News
Snapdragon 8 Elite ditches efficiency cores for all performance
Also drops the Gen naming scheme
A year ago, Qualcomm released the Snapdragon X Elite, a new series built to bring Snapdragon to AI-focused PCs. As we reviewed throughout the year, the chipset blew our expectations. It seems that Qualcomm believes the same and renamed its mobile chipsets with the same naming scheme. Today, in anticipation of next year’s flagships, the company has launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
Given the timing of the launch, it’s highly likely that the Snapdragon 8 Elite is truly the next flagship series. If that’s the case, it’s hats off to the old-but-fairly-new Gen naming scheme. And, of course, “Elite” comes with connotations.
Much like the Snapdragon X Elite, the Snapdragon 8 Elite will have the new Oryon CPU, complete with a set of NPU upgrades. Of note, amid all our expectations of what a modern-day chipset has, the new processor will not have a single efficiency core. Instead, it has two 4.32GHz prime cores and six 3.53GHz performance cores. As such, it will have improvements in both single- and multi-core performance.
As for other specs, the chipset has a dual-channel LPDDR5x memory, clocking up to 5.3GHz. It can also support up to 48-megapixel triple rear cameras or a single 108-megapixel camera. Finally, it will have an upgraded Snapdragon X80 5G modem and Bluetooth 6.0.
Because it’s an Elite, the Snapdragon 8 Elite will have an upgraded Hexagon NPU. It can support text and visual queries. Likewise, it will have on-device video detection, which can eliminate unwanted elements in a video. Though these improvements are impressive on paper, real-life applications will depend on each manufacturer.
Speaking of manufacturers, the biggest flagships featuring the chipset will likely debut early next year. However, the first phones — coming from ASUS, Honor, OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi — are coming in the next few weeks.
News
vivo V70 FE pre-orders now open, starts at PhP 25,999
Offers, perks available throughout pre-order period
vivo has officially opened pre-orders for the vivo V70 FE, the more affordable follow-up to the vivo V70 launched last February.
The pre-order period is until April 24 and the midrange smartphone is available in two memory configurations:
- 8GB+256GB: PhP 25,999
- 12GB+256GB: PhP 29,999
Customers who place pre-orders at vivo stores nationwide will receive:
- limited-time vivo VIP Card with a 6-month extended warranty and 6-month broken screen insurance
- limited edition vivo Buds Air3
- PhP 1,000 discount
Customers can also bring home the vivo V70 FE for as low as PhP 37/day with 0% interest installment plans up to 18 months via Home Credit.
In addition, Globe has been tapped as the official network partner for a free prepaid SIM with 1-year unli 5G.
The vivo V70 FE has a POP MART Zsiga Exclusive Photo Border, thanks to its partnership with the IP. You may recall that the vivo V70 also released an exclusive Golden Hour colorway earlier.
The device is built for creators with a 200MP main camera, which can deliver portraits at different focal lengths, including an 85mm zoom.
In front is a 32MP camera and a 6.81-inch 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED display.
The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7360-Turbo processor. It houses a 7,000mAh battery with support for 90W fast charging.
Customers can choose from three colorways: Muse Purple, Ocean Blue, and Urban Silver.
News
These space photos were taken with an iPhone 17 Pro Max
All three photos were taken with the selfie cam.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has always been touted as the quintessential phone for creators. But what happens if that creator finds themselves on the far side of the Moon?
Last week, NASA concluded the Artemis II, the first manned mission around the far side of the Moon in this century. Naturally, the mission produced breathtaking views of both the Moon and the Earth. Though most of those photos were taken with dedicated cameras, a few of them were taken with an iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Before the mission launched into orbit, NASA confirmed that the premium iPhone model had been approved to be included in the spaceflight. Each of the four crew members were given the phones for their own photography.
All three of the photos posted here were reportedly taken with the phone’s selfie camera. That says a lot about the iPhone’s camera quality if they weren’t even taken with the powerful rear cameras.
When the mission ended last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook and marketing SVP Greg Joswiak congratulated the crew for finishing the mission and taking spectacular photos with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Artemis II marks a special milestone for spaceflight. It’s the first time in almost 25 years that humans have gone to the Moon. NASA, as well as other agencies all over the world, are planning more manned spaceflights in the coming future.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max bring bold redesign, 8x zoom, and more
Laptops
MacBook Neo pre-orders now open through Beyond the Box
Exclusive freebies, more perks available
Customers in the Philippines can now pre-order the MacBook Neo through Beyond the Box.
Those who avail of the device during the pre-order period can get up to PhP 10,000 worth in freebies. This is a curated bundle of essential accessories.
The MacBook Neo will also appear at these two cafes, inviting those who plan on upgrading to experience Apple’s new offering first-hand:
- April 16: Scout’s Honor, Uptown Mall
- April 17: The Matcha Tokyo, Opus Mall
Attendees who pre-order on the spot will also enjoy complimentary beverage, live DJ performances, and the opportunity to engage with social media personalities.
And to ensure the MacBook Neo is more accessible, Beyond the Box is offering 0% interest installment plans. This is both through major credit cards, Home Credit, and GCash’s GGives.
Reservations can be made through all Beyond the Box, Digital Walker, and open_sources branches nationwide.
Alternatively, the MacBook Neo is available through beyondthebox.ph, Lazada, and Shopee. It is priced at PhP 33,990 (education) and PhP 39,990 (retail).
Apple MacBook Neo
The Apple MacBook Neo is the company’s latest laptop, which is also its most affordable. It retails at just about US$ 499 to US$ 599 in the United States and SG$ 729 to SG$ 849 in Singapore.
It runs on an A18 Pro chip for 50% faster everyday performance compared to Intel Core Ultra 5-level PCs. This chip also has a 16-core Neural Engine for Apple Intelligence and 5-core GPU for graphics workloads.
The portable and lightweight laptop has a 13-inch 2408 x 1506 display, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, and Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6 connectivity.
The MacBook Neo ships with MacOS Tahoe, complete with apps like Safari, Photos, Messages, and FaceTime. Users are promised up to 16 hours of usage on a single charge.
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