.

While I personally loved that they are literally plug and play, its true power lies in its ability to be customized to your preferences. Nothing screams “GadgetMatch” more than a device that can mold itself to your liking.

If you’re looking to level up your gaming set-up, the Samsung OLED S95C with the HW-Q600C soundbar are the gadgets you should definitely equip to maximize your play time.

As of writing, Samsung is offering the Samsung OLED and Q Soundbars at a discount in celebration of their 25th anniversary in the Philippines.

The Samsung OLED S95C is available in 55-inch (SM Appliance exclusive model), 65-inch, and 77-inch.

S95C 55-inch
SRP: Php 110,999
Straight Card/Cash Promo: Php 79,999. Comes with FREE Q600C Soundbar and 1-yr Disney+ Premium Access.

S95C 65-inch
SRP: Php 134,999
Straight Card/Cash Promo: Php 101,999. Comes with FREE Q600C Soundbar and 1-yr Disney+ Premium Access.

S95C 77-inch
SRP: Php 199,999
Straight Card/Cash Promo: Php 164,999. Comes with FREE Q800C Soundbar and 1-yr Disney+ Premium Access.

The HW-Q600C Soundbar retails for Php 23,999, with a discounted price for straight card and cash payments Php 14,999.

Visit any authorized Samsung dealer today.

Features

Why the OPPO Reno15 5G series is a creator’s essential

4K Ultra-Steady, 50MP groufies, and AI edits in one device.

Published

March 19, 2026

MJ Jucutan

There are two kinds of travel essentials: the ones you pack because you have to, and the ones you pack because they make the story better.

Often, we feel forced to choose between traveling light and bringing the bulky gear necessary to document the trip properly.

On your next trip, the OPPO Reno15 5G Series eliminates that compromise. With a thoughtful mix of hardware and software, it becomes your pocket-sized production crew, ready to capture life as it unfolds.

The crew in your pocket

The first rule of travel is to keep things light, but for a creator, “light” cannot mean lower quality.

Whether you are navigating crowded night markets or chasing the golden hour on a steep, adventurous rooftop, the 4K Ultra Steady feature ensures your footage looks composed even when the environment is chaotic.

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This stabilization changes the energy of a travel vlog, turning handheld montages into polished, cinematic clips that are ready for a Reel the moment you hit save.

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Capturing everything and everyone

Travel stories are built on shared memories, but too often, the person behind the lens is left out.

Group shots often become a messy scramble to squeeze everyone into a tight frame. The 50MP Selfie Camera changes that outcome with its 0.6x ultra-wide-angle mode

It captures the entire group with sharp detail across the frame, ensuring no one is relegated to the blurry edges.

Even if you need to crop the image later for a specific social media layout, faces remain clear and the background stays defined.

The result is a “groufie” that feels complete and professional

Scroll-stopping memories

We often summarize our trips through collages: layered photos that tell a single story.

The AI Motion Photo Popout tool brings a new dimension to these memories. With a few taps in the Gallery, the subject separates from the background to create a sophisticated, layered effect.

These edits serve as the perfect foundation for Instagram Story covers, Reel thumbnails, or high-quality personal wallpapers.

It’s a subtle digital adjustment that makes a visible difference in how your audience experiences your journey.

Reliability for the modern creator.

A smartphone is no longer just a gadget; it is a creative partner. The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G features a sleek design that looks at home beside a passport or a boarding pass.

It’s light enough for long days of exploration but polished enough for high-end city trips. The reliable battery life supports early flights, full-day itineraries, and even late-night uploads.

You’ll spend less time searching for an outlet and more time capturing the moments that matter.

Which OPPO Reno15 Series 5G is your GadgetMatch?

The series offers variants designed to fit your specific creative style.

Pick the OPPO Reno15 5G if you want a balanced everyday companion, and if you want flexibility and reliability without overcomplicating the process.

There’s the OPPO Reno15 Pro; the choice for creators where photography and videography are the main event, offering enhanced tools in a compact form.

But if you’re a value-conscious traveler who wants a practical entry point that provides core camera and AI features, then the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is your GadgetMatch.

Whichever you choose, the series proves that a travel accessory can do more than complement an outfit. It preserves your stories because it doubles as a content creator’s must-have tool.

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G is now available in OPPO stores nationwide and the OPPO Online Store.

SEE MORE: The art of being in and behind the frame | OPPO Reno15 Pro: Camera Review

Features

Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

So you can focus more on what matters

Published

March 13, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles and JP

@gadgetmatch A phone that does more… so you can focus more on the moments that matter. The Galaxy S26 Ultra lets Galaxy AI handle the small stuff so you can stay present for the moments that matter. Also great for the occasional KPop concert video. Pre-order until March 17 and get double storage worth up to PhP 14,000. https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s26-ultra/buy/ #GalaxyS26Ultra #EverydaywithGalaxyAI @samsungph ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

Here’s the dream: a phone that helps you stay on top of things, so you can focus more on what matters.

That’s basically the idea behind Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Instead of adding more things to do, the phone helps take care of the small stuff for you. Things like reminding you what’s next, or surfacing the information you need right when you need it.

So you spend less time digging through apps and more time actually doing the things you planned to do.

Editing photos is easier too. With Photo Assist, you can just describe the change you want… and Galaxy AI fills in the rest.

And if you’re cleaning up a video, Audio Eraser can reduce background noise — even from clips on third-party apps like Instagram or YouTube.

The point isn’t to make your phone the center of attention. It’s to make it helpful enough that you can forget about it for a while. Until something worth capturing happens.

And when things get a little chaotic — like concerts, street performances, or just life moving fast — Super Steady Video helps keep your shots level.

That’s definitely coming with me to the next K-pop concert.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Smarter phone. Slightly less stressed me.
Pre-orders are open now — with double storage for early buyers, plus additional discounts and installment offers from participating banks.

Which is great… because apparently I shoot way too many videos.

Features

Samsung is done chasing specs, says TM Roh

Samsung shifts beyond spec wars

Published

March 9, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

For more than a decade, the smartphone industry has been defined by a familiar race. More megapixels. Faster processors. Bigger batteries. Thinner designs. Being first. Being the most. And being the fastest.

The industry rewarded brands that appeared to be chasing specs. Bigger numbers meant progress. At least on paper.

But if you ask Samsung, the days of chasing specs may no longer define the future of Galaxy smartphones.

During a regional roundtable following the launch of the latest Galaxy devices, I asked TM Roh how the company decides when it’s time for a major hardware upgrade if it isn’t simply chasing specs.

His answer revealed how Samsung now approaches the future of its flagship smartphones.

According to Roh, hardware upgrades are increasingly tied to how well they support Galaxy AI.

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware,” Roh said during the session, speaking through a translator. He added that Samsung develops its hardware, software, and AI capabilities together — and that major upgrades tend to arrive only when the company reaches what he described as the “desired level of excellence.”
(Quotes are approximate translations.)

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware.”
(Approximate translation from TM Roh during the roundtable)

In short, Samsung says it’s no longer chasing specs for the sake of winning spec-sheet battles. Not anymore.

Samsung CEO TM Roh answering questions at a media roundtable in San Francisco

When hardware stops chasing numbers

Hardware innovation still matters. But Samsung increasingly frames those improvements as tools that enable smarter software experiences.

During the roundtable, Roh pointed to Samsung’s custom application processors, which now include stronger neural processing capabilities designed to handle AI workloads more efficiently. Dedicated hardware is also being introduced to strengthen privacy and security — including technologies embedded directly into the display. (See: Privacy Display)

Even cameras, historically one of the biggest battlegrounds for smartphone innovation, are evolving in the same direction.

Roh noted that while sensors and lenses remain important, modern smartphone photography now relies heavily on AI-powered image processing working alongside the hardware. This could also explain why, as of writing, Samsung has resisted the extra telephoto lens accessories that is prevalent with other brands.

The shift is subtle but important. Instead of emphasizing bigger numbers on spec sheets, Samsung positions hardware upgrades as part of a broader system designed to support intelligent software.

Why Samsung gets dunked on online

That philosophy, however, exists in tension with how smartphones are often discussed online.

In a landscape driven by benchmark charts and viral comparisons, incremental refinement rarely generates the same excitement as dramatic hardware leaps. Over the past few years, the Galaxy S series has occasionally become an easy target for criticism — especially as rival Android manufacturers compete to deliver the biggest numbers, the fastest charging speeds, or the thinnest designs.

The temptation in tech media, particularly on platforms like YouTube, is often to dunk on Samsung rather than examine the nuance behind its approach. Spectacular upgrades and dramatic spec sheets make better thumbnails.

Yet listening to Samsung executives across multiple briefings reveals something interesting: the messaging is remarkably consistent. Whether discussing cameras, processors, or ecosystem features, the company repeatedly returns to the same principle. Hardware innovation matters most when it unlocks a better overall experience.

A company that knows its role

That consistency suggests Samsung knows exactly who it is in the smartphone industry.

As the largest Android smartphone manufacturer globally, Samsung occupies a position where competitors often measure themselves against it. Many brands differentiate by pushing aggressive specifications or experimenting with bold hardware changes.

In many ways, everyone else is punching up.

Scale changes priorities. When you’re building devices for hundreds of millions of users, the focus shifts toward reliability, ecosystem integration, and increasingly, AI-powered experiences that work consistently across products.

Why Southeast Asia matters in Samsung’s AI strategy

During the roundtable, Roh also emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia and Oceania to Samsung’s AI strategy.

According to the company’s internal research, the region ranks among the most receptive markets for AI-powered mobile features. Younger demographics and heavy social media usage are driving adoption.

In markets where smartphones are central to communication, content creation, and digital services, AI-powered tools — from translation features to image editing — have found strong traction.

That context helps explain why Samsung continues to position AI as the defining layer of its next-generation devices.

Is the smartphone spec race ending?

For years, smartphone makers built their identities around chasing specs.

Bigger numbers meant better phones. Faster chips meant progress.

Samsung, it seems, is chasing something else.

Whether that bet ultimately reshapes the smartphone experience remains to be seen. But if Roh’s comments are any indication, the next major leap in Galaxy hardware won’t happen simply because the numbers can go higher.

It will happen when Samsung believes the experience — not the spec sheet — is ready to move forward.