Features
The Credit Card that kept me on top of my spending – even overseas!
Went over budget, but knew right away that I did
I go on these media trips year after year. Some are fully sponsored, others only partially. Yet no matter what the arrangement, I’ve often ended up unsure about how much I actually spent.
I’ve never been the type to meticulously track expenses (not ideal, I know). But during two of my most recent trips, I finally had a better grasp of where my money was going — thanks to the Maya Black Credit Card.
So, what is Maya Black Credit Card?
The Maya Black Credit Card is Maya’s sleek new premium card that ditches the old-school rules around who gets access to credit.
Instead of relying on traditional credit checks, Maya uses your in-app data and AI-powered models to figure out if you’re eligible. You can apply right from the app, get approved fast, and even start using a virtual card instantly.
The physical card? It’s numberless and shows up at your doorstep in a few days — all managed straight from your phone.
What makes it even cooler is how it’s designed so everyone’s invited, even if you’re still building your credit history. If you’re still working on your credit score, you can get Maya Black Express. It has the same perks as Maya Black, but instead of basing your limit on credit history, Maya bases it on the amount you set aside in your Maya account, and that money still earns while it’s there.
And because it’s still a black-tier card, you get the perks — real-time Maya Miles with every purchase, airport lounge access, and global acceptance via Visa.
Basically, Maya’s making credit cards feel a little less intimidating and a lot more accessible.
Maya made me look
The real game-changer for me wasn’t just the card itself — it was the habit I developed around checking the Maya app. Unlike my regular banking app, Maya’s already part of my daily routine. I open it often, whether to pay bills or just check my balance.
So, when I used the Maya Black Credit Card for my primary expenses on a couple of recent overseas work trips, I ended up monitoring my spending without even trying.
It also helped that I went to cities where credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere.
Taipei for Computex
This was my first true test. If I remember correctly, I had just received the Maya Black card before the trip. You could say it was a trial by fire.
First hurdle: topping up my EZ Card — Taiwan’s almost do-it-all reloadable card. I had to use cash for that one thing because I wanted to keep it strictly for public transport. That was the only time I needed physical money. Every other transaction went through Maya Black.
From my onigiri-and-iced coffee breakfasts to Uber rides and even that one dinner I had to cover for the team — everything was on the card.
That level of convenience? Unmatched. And at the end of each day, I could easily pull up the Maya app to see where my money went.
Now, I wish I could say it helped me rein in my spending on this trip. But since I’d already paid for everything out of pocket, I figured — no need to add more pressure on myself.
New York, though, was a different story.
Unpacked in New York City
This one was a bigger challenge: a more expensive city, more places to go, and way more temptations. I already knew I’d go over my target budget — but the difference was, I knew exactly when it happened.
The Maya app didn’t just show me the numbers — it made me more conscious of my habits. I started making smarter choices (well, mostly) because I didn’t want to face a giant wall of red transactions after the trip.
Smarter, in this case, mostly meant cutting unnecessary spending. I limited my Uber rides to when I really needed them. The rest of the time, I just took in the city — walking around and soaking it all in.
For dining, I made sure I got my money’s worth — or just tagged along with the delegation. The tipping culture in New York? Let’s just say it’s not something my third-world salary was fully prepared for. But I digress.
Another underrated feature: Maya sends SMS alerts with every transaction. So, I felt the pang of each swipe in real-time — no need to even open the app sometimes.
Best for travel
Overall, the Maya Black card proved to be a reliable travel partner — helping me “manage” my expenses. And I say “manage” in quotes because it wasn’t about strict budgeting. It was more like tracking my behavior and knowing what to improve next time.
There were three key features that stood out:
Instant updates
It felt like having a live expense tracker in my pocket. No guesswork. Just open the app and see where you’re at — any time of the day.
Currency Conversion Clarity
Foreign currency transactions are automatically shown in pesos, so I didn’t have to guesstimate or pull out a calculator just to see if something was worth it.
Security
The card is numberless, and everything’s managed in-app. If anything happens, I could freeze it instantly with a tap. That gave me peace of mind the whole time.
I’m still not the kind of person who logs every peso in a spreadsheet. But Maya Black made me just aware enough to be a more mindful spender — without turning it into a chore.
That’s a win in my book.
Should you get a Maya Black Credit Card?
If you’re someone who travels for work, doesn’t obsess over budgeting, but wants to be more mindful of spending — Maya Black makes that easy.
It’s not just about perks or design. What really makes it work is how seamlessly it fits into your existing app habits. That’s where it sticks.
This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Maya.
@gadgetmatch A phone that does more… so you can focus more on the moments that matter. The Galaxy S26 Ultra lets Galaxy AI handle the small stuff so you can stay present for the moments that matter. Also great for the occasional KPop concert video. Pre-order until March 17 and get double storage worth up to PhP 14,000. https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s26-ultra/buy/ #GalaxyS26Ultra #EverydaywithGalaxyAI @samsungph ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Here’s the dream: a phone that helps you stay on top of things, so you can focus more on what matters.
That’s basically the idea behind Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Instead of adding more things to do, the phone helps take care of the small stuff for you. Things like reminding you what’s next, or surfacing the information you need right when you need it.
So you spend less time digging through apps and more time actually doing the things you planned to do.
Editing photos is easier too. With Photo Assist, you can just describe the change you want… and Galaxy AI fills in the rest.
And if you’re cleaning up a video, Audio Eraser can reduce background noise — even from clips on third-party apps like Instagram or YouTube.
The point isn’t to make your phone the center of attention. It’s to make it helpful enough that you can forget about it for a while. Until something worth capturing happens.
And when things get a little chaotic — like concerts, street performances, or just life moving fast — Super Steady Video helps keep your shots level.
That’s definitely coming with me to the next K-pop concert.
The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Smarter phone. Slightly less stressed me.
Pre-orders are open now — with double storage for early buyers, plus additional discounts and installment offers from participating banks.
Which is great… because apparently I shoot way too many videos.
For more than a decade, the smartphone industry has been defined by a familiar race. More megapixels. Faster processors. Bigger batteries. Thinner designs. Being first. Being the most. And being the fastest.
The industry rewarded brands that appeared to be chasing specs. Bigger numbers meant progress. At least on paper.
But if you ask Samsung, the days of chasing specs may no longer define the future of Galaxy smartphones.
During a regional roundtable following the launch of the latest Galaxy devices, I asked TM Roh how the company decides when it’s time for a major hardware upgrade if it isn’t simply chasing specs.
His answer revealed how Samsung now approaches the future of its flagship smartphones.
According to Roh, hardware upgrades are increasingly tied to how well they support Galaxy AI.
“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware,” Roh said during the session, speaking through a translator. He added that Samsung develops its hardware, software, and AI capabilities together — and that major upgrades tend to arrive only when the company reaches what he described as the “desired level of excellence.”
(Quotes are approximate translations.)
“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware.”
(Approximate translation from TM Roh during the roundtable)
In short, Samsung says it’s no longer chasing specs for the sake of winning spec-sheet battles. Not anymore.
Samsung CEO TM Roh answering questions at a media roundtable in San Francisco
When hardware stops chasing numbers
Hardware innovation still matters. But Samsung increasingly frames those improvements as tools that enable smarter software experiences.
During the roundtable, Roh pointed to Samsung’s custom application processors, which now include stronger neural processing capabilities designed to handle AI workloads more efficiently. Dedicated hardware is also being introduced to strengthen privacy and security — including technologies embedded directly into the display. (See: Privacy Display)
Even cameras, historically one of the biggest battlegrounds for smartphone innovation, are evolving in the same direction.
Roh noted that while sensors and lenses remain important, modern smartphone photography now relies heavily on AI-powered image processing working alongside the hardware. This could also explain why, as of writing, Samsung has resisted the extra telephoto lens accessories that is prevalent with other brands.
The shift is subtle but important. Instead of emphasizing bigger numbers on spec sheets, Samsung positions hardware upgrades as part of a broader system designed to support intelligent software.
Why Samsung gets dunked on online
That philosophy, however, exists in tension with how smartphones are often discussed online.
In a landscape driven by benchmark charts and viral comparisons, incremental refinement rarely generates the same excitement as dramatic hardware leaps. Over the past few years, the Galaxy S series has occasionally become an easy target for criticism — especially as rival Android manufacturers compete to deliver the biggest numbers, the fastest charging speeds, or the thinnest designs.
The temptation in tech media, particularly on platforms like YouTube, is often to dunk on Samsung rather than examine the nuance behind its approach. Spectacular upgrades and dramatic spec sheets make better thumbnails.
Yet listening to Samsung executives across multiple briefings reveals something interesting: the messaging is remarkably consistent. Whether discussing cameras, processors, or ecosystem features, the company repeatedly returns to the same principle. Hardware innovation matters most when it unlocks a better overall experience.
A company that knows its role
That consistency suggests Samsung knows exactly who it is in the smartphone industry.
As the largest Android smartphone manufacturer globally, Samsung occupies a position where competitors often measure themselves against it. Many brands differentiate by pushing aggressive specifications or experimenting with bold hardware changes.
In many ways, everyone else is punching up.
Scale changes priorities. When you’re building devices for hundreds of millions of users, the focus shifts toward reliability, ecosystem integration, and increasingly, AI-powered experiences that work consistently across products.
Why Southeast Asia matters in Samsung’s AI strategy
During the roundtable, Roh also emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia and Oceania to Samsung’s AI strategy.
According to the company’s internal research, the region ranks among the most receptive markets for AI-powered mobile features. Younger demographics and heavy social media usage are driving adoption.
In markets where smartphones are central to communication, content creation, and digital services, AI-powered tools — from translation features to image editing — have found strong traction.
That context helps explain why Samsung continues to position AI as the defining layer of its next-generation devices.
Is the smartphone spec race ending?
For years, smartphone makers built their identities around chasing specs.
Bigger numbers meant better phones. Faster chips meant progress.
Samsung, it seems, is chasing something else.
Whether that bet ultimately reshapes the smartphone experience remains to be seen. But if Roh’s comments are any indication, the next major leap in Galaxy hardware won’t happen simply because the numbers can go higher.
It will happen when Samsung believes the experience — not the spec sheet — is ready to move forward.
The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G made its way to the Philippines last month, and reception has been pretty great so far.
With a powerful camera package, AI, and a slew of upgrades, there’s a lot to love and not much negative to say. But that’s with both the standard and Pro models.
On the other hand, with the Reno15 F 5G — the series’ supposed budget-friendly “lite” variant —there were more question marks than exclamation points.
I attack this piece once more from a consumer standpoint: shelling out PhP 23,000 to PhP 26,000 for a midrange smartphone that feels and performs like it’s a few notches below its segment doesn’t sound too pleasant.
Performance
With a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, the OPPO Reno15 F performs pretty much like any sub PhP 20,000 mid-ranger. It’s acceptable, but does not punch above its weight as expected.
No major hiccups for light and casual usage. But performance struggles a lot for demanding video games.
It also heats up significantly just 10 minutes into a title like Honkai: Star Rail. This is a stark contrast to the marketed 25℃ and up to 10 hours straight of smooth gameplay.
Although, the experience was still enjoyable with several wins and MVP runs in Call of Duty Mobile. It only means the F variant remains a more camera-centric phone rather than an a hard-hitting all-arounder.
As with other devices, the 7000mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC is a strong suit. You’re fueled from dawn ’til dusk, with much to spare. Recharging takes a breeze, too.
Display
The OPPO Reno15 F has a 6.57-inch 120Hz display, with a 92.8% screen-to-body ratio. At least, that allows you to focus on content on the screen.
Content leans more towards the cooler tone, so you’ll have to adjust it manually if you want a warmer or more vivid look.
The 397ppi pixel density is fine to ensure sharper visuals, while the 1400 nits peak brightness is helpful outdoors.
Camera
The device’s 50MP main camera captures decent quality. The color science leans on being natural anew, without being too dull nor washed out. You can pull off smooth portraits too.
I hardly used the phone for stills as I focused on videos, but here are some samples, on the occasions I was able to take the handset with me:
The 50MP front camera is an intriguing add-on, as it is capable of up to 4K video and a wide 100° field of view.
What this does is it essentially removes the need to flip your phone for the popular “0.5” shots. And the quality doesn’t get compromised given the pixel count.
Here are some selfies from different focal lengths:
To its credit, filming with the back camera at 60fps does look and feel smooth, although it can be improved.
Same with the front camera; and the zoom range can be switched from 0.6 to 2x without cutting the recording.
Although, it’s still best to use a selfie stick or small tripod if you’re just after talking head videos.
Speaking of which, here are a few I’ve made with just this device:
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But for travel and on-the-go captures, as OPPO markets for the series in general, even the Reno15 F can cover a lot of background along with your or your groups’ faces.
Make no mistake, there are some useful AI editing features here. In particular, AI Portrait Glow gives your raw capture an effect to make it look it was taken with flash.
I do not recall the device heating up as well when taking many photos or videos, so you can say it’s more optimized for that task rather than gaming.
Connectivity issues
Meanwhile, AI LinkBoost 3.0, as in the case of the OPPO A6 Pro, doesn’t seem to punch above its weight either.
Once, I also played Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and the session opened to a jittery start despite being on Wi-Fi and having a stable connection. I don’t know what triggered this.
Design, feel
We got the Aurora Blue variant which does kind of resemble the northern lights when you tilt the phone a certain way and when light hits its back panel.
The cursive “Reno” on the large, protruding camera island gives it more style.
However, it’s all just aesthetics. On the downside, the phone is all sorts of slippery.
I couldn’t hold it properly without think of it slipping away from my hands; nor could I put it on my lap with confidence.
So I guess it’s good that it has structural integrity and waterproofing, because you’ll need that.
oplus_16
The 6.57-inch body does have a good balance between being too compact and too large, like ultras and pro maxes.
It has a squarish body and has already adapted to the premium, aluminum frame look from the sides.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
Sadly, the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is a Swipe Left unlike its bigger, more capable siblings. There are plenty of plus points for the camera package but take that away, and I don’t see much difference between the Reno15 F and something like the A6 Pro.
Granted, the asking price of this phone will drop significantly in a few months. But throw in a little more, and you’ve got a legitimate mid-ranger that’s more on the premium side rather than the cheap end of the spectrum.
Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts
Google Maps is finally getting a 3D mode
KPop Demon Hunters is officially getting a sequel
Bringing Care-a-Lot to my daily carry
Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
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