Now Brief Now Brief

Smartphones

Now Brief & Now Bar on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Series

“Human-like AI agent” 

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You’ve likely seen your fair share of sci-fi flicks. You know how in many of them, the main character has some form of Cyber Assistant they talk to summarizing their day, giving them suggestions, and in some instances exchanging in playful banter? The Galaxy S25 series offers some of that with Now Brief and Now Bar.

We’re probably a ways away from the playful banter type. But in terms of offering useful information as well as being conversational, that’s what Now Brief promises and it’ll be displayed through the Now Bar. 

The Now Brief will work across the apps installed on your phone. It will learn your schedules, tendencies, priorities, and what not. You can then ask it to do things on your behalf. 

In the demo that Samsung showed us, the person received an alert about a meeting the following day. This appeared in the Now Bar that’s a pill-shaped notification-like visual cue on the bottom of the lockscreen. 

Without even opening the Galaxy S25, the person asked the phone to move the schedule to another time and it did so. The idea isn’t new and the jury is still out on the actual execution and implementation But it’s a promising tool – one that lets you be more present in your immediate environment. 

Working across apps

It’s not just your schedule, too. It can do many things for you like provide or look for restaurant recommendations. Just tell it where to look and what you’re craving. 

If you’d rather stay home and cook than eat out, you can take a quick snap of your fridge and it’ll suggest recipes given the ingredients you already have. If you’ve been following Smart Home tech over the years, some Smart Fridges have this function too. Now, your fridge doesn’t have to be that smart, you can just leave it to your Galaxy S25 smartphone. 

Samsung said this will work with Google Apps, Galaxy native apps, and select third-party apps. 

Now Bar

Now Bar

The Now Bar, available on your lockscreen, will display all of these and more. And you can take actions on supported apps based on what’s being shown. 

These can be your schedules, sports scores, navigation, and what not. At first glance it looks like the Dynamic Island moved to the bottom. But that’s an oversimplification. And there’s plenty of AI baked into it to make our lives easier. 

Samsung Security

Samsung foresees the security questions users may have given the amount of information that the smartphone learns about you to help aid you better. 

The company promises both Cloud and On-device security to make sure all your data is protected.

Double down on AI 

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series doubles down on AI. It comes additions and refinements to Galaxy AI along with other improvements in hardware and performance

Circle to Search

Some of the more notable ones include an expanded Circle to Search function. It now anticipates what action you might take with your selection and opens an Edge Panel to help you decide. There’s even two additional two icons: one for finding out the music in your surroundings and another for AI Translate. 

Content Creation things

The Samsung Galaxy S25 series adds a 50MP Ultra Wide camera that offers four times better detail than its predecessor. 

Meanwhile, you get key additions to your content creation suite with features like Nightography Video that denoises the videos you capture in night and low light shooting conditions. 

There’s also Audio Eraser that offers you granular control on the volume of your video. You can adjust the volume levels of Speaker, Music, Wind, Nature, and Crowd.

In addition, you also have Galaxy Log and Virtual Aperture for improved color correction and shot composition. 

More content-adjacent AI things are improved Generative Edits (Magic Erase, etc), and a more accurate Portrait Studio. 

Hardware and Performance

The entire Galaxy S25 line is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC that’s especially tuned for Galaxy. 

As for hardware changes, the Galaxy S25 series is slimmer and lighter compared to the Galaxy S24 series. The corners and edges have also been rounded for a better grip. For durability, there’s improved titanium and Corning Gorilla Armor 2. 

Colorways 

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Series come in various color options: 

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: 

Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Gray, Titanium Black. With online exclusives being the following: Titanium Blackgold, Titanium Jetblack, Titanium Jadegreen. 

Meanwhile, the Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 share the following color options: 

Navy, Icyblue, Mint, and Silver Shadow. Online exclusives are: Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold. 

Galaxy S25 Series specs:

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Galaxy S25+ Galaxy S25
Display 6.9-inch QHD+  

Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display   

Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz)    

Vision booster  

Adaptive color tone 

6.7-inch QHD+ 

Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display    

Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz)    

Vision booster  

Adaptive color tone 

6.2-inch FHD+

Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display    

Super Smooth 120Hz refresh rate (1~120Hz)    

Vision booster  

Adaptive color tone 

Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy
Camera 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F1.9, FOV 120˚200 MP Wide Camera
OIS F1.7, FOV 85˚50MP Telephoto Camera
5x Optical Zoom, OIS F3.4, FOV 22˚10MP Telephoto Camera
3x Optical Zoom, OIS F2.4, FOV 36˚12MP Front Camera
F2.2, FOV 80˚
12MP Ultra-Wide Camera
F2.2, FOV 120˚50 MP Wide Camera
OIS F1.8, FOV 85˚10MP Telephoto Camera
3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36˚12MP Front Camera
F2.2, FOV 80˚
Memory &  Storage 
  • 12GB + 1TB   
  • 12 + 512GB   
  • 12 + 256GB  
  • 12 + 512GB   
  • 12 + 256GB  
  • 12 + 256GB   
  • 12 + 128GB  
Battery   5,000 mAh    4,900 mAh    4,000 mAh    
Charging   
  • Wired charging: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter and USB C cable
  • Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
  • Wireless PowerShare
  • Wired charging: Up to 65% charge in around 30 mins with 45W Adapter and 3A or 5A  USB-C cable
  • Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
  • Wireless PowerShare
  • Wired Charging: Up to 50% charge in  around 30 mins with 25W Adapter and 3A USB-C cable
  • Fast Wireless Charging 2.0
  • Wireless PowerShare
OS   
  • Android 15
  • One UI 7
Network and  Connectivity    5G, LTE, Wi-Fi , Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth v 5.4
Water Resistance    IP68

 

News

realme expands 15 series with GoT edition, 15T 5G

New smartphones join realme 15 5G, 15 Pro 5G

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realme has officially expanded the realme 15 Series 5G lineup with the respective launches of the realme 15T 5G and realme 15 Pro 5G Game of Thrones Limited Edition.

As announced earlier, the realme 15 Pro GoT Edition is a collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products.

Inspired by the HBO legendary fantasy series, the special edition phone was officially unveiled at the GoT Studio Tour in Northern Ireland.

Of course, it still retains the realme 15 Pro’s specs, including its Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, 7000mAh battery, and triple 50MP AI camera with 40K@60fps video support.

The phone comes with Game of Thrones-themed filters and UI designs. Only 5,000 units of the model will be available worldwide.

In the Philippines, the phone is priced at PhP 39,999 with the following inclusions:

  • Complimentary realme Watch S2
  • 1-Year Screen Damage Protection Plan
  • Exclusive Collector’s Box with Iron Throne stand and King’s Hand pin
  • Custom postcards and stickers

realme 15T 5G debuts

Meanwhile, the realme 15T 5G has likewise made its global debut. It features the same 7000mAh battery with 60W fast charging.

It uses a MediaTek Dimensity 6400 Max 5G processor, and has a 4,000-nit 120Hz AMOLED display.

For its cameras, the variant has dual 50MP shooters, but minus the 4K video capabilities.

Moreover, the phone also has triple IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings to make it a tough and water-resistant daily driver.

There are two color options: Flowing Silver and Suit Titanium. There are two storage configurations:

  • 8GB+256GB: PhP 16,999
  • 12GB+512GB: PhP 19,999

As part of early launch offers, the 15T 5G can be availed for as low as PhP 12,869 on Shopee from October 8 to 18. It will also be paired with a free realme Buds T200 Lite.

Offline customers, meanwhile, can get a TechLife Bluetooth Speaker and 1-year Screen Damage Protection Plan while supplies for the freebie bundle last.

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Reviews

TECNO Slim review: Smexy, Antifragile Slab

Being super slim doesn’t mean it’s super fragile

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It seems like phone brands are unstoppable at this point.

Everybody’s eyes are focused on the latest iPhone Air — and it’s just one among the many super slim smartphones we should expect in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.

Although Samsung first teased and introduced the Galaxy S25 Edge as 2025’s first super slim smartphone ready for the masses, TECNO isn’t far off from the spotlight.

Just like the Korean electronics giant, the Chinese uprising brand also showed off their sexy slim slab (dubbed as the “SPARK Slim”) during this year’s MWC. Unlike Samsung’s take though, TECNO was just a concept — or so we thought.

Six months in, a consumer-ready product goes straight to my hands.

Here’s what it feels like using the TECNO Slim for more than a month after unboxing it over 13,000 ft.

EASY unboxing

ICYMI, here’s my bare minimum unboxing above the clouds.


As seen above, you get the usual charger and cable combo plus phone case out of the box.

However, the TECNO Slim has a bundled screen protector that the CAMON 40 phones lack.

CRAZY slim

At just 5.93mm, the TECNO Slim (specifically the SPARK Slim) is currently the world’s slimmest curved smartphone. There’s also the India-exclusive POVA Slim 5G which is a bit thicker at 5.95mm.

If we make the title less specific, the slimmest smartphone crown still goes to Apple’s iPhone Air (5.64mm) followed by the Galaxy S25 Edge (5.8mm).

But, compared to more conventional smartphones, that crazy thinness is as clear as day and night. More so when you pit it against the brand’s PHANTOM V Fold2 and CAMON 40 Premier handsets.

Putting it in my pockets is no different. It felt so light, sometimes I wonder if it’s really there — or if it already got lost somewhere down the road.

And now that we’re on the topic of pockets, I have to admit, I dropped this phone numerous times.

Full disclosure: I ain’t JerryRigEverything as I never intend to drop review devices I handle. However, the TECNO Slim is just so damn slender, it won’t stop slipping away.

Its back isn’t made from anything grand. I do commend how premium-looking the build quality is, despite the choice of materials.

That said, it’s not TECNO just boasting about its military-grade tests. Out in the real world, the review unit I have barely had some scuffs and scratches despite those unwanted drops.

Even if it’s not the most premium-made smartphone out there, the TECNO Slim is durable enough that it can withstand impacts against hard tiles and even concrete floors.

It’s also a relief that it still has an IP64 rating — which helps in keeping out dust and some water splashes in case you’re stuck in such scenarios.

And even without applying its bundled tempered glass out of the box, the front part of the TECNO Slim is surprisingly still scratch-free despite only having a mid Corning Gorilla Glass 7i.

But hey, that’s better than having no protection at all 👀

HOT audiovisuals

Having an impossibly thin and light form factor also means I get to hold the phone for sustained periods.

Ever since I got this phone, I can’t let go of it especially when consuming content.

There are numerous time I got tired of holding the main smartphone I’m using (*coughs* the vivo X200 Pro). That’s when I swiftly switch to the TECNO Slim.

From that moment, I can already tell how immaculate it was to have a super lightweight phone — especially one-handed.

TECNO didn’t spare its display though. That 6.78-inch display features an 3D AMOLED panel with a buttery smooth 144Hz refresh rate.

Display resolution wasn’t left behind as well at 1.5K (precisely 2720 x 1224).

An optical under-display fingerprint scanner was equipped as well.

The iPhone Air must be kicking the air right now as a budget smartphone like this features a stereo speaker.

Although in most occasions, you have to amp up the volume between 80 to 100 percent just so you can have a fully-immersive experience.

Overall, the sound isn’t too shabby. Just enough for your multimedia needs.

I’m glad it supports both Dolby Atmos and LDAC just so I can take great advantage of Apple’s Music high-fidelity formats.

SMART for the most part

This is where things get glaringly different.

Unlike its iPhone and Galaxy counterparts, an entry-level SoC is baked into TECNO Slim’s system to (obviously) cut costs.

To be specific, it runs MediaTek’s Helio G200 chipset. It’s relatively new as the previous CAMON 40 4G as well as the SPARK 40 Pro and Pro+ all run Helio G100.

And let me tell you, I immediately felt the performance improvements on basic tasks and multitasking.

The Helio G99 and G100 phones I’ve reviewed are testaments to how laggy they are once you fire up the devices.

But, if you’re considering this for gaming, you might want to save up some more money for a midrange Dimensity chipset found on the POVA and 5G CAMON line.

I’m not saying it cannot run the games you want to play.

You just have to consider its graphic settings limitations — especially on the more demanding ones.

My prime example would be Racing Master. Higher-end chipsets can fully display all the intricate details of the car.

Helio G200, on the other hand, is limited to just the lowest graphic setting just so it can run the game.

That means blotchy cars and race tracks that somewhat felt like you’re playing it in a SEGA arcade machine.

BTW, the TECNO Slim runs HiOS 15 based on Android 15.

That means you get the goodness of both TECNO AI as well as Google’s Gemini and Circle To Search.

Great for endurance streak

Having a Helio chipset isn’t a total downgrade. In my experience, it helps preserve the battery of the TECNO Slim.

Without considering heavy gaming, its 5160mAh battery can last for prolonged use.

When used moderately, it holds up before the day ends with around 10 percent to spare.

But, for the lightweight tasks and background idle, it’s able to hold on for days before actually dying.

And, with TECNO Slim’s bundled 45W charger out of the box, you get these results:

From 0% START TIME: 9:24PM
3 minutes 5%
5 minutes 9% 
10 minutes 18%
15 minutes 25%
20 minutes 33%
30 minutes 45%
45 minutes 71%
50 minutes 80%
1 hour 94%
1 hour 5 minutes 99%
100% 1 hour, 6 minutes
END TIME: 10:30PM

UNFORGIVEN drawbacks

A first-generation product is never flawless, and the TECNO Slim isn’t any different.

With chipset talk already mentioned a while ago, you’d know by now how the SPARK Slim model I have does not have 5G support.

Sure, there’s the 5G-capable POVA Slim variant but, I’m betting it will be hog more battery with its more data-demanding chipset.

However, for most users (at least where I live), 4G data speeds are still quite acceptable — especially in areas where there’s no 5G coverage yet.

For me though, the lack of ultra-wide lens is its biggest drawback.

Don’t be fooled by its dual circular cutout as it only possesses a single 50MP main shooter.

I wouldn’t dive deeper onto it as I already made a separate camera walkthrough during my Shanghai trip way back in August.

SEE ALSO: GadgetSnaps: TECNO Slim in Shanghai

There were times when I wanted to get a bigger picture of the scenery I wanted to take. But, the lack of ultra-wide lens power hindered me from doing so.

Backing out and just taking a far-away 1x shot neither works as I’m stopped by the obstacles behind me.

Safe to say, the TECNO Slim can take decent shots for everyday use. That’s either 1x or even through 2x in-sensor zoom.

And, you have to be very still for those blurry-free mementos. Not unless it’s the type of ~𝓪𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬~ you wanted to share.

Baymax-coded

While most phone brands have been struggling to bring out catchier designs on the drawing table, TECNO Slim begs to differ.

Most will just say this is a gimmick. Personally, I find this “gimmick” a part of its overall unique aesthetic that makes it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

With its “Mood Light” feature, those Baymax-like rear camera cutout serves as a light alert.

Be that for your upcoming notifications, playing music, or a continuous show-off just so people can see you got a quirky phone with you.

The only thing I wish it could do is to be a ring light for softer light fills when trying to take rear-cam selfies.

But, then again, how can you take Gen-Z selfies without an ultra-wide camera at its back?

Is the TECNO Slim Your BudgetMatch?

You’d be hard pressed to know that the TECNO (SPARK) Slim is only priced at PhP 9,499. If you do the math, that price tag is just below the US$ 200 / EUR 150 / GBP 130 / SG$ 230 mark.

It’s crystal clear that TECNO wanted budget-conscious consumers to have a taste of what smartphones in the future will look like.

It’s an easy Swipe Right if you wanted to taste it without slashing holes in your pockets — literally and figuratively.

The Helio G200 is surprisingly snappy compared to past generations. Moreover, it has a superb display and audio paired with crazily impossible thinness, unparalleled durability, and more than sufficient endurance.

It’s just the matter if you can bear with its compromises: the absence of 5G alongside the lack of ultra-wide shooter at its back.

For some, we can live by it. At the end of the day, that irresistible price mostly goes to admiring TECNO’s engineering masterpiece over rocking the “superior” hardware for an entry-level class device.

While flagships pack all the punch, it’s still an understatement how being able to hold slim and lightweight phones are as heavenly as it looks.

With my flagship daily drivers that are obviously heavier, being able to experience the TECNO Slim is a breath of fresh air.

If you’re a FEARNOT like I am, you may have noticed how 95 percent of my headings revolve around LE SSERAFIM’s songs.

Going on a full circle moment, the group’s very first intro track “The World Is My Oyster” is very comparable to TECNO themselves. They were able to produce this type of smartphone because they believe they have the utmost ability to act upon on that wish.

Together with the brand’s “Stop At Nothing” ethos, it proves that one cannot stop innovating as long as they keep pushing beyond the limits.

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News

realme 15T also releasing on October 8

A 3rd option under the latest realme numbered series

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realme is expanding the realme 15 Series with the launch of the realme 15T 5G on October 8.

The variant joins the realme 15 5G and realme 15 Pro 5G as part of a streamlined number series collection moving forward. realme earlier bared that it would let go of the “Plus” on such smartphones.

The realme 15T will launch on the same day in the Philippines as the realme 15 Pro 5G Game of Thrones Limited Edition.

Like the two other models under the 15 series, the realme 15T 5G comes with a 7000mAh battery. This is paired with 60W SUPERVOOC charging.

The phone is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 6400 Max processor and has the ample RAM and internal storage expected of a device of its price point.

Moreover, the handset features a metallic-textured mid-frame and looks more compact than its two other counterparts.

But besides this, the 15T 5G still maintains a slim profile. The Suit Titanium colorway measures just 7.79mm thin. The Flowing Silver variant, meanwhile, has a 7.89mm thickness.

In front is a 6.57-inch AMOLED flat display with DT Star D+ glass protection. For its cameras, the phone has a 50MP camera each on the rear and in front.

Purchases from October 8 will come with exclusive freebies worth up to PhP 2,898, while supplies last.

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