As a runner, I know firsthand how important it is to find comfortable earbuds that can keep up with every mile. With the rise of runners around the world, the search for the perfect accessory has become a top priority for many.
In a market filled with wireless earbuds, Xiaomi has taken a smart approach with the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo. This pair of wireless earbuds come with an open-ear design.
Although it faces competition from other open-ear wearables, bone conduction headphones, and traditional in-ear wireless earbuds, the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo strikes the perfect balance.
It fits comfortably between these niche markets, offering a unique blend of comfort, style, function, and cutting-edge technology.
Sleek and stylish
@gadgetmatch Meet the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo, Xiaomi’s newest open-ear earbuds promising all-day comfort ✨ #fyp #fypage #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #fypシ ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Taking out the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo out of the box, it came in an oval, sophisticated gray case adorned with a shiny, metallic hinge. It looked like a love child between a banded agate and a smoky quartz.
Inside, you can find an odd-shaped pair of wireless earbuds that looks ritzy. Its sleek and modern design are aesthetically pleasing enough to be worn as an accessory. It perfectly matches my earrings and necklace, which are the jewelry I use when out for a run.
The OpenWear Stereo used flexible plastics and finished the design with soft-touch coatings, making it lightweight and comfortable to wear even for long periods of time.
Ergonomically, it’s designed to conform to the shape of the head and ears, and adapts to different shapes and sizes.
It rested comfortably on my temples and ensured a secure fit, even when I was sprinting or doing plyometrics.
Always hooked
My issue with most wireless earbuds is that they hurt my ears when worn for a long time. If they’re lightweight, they fall off easily, and I risk losing them during strenuous activities.
I often have to remove them whenever someone speaks to me on the street or in the gym.
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo solves this issue with its open-ear design, allowing me to play music without blocking my ear canals, so I can still be aware of my surroundings.
Previously, I went to the gym before heading straight to judge a Jump Rope Dance Competition. The performances started, and I forgot I was wearing the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo—that’s how featherweight they are.
I could hear the music clearly while getting enchanted by performances from aspiring jump rope athletes. The best part? It didn’t cause ear fatigue.
Music for One (or Two?)
I’m no audiophile, but I do have Spotify playing music for over ten hours a day. With its design and technology, the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo gave me my own little world while still being aware of the world around me.
That’s how richly detailed the sound is—even when cars are honking outside.
When lifting weights or doing a tempo run, I repeatedly listened to BINI’s “Pantropiko” and “Huwag Muna Tayong Umuwi” without worrying about others hearing, thanks to its 10mm sound leakage reduction.
As long as I maintain my distance, people won’t get distracted by my songs. However, your music can be shared if a friend also owns a pair of OpenWear Stereo.
Both pairs of earbuds should be connected to a Xiaomi smartphone or tablet at the same time, allowing both users to share music and jam together.
Personally, I prefer listening solo, but if you’re someone who likes to share, don’t forget to download the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo’s settings can be customized through the app, which is available in the App Store and Play Store. You can personalize it to suit your preferences, giving you full control of the device and your music.
Run, Boy, Run
I used the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo primarily for strength training and easy runs. It made me approachable in the gym, as I could engage in conversation without removing the earbuds.
I also felt confident running outdoors without worrying about sudden drizzles or near-accidents. It has an IP54 rating, which makes it resistant to water, sweat, and splashes.
When torrential rains poured in Manila, many runners stayed indoors to complete their workouts. I, however, waited for the downpour to ease into a drizzle.
I decided that a 30-minute run in light rain would be the perfect test for the Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo.
All eyes were on me and my shiny, shimmering wearable as I dropped everything to meet the rain.
I didn’t need to take out my iPhone while running, as the OpenWear Stereo is compatible with it. The smart touch controls made it easy to skip tracks and find a beat that matched my cadence.
I ended up playing “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan for an extra boost of motivation.
Safe to say, the OpenWear Stereo didn’t malfunction, and it stayed securely in place throughout the 5K run. It’s truly ideal for runners—no cap.
Is This Your GadgetMatch?
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo thrives on flexibility, offering a versatile user experience. It’s not just made for runners but for everyone on the go.
It’s easily a GadgetMatch for those who want to stay aware of their surroundings without compromising sound quality or battery life.
After all, it lasts a full day on a single charge, is comfortable enough to wear for long periods, plays richly detailed music without leakage, and stays securely in place during any activity.
The open-ear design also gives it an edge over similar devices, especially because it comes at a price that won’t break the bank.
The Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo retails at PhP 6,199.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Salmon have announced a multi-year marketing partnership that makes the financial technology company an Official Partner of the NBA in the Philippines.
The announcement was made on August 29 at NBA House Philippines 2026 presented by Gatorade in Makati City. NBA Head of Southeast Asia and Asia Marketing Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia Head of Growth and Innovation Ed Winkle, and Salmon Co-Founders George Chesakov, Pavel Fedorov, and Raffy Montemayor attended the announcement.
Bringing NBA experiences closer to fans
Through the partnership, Salmon will engage basketball fans through NBA-themed consumer promotions, fan events, and NBA-branded premiums.
Salmon will also have a presence at major NBA events in the Philippines. This includes serving as a Supporting Partner of NBA House Philippines 2026, a free basketball experience and fan event at SPACE in One Ayala on August 29 and 30.
Starting with the 2026-27 season, Salmon will also become the Presenting Partner of the NBA 3X Philippines Open. The tournament features men’s and women’s 3-on-3 teams alongside NBA entertainment.
“Basketball is a part of our daily lives as Filipinos, from the courts in our barangays to the TV screens in our homes,” said Salmon Co-Founder Raffy Montemayor.
Montemayor said the company wants Salmon to become a reliable partner for Filipinos’ everyday money moments. He added that working with the NBA gives the brand a way to connect with Filipinos through something they already love.
Rasu said Salmon shares the NBA’s commitment to using basketball to bring Filipinos together. She added that the partnership will create new touchpoints for fans through events such as NBA House and the NBA 3X Open.
NBA continues its PH presence
Filipino fans can watch NBA games through One Sports, RPTV, NBA TV Philippines, Disney+, Pilipinas Live, Prime Video, and NBA League Pass through the NBA App. The league also maintains localized social media accounts on Facebook, TikTok, and X.
The partnership comes as the NBA continues to deepen its presence in the Philippines, one of the league’s major basketball markets.
Salmon is a financial technology brand in the Philippines owned by Salmon Group. Its local operations include Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc., a BSP-regulated entity, and Salmon Finance Inc., an SEC-licensed financing company.
Lifestyle
Nike’s Pegasus Plus 2 wants to give you supershoe feel ~without the plate~
Stripping the Pegasus down to its most important parts and builds back up with an exposed Air Zoom unit and ZoomX foam.
Nike just gave its most recognizable running shoe a new engine. This time, you can actually see it working.
The Pegasus Plus 2 puts an exposed, curved Air Zoom unit right in the forefoot, paired with a ZoomX foam midsole. It’s a setup you’d normally expect from a racing shoe, not a daily trainer.
Nike says the combination pushes energy return up by at least 18 percent compared to the original Pegasus Plus. They spent years tuning every part of the system so runners get what they actually need to feel fast and confident, without extra bulk weighing the shoe down.
What makes the Air Zoom setup different
The curved shape of the Air Zoom unit is designed to help each step roll into the next. This makes the ride feels continuous instead of choppy.
Inside, tensile fibers work like preloaded springs, storing energy from each footstrike and releasing it back with the next stride.
Nike also says the Air Zoom unit uses precise pressure tuning that adjusts across different shoe sizes. It’s aiming for a consistent feel whether you’re a size 7 or a size 13.
Built with input from Nike’s own athletes
The shoe runs on Nike’s MR10 2.0 last, the same platform introduced with the Pegasus 42, giving the forefoot and toe box more room to move.
The midfoot system is built to keep your foot locked in without feeling restrictive. Round it out with reinforced ankle materials, reflective details for low-light runs, and a waffle outsole with flex zones, and you get a shoe built to feel light and connected to the road.
Nike tested the Pegasus Plus 2 with more than 30 elite athletes, from marathoners to track specialists, running the shoe through evaluations at the Nike Sport Research Lab.
Cameron Myers, Nike athlete and 1,500-meter world leader, described the feel as locked in but still enjoyable, calling the run easy, fast, and smooth.
Where it sits in Nike’s lineup
The Pegasus Plus 2 is part of Nike’s three-tier road running lineup. Pegasus stays focused on responsive, all-day cushioning.
Vomero leans into maximum comfort, while Structure is built for stability. This latest Pegasus update pulls tech from Nike’s racing shoes and folds it into a trainer built for everyday miles.
The Nike Pegasus Plus 2 launches October 1, 2026, on nike.com and at select retailers.
Cameras
30 days with the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P
This is the camera that made solo travel filmmaking finally feel possible.
Not too long ago, I had my hands on the DJI Osmo Pocket 4, and I’ve taken to calling it a solo creator’s very own production crew. Rumors about a two-lensed Osmo Pocket had circulated for months. I’m not one to revel in hot goss, so I waited. And waited.
And while waiting, turning 30 crept up on me. The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P arrived like a small, well-machined reminder of a life I didn’t end up living.
If I’d pursued filmmaking the way I once wanted to, this is the camera I would’ve dreamed up for myself. After all, the Osmo Pocket 4P is a creative director’s fantasy, built at the scale of a passport.
The unit landed on my desk just days before launch, with barely enough runway to put it through its paces properly.
Luckily, it arrived right as July began, which happens to be the month I always disappear on a long vacation. It’s my birth month, and I treat it accordingly. There’s no better way to test a device built for cinematic shooting than to hand it a full month of actual life.
The filmmaker I almost was
I always dreamed of directing sweeping cinematic films. As a broke teenager with big ambitions, I strategically pivoted into advertising instead.
I convinced myself it was a clever way to stay close to film sets while guaranteeing a steady paycheck. That creative pull never really vanished. It resurfaced in my early twenties during an extended phase of chasing beaches and climbing mountains.
I spent those trips half-watching travel vloggers and wondering why they were living my dream life instead of me. The Osmo Pocket 4P dug up an ambition I thought I had buried under sensible career choices.
I once wanted to be a National Geographic Explorer, mapping gorgeous terrain for a living. Instead, I became a competitive trail runner who works as a creative director, which brings its own chaotic terrain.
Life did not give me the exact script I wrote as a teenager, but this camera gave me a way to direct my story anyway on my own terms.
Earning its keep
To celebrate my birth month properly, I took the camera to Cagayan de Oro City, sprinted across the wild landscapes of Bukidnon, and boarded a flight to London for a dose of summer style and city architecture.
Both trips are honest reflections of who I am: a person pulled toward nature, and a person who will always, at heart, be a city boy. London doubled as work, too. I was there to cover Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked.
Across both continents, the dual lenses earned their keep. I captured crisp architectural details from miles away using the 240mm 12x zoom.
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However, I spent most of my time using the 60mm 3x medium telephoto lens. It delivered a natural background blur that made mundane street moments look like movie stills.
In Cagayan de Oro, I checked into a Marrakesh-inspired boutique hotel filled with intricate design details. I relied mostly on the 20mm 1x and 60mm 3x range for the entire stay.
Knowing I had 6x and 12x zoom in reserve gave me a sense of security, like carrying a luxury safety net in my handbag.
A sensor built for the way light actually behaves
The new 1-inch CMOS sensor is what changes the equation for cinematic travel footage. Light does most of the emotional work in a shot, and this is the first Pocket that seems to understand that instinctively.
With the new sensor, I didn’t have to fight to keep a face lit while the background held its own exposure. It also preserved highlight and shadow detail cleanly, even in scenes with harsh contrast, the kind that used to flatten out or blow up on older pocket cameras.
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That said, auto exposure wasn’t flawless. On a handful of occasions, it leaned toward overcorrecting and blowing everything out a touch too bright. Switching to manual, or Pro Mode, put me back in control and kept the shots true to what I was actually seeing.
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What I appreciated most was shooting solo for a Samsung campaign and having nearly every take be usable footage for my editor. Fewer discarded clips means less footage lost to the compromises of shooting alone.
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That’s mostly thanks to ActiveTrack, which now extends to the Med-Tele lens. Shooting portraits at 3x zoom, it delivers precise face recognition and tracking, holding exposure steady and skin tones consistent even while the subject is moving.
Shooting solo is genuinely difficult. With ActiveTrack, especially in portrait framing, it made the footage look more considered than the reality behind it… which was one person, alone, trying to land a single good shot without a crew to call it.
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Built-in polish, without the retouching pass
This is the section that matters most if you’re the kind of traveler who shoots, stars in, and edits your own content, because you don’t have the luxury of a color grade session or a retouch pass before something goes up. The Osmo Pocket 4P seems to understand that, and builds the polish in at the point of capture instead of leaving it for later.
Glamour and Film Tones work as an in-camera pass on skin, handling softening, brightening, and color temperature so a face still reads clean and true even lit by a random hotel lamp or the wrong side of a sunset.
Paired with that are stylized film filters that lean into an instant Fuji aesthetic. They give that warm, slightly desaturated look that used to take a preset and a few minutes in an app. Here, it’s baked into the file before you’ve even opened your phone.
That instant polish is the difference between going to sleep after a long day of travel and staying up until midnight editing clips. I’d land at a hotel after a full day, pull the footage straight off the camera, and post it with barely any correction. There was nothing to hide, and nothing left to fix.
Fill Light does the same job on the physical side of things. It adds soft, flattering light in night and backlit scenes. It balances uneven indoor lighting that usually ruins a vlog, and gives selfies and portraits a lift without a ring light or a second person holding one.
More importantly, shooting alone at night in an unfamiliar city is usually where a solo creator’s footage falls apart. Here, it held up.
Between the two, the camera is doing a version of the job a beauty producer and a gaffer would normally split between them, in real time, for a crew of one.
Room to actually direct
Beyond the automated conveniences, the Osmo Pocket 4P gives you real creative range if you want to reach for it.
D-Log and the newer D-Log 2 color profiles hold onto far more dynamic range than a standard picture profile, which matters if you’re planning to grade footage later rather than post it straight off the card.
Slow motion goes up to 4K at 240fps, which is enough headroom to pull dramatic, controlled slow-motion out of moments that happen far too fast to shoot deliberately.
Slow-shutter video is the underrated feature here, but it’s the one that can give you the most cinematic frames: light trails pulling through a night street, clouds smearing gently over a skyline. They’re mostly shots that usually needs a tripod and a plan, but done handheld and on instinct.
Made to disappear into a trip
None of this matters if the camera can’t survive the actual mechanics of travel. This is where the Osmo Pocket 4P does the most work. At 230 grams, it’s compact and portable enough to live in a jacket pocket.
The physical joystick and quick shortcuts save the day when you are shooting one-handed on the go.
The 4K Live Photo feature captures a short burst of motion around a photo, which turned out to be the most authentic way to remember my race finishes. Meanwhile, the 37-megapixel stills were crisp enough to capture fine architectural textures across London.
Storage rounds it out sensibly: 103GB built in, with transfer speeds up to 800MB/s. Between a race in Bukidnon and a flight to London, the last thing I wanted to manage was a memory card. This let me not think about it at all.
Is the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P your GadgetMatch?
I didn’t become the National Geographic Explorer I once imagined for myself. I became something adjacent to it instead, a trail runner with a day job in creative direction, chasing landscapes on weekends and screens on weekdays.
The DJI Osmo Pocket 4P didn’t hand me back the life I once mapped out as a teenager. It just made the life I actually have look, for a month at least, exactly as cinematic as I’d always wanted it to be.
Swipe right if you’re the kind of traveler who shoots alone and needs a camera doing the work of a small crew, handling color, light, and tracking without anyone else in the room.
It rewards creators who jump between wide landscapes and close portraits with zero lens changes. And if you’ve ever landed somewhere with a dying memory card and no laptop in sight, the built-in storage and fast transfer solve a problem you’ll actually recognize.
Swipe left if your bag already has a mirrorless body and a gimbal in it, since the Pocket 4P will mostly repeat what you’re already carrying.
It’s also not the camera for someone who shoots static, tripod-locked setups and wants manual control as the default. And if the price sits well above what you’d normally spend on a pocket camera, it’s worth being honest with yourself about how often you’d actually reach for this over your phone.
For a solo creator who travels for both work and the version of themselves that only comes out on a trail or in a new city, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4P earns its spot in the bag. It’s not trying to replace a full production; it’s trying to be one. And for that, it deserves the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.
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