Philippines

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active gets beginners going

Attractive price point and useful features for a good start

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The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active has been in the Philippines market for a while now. And it doesn’t even cost a fortune. The lightweight and slim wearable costs just PhP 1,259 (roughly US$ 21.59).

It’s tailor-made for a wide range of customers. There’s those just wanting to make the jump from a regular watch with either a traditional watch face or a digital display. The smart band can also be for those wanting to start their fitness programs (or return to their active ways, like me).

Moreover, the product can be meant for someone who simply wants an add-on fashion accessory when going out.

Whatever the reason may be, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active is a great choice for beginners. It is reasonably priced, and is packed with several basic features for its price point to get their users going.

The wearable has a 1.47-inch TFT display with 60Hz refresh rate. It’s squared rather than oval, unlike Xiaomi’s other offerings. It’s quite simple and straightforward.

Slim, simple look

Design wise, customers can choose from a wide range of colors for its strap. The one I reviewed came in black.

Best of all, you can just untuck the actual watch and change the strap to another color.

I chose the green-striped variant that says “Every step matters” and glows in the dark.

The default watch face has everything you need. It tells the time and the amount of steps you took in a day.

It also has the month, day, and date on the upper left-hand side, and the battery percentage on the right. In a way, it’s satisfying to see the UI display all that in spite the small form factor.

As it’s powered by Xiaomi’s HyperOS as well, it’s easy to navigate from the home screen and browse its features.

For fitness…

As Xiaomi’s smart band offerings are usually meant for an active lifestyle, the Smart Band 9 Active supports a handful of workouts. There’s walking, running, cycling, jump rope, ball and racquet sports, and even training-based exercises.

If you’re someone who’s into statistics and want to keep everything recorded just to see your progress, the band can already provide that.

Just connect the Smart Band 9 Active to the Mi Fitness app to have a full view (and wider, quite literally) of everything on your smartphones. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Xiaomi one or not.

Naturally, it would also be better to have the band stay connected to your device for location tracking. That’s if you’re using it to run or pedal your way outdoors. There is quite a discrepancy from the distance it displays in real-time and the figure shown on my running app of choice.

…and more

Of course, for its asking price, the Smart Band 9 Active also has the two most basic health monitoring features. The first is heart rate monitoring, and the second is blood oxygen saturation, or SpO2.

I didn’t bother too much checking these on a daily basis but they work. However, while using the band to run, it did show my real-time heart rate, which was, in a way, a joy to see as it let me know I’m right where I want to be as far as my fitness program.

There’s also stress monitoring, which is a welcome addition. It just tells you if you’re currently in a state of stress or if you’re just calm. Be mindful that it is, just like in the case of any other wearable, not 100% accurate. Listen to your body still and check for signs if you need to take the day off.

There’s a handful of other features as well. You can set an alarm with it. There’s a stopwatch for P.E. teachers, for instance, or whatever situation requires it.

And when you connect it to your phone, you can turn it into a camera shutter. It’s for situations where a self-timer isn’t enough. Or group photos. You can even control music from your wrist under Music.

Long-lasting, water resistant

Furthermore, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active is long-lasting. With just a handful of basic features, it can last up to 18 days on a single charge. And whenever you need to replenish it, it takes just about two hours to charge back to full.

It also has 5ATM water resistance. Simply stated, it can withstand splashes. Think of playing football while running. Or swimming for short periods.

Overall: Gets beginners going

With all the useful features you’re getting on the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active, plus its attractive price tag, this offering is such a steal.

It’s for beginners and more. It has all the basics for various needs, from fitness to health monitoring to simple time-telling and step-counting.

If you want to start with a simple wearable to get you going, there’s no doubt the Smart Band 9 Active can be your BudgetMatch.

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News

nubia Neo 5 series launches in the PH, starts below PhP 12K

Built-in cooling fan highlights latest nubia gaming series

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March 28, 2026

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nubia has officially launched the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphones in the Philippines through a fan activation event at SM Megamall.

The series consists of the nubia Neo 5, nubia Neo 5 Pro, and nubia Neo 5 GT.

Here are the pricing details and storage configurations for each variant:

  • nubia Neo 5 (8GB+128GB): PhP 11,999
  • nubia Neo 5 Pro (12GB+256GB): PhP 14,999
  • nubia Neo 5 GT (8GB+256GB): PhP 17,999
  • nubia Neo 5 GT (12GB+512GB): PhP 19,999

In particular, the top-of-the-line nubia Neo 5 GT is available in Phantom Black, Stellar Silver, and Electro Gold.

The entire series builds on the nubia Neo history of gaming-centric features, from the phones’ aesthetic, RGB lighting, OS design, and features.

New to the series is a built-in active cooling fan, and a large VC vapor chamber cooling panel.

This system eliminates the need for an external cooling fan which was among the freebies for the previous series, so users can simply focus on gaming sessions.

The phone has small exhaust vents on both sides. The series retains the shoulder triggers, although the presence of the vents pushes the volume buttons and power button lower on the right-hand side of the phone.

Powering the nubia Neo 5 GT variant is the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor for up to 2.6GHz clock speed.

The handset comes with up to 12GB of base RAM (plus 12GB expansion), and up to 512GB of internal storage. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 for fast and stable connectivity.

Inside is a 6,210mAh battery with support for 80W fast charging, as well as charge separation to directly charge the phone while bypassing the battery for extended sessions.

In front is a 6.8-inch 1.5K OLED display with up to 144Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits peak brightness. This screen also has a 439ppi pixel density for sharp visuals. It is also complemented by DTS:X Ultra surround sound technology.

For its camera, the Neo 5 GT has a 50MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera.

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Automotive

The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines

Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.

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March 26, 2026

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Inchcape Philippines is officially shaking up the compact sedan segment.

The Changan Eado Plus has arrived on local shores, and it’s gunning for the top spot in your driveway.

Available in two trims — Luxe and Lite — the Eado Plus offers the Filipino driver a car that looks like a million bucks without the massive price tag.

Modern aesthetic inside and out

On the outside, the Eado Plus makes a bold statement with its prominent three-dimensional grille and streamlined body lines.

This polished, premium look relies on LED lighting to command a strong presence on the road. Inside, a meticulously curated cabin handles the daily grind with ease.

The Luxe variant carries a massive 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile, the Lite variant keeps you connected with a 7-inch display.

To beat the local climate, Changan included a PM2.5 air filter to keep the cabin air clean, alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that puts all your vital driving data front and center.

Performance and safety without compromise

Under the hood, a 1.5L Bluecore gasoline engine powers both variants. This engine works with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission (WDCT) to deliver a stable, responsive ride.

For those who want more control, the Luxe variant offers selectable Eco and Normal driving modes to match your mood or the traffic conditions.

Safety remains a top priority, as the Eado Plus houses a comprehensive suite of protection. Beyond the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the car packs in practical features like rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX tethers for families.

Pricing, availability

To celebrate the launch, Changan offers the Eado Plus with aggressive introductory pricing through April 30, 2026.

During this period, the 1.5 Luxe DCT costs only PhP 749,999, while the 1.5 Lite DCT goes for just PhP 699,000. These rates offer a significant discount from the standard prices of PhP 799,999 and PhP 750,000, respectively.

Drivers can choose from four colors: White, Black, Andean Gray, and Titanium Silver Gray (via special order).

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Deals

PLDT Home, Samsung team up for exclusive entertainment deals

Enjoy discounts on Samsung TVs, more with your Home Fibr plan

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March 26, 2026

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PLDT Home and Samsung have partnered to bring exclusive entertainment deals, making it easier for Filipinos to enjoy premium viewing experiences at home.

New customers who sign up for PLDT Home Fiber Plan 1299 and above can enjoy up to 15% off on select Samsung TVs. Special deals on sound devices are also available.

In addition, subscribers can receive stackable vouchers worth up to PhP 2,000, redeemable through PLDT MyHome.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Plan 1299: 5% discount on all TVs, sound devices, monitors
  • Plans 1399, 1599, 1699, 1799, 2099: 10% discount on all TVs
  • Plans 2499, 2699, 3199, 7999: 15% discount on all TVs

Meanwhile, existing PLDT Home subscribers who upgrade their plans can also enjoy even more rewards. This includes stackable vouchers worth up to PhP 3,000, on top of Samsung entertainment discounts.

To redeem the Samsung vouchers, simply register or log in via PLDT MyHome. Vouchers can then be used to purchase Samsung Vision AI TVs through the dedicated Samsung online store link.

Whether it’s K-drama, movies, sports, or gaming, customers can upgrade their entertainment setups with Samsung electronics for less.

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