Philippines

Budget phone suggestions for this viral Philippines mayor

What phone should Mayor Vico Sotto buy?

Published

December 2, 2024

GadgetMatch

A mayor in the Philippines went viral on TikTok for having a selfie video that looked shaky and grainy, as if it was taken by a cheap camera.

Pasig City, Metro Manila Mayor Victor Ma. Regis Sotto, more popularly known as simply Vico Sotto, filmed himself to talk to his constituents about the City Office’s Christmas packs for its citizens.

@vicosottoreal

totoo bang mas konti ang tro lls dito sa tiktok? 🤔

♬ original sound – Vico Sotto – Vico Sotto

Eagle-eyed TikTok users, however, were quick to poke fun at the quality of Sotto’s selfie video, which was stitched along with the slideshow of the city’s Christmas gift-giving program.

Sotto is currently serving his second term as mayor of the city that is part of the collective Metro Manila region called National Capital Region.

He has carved out quite a reputation for his good governance and transparency. Citizens do not associate him with corruption, while his style of leadership has also been praised.

And judging from the selfie video, it also seems he’s that frugal and practical about his lifestyle. To be fair, the lens seems to have smudges on it and the mayor was also indoors.

Still, one particular TikToker even used the video and stitched it, telling Sotto to turn heel and just use public funds to purchase a new smartphone.

Naturally, GadgetMatch has some budget phone suggestions for Mayor Vico so he can come up with better-looking selfie videos moving forward. These devices don’t even cost PhP 10,000 (US$ 200), so they should fit his persona well.

Xiaomi Redmi 14C

Price: Starts at PhP 4,999

Xiaomi’s most recent budget phone offering, the Redmi 14C boasts of a stylish look and an aluminum-looking plastic frame. It immediately stands out, appearance wise.

It has a 13MP selfie camera that can film up to 1080p at 30fps. That’s more than decent, considering its price tag. With sufficient lighting, we’re sure Mayor Vico can take his brief explainers on TikTok to another level.

Elsewhere, the phone has up to 256GB of internal storage, a 50MP main camera, and a 6.88-inch IPS LCD panel with up to a 120Hz refresh rate.

This brand has even commented on the video telling the Mayor that they’re on sale right now.

READ THE REVIEW: Redmi 14C: Look further or look elsewhere

HONOR X7c

Price: PhP 8,999

One of the best-promoted budget phones of 2024, the HONOR X7c features IP64 rating. That means the device is water resistant up to a certain degree. And for a sub-PhP 10,000 phone, that’s quite high of an IP rating.

The X7c also comes with a 6,000mAh battery, so it’s guaranteed to last an entire day. You know, should Mayor Vico need a phone with him throughout an entire day’s worth of meetings, visits, and more in between.

For its selfie camera, the X7c has a decent 8MP shooter capable of taking FHD videos as well. It also takes good selfies. Complementing it is a 108MP rear camera.

READ THE REVIEW: HONOR X7c: The good, the bad, and the splashy

OPPO A3

Price: PhP 8,999

Likewise, the OPPO A3 flaunts military-grade standard durability and splash resistance. One of the more recent releases from OPPO does have only a 5MP front camera, but with good lighting, you’ll still get decent results.

The phone itself is steady for casual browsing and occasional gaming. Its display is also ample for binge-watching sessions. It also has a simplistic look that makes it look like a luxurious phone.

Of course, Mayor Vico can definitely benefit from this phone as it’s tested for the “daily rigors of life.”

READ THE REVIEW: OPPO A3: Is durability enough?

realme C67

Price: PhP 8,999

Lastly, the realme C67 is perhaps one of the best budget phones in the market right now. It has an 8MP camera capable of filming FHD videos. At the back is a 108MP sensor that can capture at up to 3X lossless zoom.

Everything else you’re looking for from a budget phone, the realme C67 can provide. It has a decent processor, a clear display, a long-lasting battery, and plenty of features.

As it was released earlier in the year, the only downers are it’s only 4G-capable and its internal storage is pegged at 128GB.

READ THE REVIEW: realme C67: A budget smartphone revelation

To Mayor Vico, if you’re reading this, GadgetMatch is here to help you find the devices that suit your needs. That’s what we’re here for, anyway.

Gaming

ASUS brings 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo, G16, and G14 to the Philippines

New Zephyrus laptops arrive

Published

June 24, 2026

GadgetMatch

ASUS Republic of Gamers has announced the Philippine availability and pricing of its 2026 ROG Zephyrus lineup.

Headlining the range is the new ROG Zephyrus Duo, joined by refreshed versions of the Zephyrus G16 and Zephyrus G14. The latest models feature Intel Core Ultra processors, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, upgraded cooling systems, and ROG Nebula HDR OLED displays.

The lineup is available through authorized retailers starting June 24, 2026.

ROG Zephyrus Duo introduces dual-screen gaming

The 2026 ROG Zephyrus Duo (GX651AX) is billed as the world’s first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop.

It features two 16-inch 16:10 touch displays with 120Hz refresh rates. Together, they provide up to 32 inches of combined screen space for multitasking, content creation, streaming, and gaming.

The primary display is a 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with up to 1,100 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision HDR support, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color coverage.

A new 320-degree kickstand hinge enables multiple usage modes, including Laptop Mode, Dual-Screen Mode, Book Mode, Tent Mode, and Sharing Mode. ASUS ScreenXpert software manages display layouts and transitions between modes.

Powering the device are an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 64GB LPDDR5X memory, and 2TB SSD storage.

ROG Zephyrus Duo price in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus Duo GX651AX-SR071WSM (RTX 5090, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 559,995

The laptop comes bundled with an ASUS Pen 3.0, ROG Universal Backpack, ROG Gladius III Gaming Mouse, and ASUS warranty package.

ROG Zephyrus G16 gets RTX 5090 option

The refreshed ROG Zephyrus G16 (GU606) retains its slim aluminum chassis, measuring 1.49cm thick and weighing 1.85kg.

Configurations include up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with up to 160W TGP. ASUS says the laptop supports NVIDIA DLSS 4 and Multi-Frame Generation technologies.

The 16-inch display uses a 2.5K ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification, and NVIDIA G-SYNC support.

Battery life is rated at up to 22 hours of video playback, while ROG Intelligent Cooling combines Tri-Fan Technology, liquid metal, and expanded ventilation for sustained performance.

ROG Zephyrus G16 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AR-TB061WSM (RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 289,995
ROG Zephyrus G16 GU606AX-TB084WSM (RTX 5090, 32GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — PhP 429,995

Both variants include an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

ROG Zephyrus G14 focuses on portability

The ROG Zephyrus G14 (GU405) continues to target gamers who want a more compact machine.

It measures 1.59cm thin and weighs 1.5kg. Despite its size, ASUS equips the laptop with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with up to 130W TGP.

The device sports a 14-inch 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, NVIDIA G-SYNC support, and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification.

ASUS also redesigned the thermal system with thicker heat pipes, additional copper fins, and improved ventilation to boost cooling performance.

ROG Zephyrus G14 prices in the Philippines

ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AP-SY057WSM (RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 224,995
ROG Zephyrus G14 GU405AW-SY069WSM (RTX 5080, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — PhP 324,995

Each model ships with an ROG Exclusive Sleeve and ROG Strix Impact Gaming Mouse.

Warranty and launch promos

All 2026 ROG Zephyrus laptops sold locally come with ASUS’ No. 1 Quality & Service Program. This includes a three-year international and local warranty, one-year accidental damage protection, and Premium Care support.

Buyers also receive a gaming mouse, three months of PC Game Pass, an Office 2024 lifetime license, one year of Microsoft 365 Basic with 100GB cloud storage, and up to 700GB of ASUS Cloud Storage.

Meanwhile, the new ROG Slash Collection 4.0 accessories, including the Slash Backpack 4.0 and Slash Sling Bag 4.0, will arrive in select ROG stores starting July 2026.

News

Budget smartphone realme C100 Series launches

Long battery life, ruggedness, more

Published

June 18, 2026

GadgetMatch

The realme C100 Series, the brand’s latest rugged essential smartphone in the budget segment, has officially launched in the Philippines.

The series introduces up to an 8,000mAh Titan Battery on the realme C100 model, as well as IP69 Pro certification.

This means the handset has IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance ratings to handle high-pressure water exposure and submersion for up to six meters and 30 minutes.

The C100 also supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging for quick battery top-ups. It even has a 10W reverse charging support to power other small devices.

On the other hand, the realme C100i comes with a 7,000mAh Titan Battery to likewise power all-day use. This model supports a steady 15W charging and 6W reverse charging. It is also rated IP64 for dust and water resistance.

In addition, both models support Rain Touch Mode, making the 6.8-inch 120Hz display optimized for touches even when it is wet. This panel also comes with ArmorShell Glass protection.

Powering the C100 is the MediaTek Helio G92 Max processor while the C100i has as Unisoc T7250 processor. The devices run on realme UI 7.0 (Android 16).

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the realme C100 Series comes in various storage configurations:

C100i (4GB+64GB): PhP 6,313 (SRP: PhP 8,999)
C100i (4GB+128GB): PhP 7,379 (SRP: PhP 11,999)
C100i (4GB+256GB): PhP 8,199 (SRP: PhP 13,999)
C100 (4GB+256GB): PhP 11,195 (SRP: PhP 16,999)
C100 (8GB+256GB): PhP 14,000 (SRP: PhP 19,999)

Limited-time launch offers are available through Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok from June 18 to June 30.

The phones are also available at realme concept stores, kiosks, and partner retailers nationwide. Potential freebies include a TechLife Smart band, extended warranty and screen damage protection, privilege card, or additional cash discount.

Finance

UnionDigital Bank, Chubb partner for accessible insurance protection

Chubb insurance products now integrated into UD app

Published

June 17, 2026

GadgetMatch

UnionDigital Bank and Chubb Philippines have partnered to bring accessible insurance protection to Filipinos.

The strategic partnership integrates Chubb’s insurance solutions directly on the UD app. These comprehensive solutions will be seen among UD’s suite of financial products. That way, insurance protection becomes more accessible for consumers.

The two key insurance products in the initial rollout are Loan Protect Insurance and Kaya Protect Insurance.

The first product is automatically included for eligible UD loan borrowers at no additional cost for the first three months once the loan is approved.

In the event of accidental death, permanent disability, temporary disability, or death due to illness, Loan Protect Insurance pays up to the original loan amount to cover 100% of the customer’s outstanding loan balance.

Any remaining balance is released to beneficiaries. Loan Protect Insurance is currently available for loans up to PhP 30,000 with short-term repayment periods.

Meanwhile, Kaya Protect Insurance will be available soon. This provides personal accident and accidental death coverage up to PhP 150,000 and is activated automatically by maintaining a low minimum balance of PhP 100 in the insured’s savings account.

The partnership between UnionDigital Bank and Chubb aims to address the protection gap, as according to a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey, 48% of adult Filipinos are currently uninsured.