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iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max bring bold redesign, 8x zoom, and more

Including Apple’s fastest chip yet

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iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple just pulled the wraps off its most advanced iPhones yet: the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both models feature a bold new design, a powerful new A19 Pro chip, and Apple’s biggest-ever leap in battery life.

A new design built for power

The iPhone 17 Pro lineup comes in a brushed aluminum unibody that’s light but strong. It’s crafted with aerospace-grade alloy and built around a vapor chamber for better cooling. That means the A19 Pro chip can push harder for gaming, video editing, and Apple Intelligence, all while staying cool to the touch.

The design also makes room for a larger battery. Apple says the Pro Max offers its longest-lasting battery ever, and both phones can charge to 50% in just 20 minutes with the new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.

A brighter, tougher display

The 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR displays are brighter than ever, hitting 3000 nits outdoors. ProMotion is here, up to 120Hz, with Always-On support. Ceramic Shield 2 now protects both the front and back, offering 3x better scratch resistance and 4x better crack resistance compared to older models.

The most powerful iPhone chip yet

A19 Pro is Apple’s fastest iPhone chip to date. It’s built with a 6-core CPU, a redesigned 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The chip delivers 40% better sustained performance than the last generation, making room for AAA gaming titles with ray tracing and higher frame rates.

Networking also gets a boost with the new N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and more reliable AirDrop and Personal Hotspot connections.

Pro cameras with up to 8x zoom

The new camera system brings three 48MP Fusion lenses: Main, Ultra Wide, and a brand-new Telephoto. Together, they give users the equivalent of eight pro lenses.

The Telephoto camera now supports 4x optical zoom at 100mm and an incredible 8x optical zoom at 200mm — the longest ever on iPhone. The improved Photonic Engine enhances color accuracy, low-light shots, and detail. Digital zoom also goes up to 40x.

Up front, the new 18MP Center Stage camera automatically adjusts the frame to fit everyone in selfies, shoots ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video, and even allows simultaneous Dual Capture with the rear cameras.

Pro video features for creators

For filmmakers, iPhone 17 Pro is the first smartphone to support ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock. That means smoother workflows, pro-level synchronization across cameras, and more flexibility when editing.

iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence

Out of the box, the new Pros run iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence baked in. Live Translation works across Messages, FaceTime, and calls. Visual intelligence lets you search and act on anything you capture in a screenshot. Plus, apps across music, maps, and even gaming get meaningful upgrades.

Price and availability

The iPhone 17 Pro lineup comes in deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver. Storage starts at 256GB, going all the way up to 2TB on the Pro Max.

Pricing starts at $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 for iPhone 17 Pro Max. Pre-orders open September 12, with availability beginning September 19.

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nubia to launch new Neo 5 series gaming phones on March 28

Head to SM Megamall for activities, guest appearances, surprises

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nubia Philippines will officially launch the nubia Neo 5 series gaming smartphone on March 28 at their “Enter The NEOVerse: Born To Win” event. It will be held at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall in Metro Manila.

The nubia Neo 5 series’ design and details will be unveiled during the event. It is inspired by the REDMAGIC Gaming Lab, which is behind the REDMAGIC’s high-performance gaming ecosystem.

The nubia Neo 5 series will introduce a bold gaming-centric aesthetic, paired with performance-driven specs.

Customers can expect a sleek, futuristic styling, as well as powerful hardware engineered to elevate everyday mobile gameplay.

Across the lineup, users can expect high refresh rate displays, powerful processors, advanced cooling systems, and the familiar gaming triggers from the previous series.

It does look like nubia is adding AI-powered gaming optimization to give players an extra edge for every competitive match.

All these, of course, minus the flagship price tag.

Enter the NEOverse

At nubia’s launch event, the activity area will be transformed into a gaming-inspired universe.

Guests can explore interactive zones, participate in challenges, and experience the nubia Neo 5 series firsthand. They can also unlock exclusive rewards and prizes.

Moreover, the event will feature appearances from nubia ambassadors Sanya Lopez and ONIC Philippines.

From there, there will be 1v1 gaming sessions with ONIC PH players, as well as a special “Play” segment featuring a yet-to-be-revealed cosplayer.

nubia will also offer event-exclusive deals for early shoppers during the launch. Customers can enjoy up to seven premium freebies per nubia Neo 5 model. This is available for the first 100 customers.

Furthermore, nubia will officially announce its TikTok Super Brand Week, as well as partnerships with Yanlala and Geely.

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REDMI Note 15 Series named Presenting Partner for Spartan Race Philippines 2026 season

Titan Toughness takes center stage!

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Being a Spartan athlete for five years has taught me that endurance isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about the mental grit to keep moving when your body begs you to stop.

In this world, “toughness” becomes more than just a marketing buzzword. Now, it’s a requirement for survival. That’s why the partnership between Spartan Race Philippines and the REDMI Note 15 Series feels like a shared philosophy.

Partner for a tough course

Starting March 21, 2026, at Parklinks, Pasig City, the REDMI Note 15 Series officially joins the Spartan circuit.

For someone who has navigated these obstacles for years, I know that technology usually doesn’t belong in the mud. But the “Titan Tough” promise of the REDMI Note 15 is built for this exact routine.

It’s designed to be there for the moments that matter. For capturing the raw, unpolished triumph of the finish line; for surviving the grit of the course so you can focus on the next hurdle; and for finding the device at the heart of the festival area and the winner’s circle, mirroring the resilience of the athletes themselves.

Join the journey

Whether you are a seasoned elite racer or stepping into your first Open heat, this season is about testing your limits.

To help you get to that starting line, you can use the discount code REDMINOTE15 to get 10% OFF on all Spartan Race OCR, Spartan Kids Race, and Hurricane Heat events.

See you at the starting line. AROO!

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Stylish, student-friendly HONOR X8d launches

Price, pre-order offers

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HONOR Philippines has launched its latest mass-market smartphone entry that caters to students and the youthful market in general: the HONOR X8d.

The budget smartphone is priced at PhP 15,999 and is available in Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey colors.

As part of launch offers, those who pre-order until March 27 can get a free accessory and can also avail of 0% installment plans via credit cards and Home Credit.

Customers can get the device through Lazada, Shopee, and HONOR stores.

REVIEW: The HONOR X8d is serviceable

The HONOR X8d is powered by a Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM (plus 8GB expansion) and 256GB of storage.

It has a large 7,000mAh battery which supports 45W charging, making it a very long-lasting daily value companion.

The device features a 6.77-inch 120Hz display which has up to 3,000 nits of brightness, making it useful for practical situations.

The handset comes with usual display certifications and protections, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, E-Book mode, SGS drop resistance, and an IP65 rating.

For its cameras, the X8d has a 108MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter can capture decent quality at 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom ranges.

There are also handy AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale.

Out of the box, the HONOR X8d runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. It also has staple productivity tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.

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