Philippines

Smart Holideals: Cebuano Breadwinner scores brand new ride

Via Smart Holideals

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Jimboy Nuiñez, a 29-year-old from Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, just wanted a new phone when he signed up for Smart’s Holideals back in December. Little did he know, the universe (and Smart!) had something way bigger in store for him.

Can you even imagine the shock? Out of literally millions who joined the promo, this dude ended up bagging the grandest of grand prizes: a shiny, brand-spanking-new Toyota Land Cruiser ZX! Talk about an upgrade!

“I actually joined the promo right after grabbing a new Smart eSIM. Honestly, the grand prize being a car totally flew over my head,” Jimboy confessed. He’s been a loyal Smart user since way back in 2017, so clearly good things come to those who stick around!

“When I got the call telling me I won, my first thought was, ‘Seriously? Is this some kind of joke?’ It took a hot minute for it all to sink in, and man, am I glad I picked up that call!” he added, probably still pinching himself.

For Jimboy, being the eldest of five and the one who takes care of the family, this isn’t just a new car – it’s a total game-changer.

“I’m just beyond grateful to Smart,” he said. “I’m so stoked for all the adventures my family and I are going to have with this car!”

There’s more goodness for Smart Fam!

Jimboy wasn’t the only lucky one. Thousands of other Smart subscribers also snagged some sweet prizes in this promo. It was Smart’s big way of saying “thanks” and giving back some awesome experiences.

From November to January, lucky folks were getting daily data freebies and winning weekly raffle prizes like the drool-worthy iPhone 15 Pro Max, the sleek Samsung Galaxy S24, and the budget-friendly ZTE Blade A75 5G. Plus, there were vouchers for Viu and Foodpanda for some extra entertainment and yummy eats!

“Here at Smart, we’re all about more than just a solid network. We’re serious about giving back to our loyal users with rewards and experiences that actually matter. This promo? It’s all about putting our customers first,” said Alexis B. Winters, the big boss of Smart Customer Development Group VisMin.

Smart’s commitment to making subscribers happy is part of the whole PLDT Group’s mission to empower Filipinos with the best mobile network and service, helping everyone live their best lives.

Want in on the next awesome thing from Smart? Make sure to grab the Smart App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and hit that follow button on Smart’s official Facebook, X, and Instagram. You won’t want to miss out

Accessories

Sony brings 1000X THE COLLEXION to the Philippines

Premium sound arrives

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Sony Philippines has officially introduced 1000X THE COLLEXION to the local market. This marks the Philippine debut of its newest flagship headphones.

The premium headphones build on a decade of Sony’s 1000X lineup. It’s a combination of refined design and advanced audio technologies. They feature a bespoke driver unit, Edge-AI powered DSEE Ultimate, 360 Reality Audio Upmix, and Sony’s signature noise cancellation technology.

Sony also focused on comfort. The headphones are equipped with premium metal accents, refined faux leather developed over two years, and an ergonomic design for extended listening sessions. They come in Black and White finishes.

Price and availability

The 1000X THE COLLEXION is now available in the Philippines for PhP 36,999. They are in Sony Centres and authorized Sony dealers nationwide.

Philippine debut celebrates a decade of 1000X

Sony introduced the headphones through an immersive showcase that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the 1000X series, which began with the MDR-1000X in 2016.

The event featured a ballet-inspired product reveal before Sony Philippines President and Managing Director Shuhei Sugihara and Marketing Director Kentaro Imamura welcomed guests and shared the vision behind the company’s latest flagship headphones.

A live performance by A-Team and a fashion showcase styled by Gian Romano highlighted the headphones’ premium design.

The program also featured Talk That Talk. It’s a panel discussion moderated by Rammy Bitong with fashion designer Rajo Laurel, entrepreneur Mika Lagdameo, creative director Daryl Chang, and AGC Power Holdings Corp. Chairman and CEO Archie Carrasco. The discussion explored how sound influences creativity, productivity, entrepreneurship, and self-expression.

Guests also experienced interactive installations. This includes the Tech Showcase Lounge, which highlighted the engineering behind the headphones, and the Soundcapes booth, where synchronized music and visuals demonstrated the headphones’ audio capabilities.

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Automotive

GAC Philippines extends AION UT introductory discount to July 31

Now starts at PhP 998,000!

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GAC Philippines has extended the introductory discount on the AION UT.

The AION UT Elite now starts at PhP 998,000, down from its SRP of PhP 1,068,000, thanks to a PhP 50,000 discount that was set to expire but is now extended until July 31, 2026.

Buyers among the first 400 units sold also get an extra PhP 20,000 off, bringing total potential savings to PhP 70,000.

The AION UT Elite comes in five color options: Champs-Elysees Beige, Emerald Green, Rococo White, Seine Silver, and a two-tone Rococo White and Emerald Green combination, all paired with a black interior and ceiling.

Every unit includes an 8-year or 160,000-km warranty, an 8-year or 200,000-km warranty on the core three-electric system, and two years of free roadside assistance.

Reservations are open at GAC dealerships. The brand backs the offer with its “zero-anxiety” ownership program. This includes a dedicated parts warehouse and aftersales support.

With the deadline pushed back, GAC is betting that a little more time will convert interest into sales before the discount window finally closes.

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Laptops

ASUS launches the ExpertBook Ultra

Flagship AI business laptop

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ASUS Experbook Ultra

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available in the Philippines. It is ASUS’ latest AI-powered business laptop for professionals who want a lightweight machine without sacrificing performance.

Positioned as the flagship of the ASUS ExpertBook lineup, it combines a sub-1kg chassis with Intel Core Ultra processors, enterprise-grade security, and AI features. ASUS is targeting executives, business users, and creators with the new laptop.

Built for portability and performance

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra weighs as little as 0.99kg. It measures just 10.9mm thick. The laptop uses an aerospace-grade magnesium-aluminum chassis with ASUS Nano Ceramic Technology. ASUS says the finish delivers five times greater scratch resistance than the industry standard.

Despite its slim profile, the laptop packs a 70Wh battery. ASUS rates it for up to 26 hours of battery life.

Power comes from Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. The lineup is topped by the Intel Core Ultra X9-388H. Buyers can configure the laptop with up to 64GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 9600 MT/s and up to a 2TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD.

ASUS also highlights its ExpertCool Pro thermal system. It allows the processor to sustain up to 50W of CPU performance while keeping fan noise low.

Tandem OLED display and premium hardware

The ExpertBook Ultra features a 14-inch 3K Tandem OLED touchscreen. It offers a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,400 nits of HDR brightness. Corning Gorilla Glass Matte helps reduce reflections while preserving image quality.

Other hardware highlights include:

  • 1.5mm travel spill-resistant keyboard
  • Edge-to-edge haptic touchpad
  • Six-speaker Dolby Atmos audio system
  • Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • Two USB-A ports
  • HDMI 2.1
  • 3.5mm audio jack

AI and enterprise security

As a Copilot+ PC, the ASUS ExpertBook Ultra includes AI-powered tools through the MyExpert suite. These include AI ExpertMeet and a local Knowledge Hub.

The laptop also focuses on enterprise security. Features include dual biometric authentication, a physical webcam shutter, self-healing BIOS, TPM 2.0, Microsoft Pluton, and compliance with the NIST SP 800-193 firmware security standard.

Price and availability

The ASUS ExpertBook Ultra is now available through ASUS authorized stores and select retailers nationwide.

Pricing starts at PhP 129,995. Higher-end configurations go up to PhP 215,995.

ASUS is also offering an Early Bird Bundle until July 31, 2026. Eligible purchases include an ASUS 100W GaN charger and PhP 10,000 worth of SSI gift vouchers.

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