News

AI-powered HONOR Magic8 Series launches in China

YOYO Agent, next-gen AI imaging, record-setting performance

Published

October 15, 2025

Rodneil Quiteles

HONOR has officially launched the HONOR Magic8 Series in China. Dubbed the brand’s first Self-Evolving AI Smartphone, the new flagship line introduces next-generation YOYO Agent intelligence, breakthrough AI imaging, and industry-leading performance.

Leading the lineup is the HONOR Magic8 Pro, engineered to redefine the flagship smartphone experience for the AI era.

Smarter living with YOYO Agent

The HONOR Magic8 Series centers around three pillars: hardware performance, system interaction, and ecosystem integration. Its all-new YOYO Agent now supports automatic execution in over 3,000 real-world scenarios.

It can handle simple tasks like “find all my screenshots and delete the blurry ones” or more complex ones like “summarize this week’s expenses and email them to my manager.” The AI agent activates when needed, completing multi-step actions automatically to save users time and effort.

HONOR adds a dedicated AI Button for instant access to YOYO. Long-pressing launches YOYO Video Call, which provides information about anything it sees. Double-clicking opens the camera for quick shots. The button can also be customized for one-touch access to favorite functions.

YOYO Memories builds a personal knowledge base while keeping privacy intact. It uses deep semantic understanding to analyze photos, chat records, and documents—helping users recall key details without exposing personal data.

Redefining AI-powered photography

HONOR raises the bar for mobile imaging with the new AiMAGE Camera System. The HONOR Magic8 Pro leads the way with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto Camera featuring a 1/1.4-inch sensor and wide f/2.6 aperture. This allows clearer, brighter photos even at long distances.

HONOR’s AI anti-shake tech makes users seven times more likely to capture sharp zoomed images, even without a tripod. The AI Adaptive Stabilization Model reaches CIPA 5.5-level stability, improving shake detection and response accuracy.

The series also debuts Magic Color, the first AI-powered color engine in the industry. It uses deep learning to extract 16.77 million colors, enabling cinematic color accuracy in real time. With device-cloud collaboration, users can recreate film tones or build their own templates directly in the camera or through Magic Portal.

AI-tuned performance and endurance

The HONOR Magic8 Series runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform. It introduces GPU-NPU Heterogeneous AI super-resolution and frame-generation technology that boosts gameplay from 60fps at 850p to 120fps at 1080p.

The Magic8 Pro carries a 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery supported by three HONOR E2 power management chips. These chips use AI to optimize power, heat control, and long-term battery health. With 120W wired and 80W wireless HONOR SuperCharge, the device delivers fast, all-day performance.

Refined experience with MagicOS 10

HONOR’s MagicOS 10 powers the Magic8 Series with cross-platform support for Android, HarmonyOS, iOS, and Windows. This enables seamless file sharing, task syncing, and device continuity.

MagicOS 10 introduces a translucent visual design across the interface. It dynamically adjusts lighting and color tones for readability and allows users to customize transparency to their liking.

The phones also meet SGS-certified durability standards, offering 10x drop resistance and IP68/69/69K protection. The design ensures resilience in daily use while maintaining a premium look and feel.

Color, pricing, and what’s next

The HONOR Magic8 Series comes in Sunrise Gold, Sky Cyan, Black, and Glacier White. Pre-orders in China begin in October 2025, with the HONOR Magic8 starting from RMB 4,499 and the Magic8 Pro from RMB 5,699..

The company will announce international availability later this year.

HONOR Robot Phone

HONOR capped the launch with a teaser of the HONOR ROBOT PHONE — an all-new device that merges AI intelligence, robotics, and advanced imaging. Part of the HONOR ALPHA PLAN, this new form factor represents the company’s next step toward leading the global AI device ecosystem.

News

Power Mac Center SM Aura is now an Apple Premium Partner store

With a new protection plan dubbed as “1Protect” for your precious new iPhones

Published

September 23, 2026

Vincenz

Photos and graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Power Mac Center has upgraded its SM Aura branch into an Apple Premium Partner (APP) store. The “APP” designation is the highest tier for reseller stores worldwide.

Originally opened in 2014, the redesigned store now houses its retail space, training center, and a service center in one.

The new space also puts more emphasis on learning. Free group demos will be held every Friday to Sunday. These will cover topics such as iPad creativity, or camera features, personalization, and Continuity for the latest iPhone series.

To celebrate the opening, customers can also score discounts on select Apple devices and accessories until September 27, 2026.

Deals include up to:

₱PhP 36,000 off MacBook Pros
PhP 19,500 off iPads
PhP 3000 off Apple Watches; and
PhP 11,000 off iPhone models

There are also service discounts until September 25. Plus, new iPhones purchases here are also covered with 1Protect coverage options.

ICYMI, it’s a partnership between PMC and Bolttech. It’s basically a new way to protect your precious new iPhones.

Your regular one-year warranty does not cover accidental drops and water damage. Purchasing this new coverage plan (good for one year) gives you an unlimited dose of that.

Parts are guaranteed original and is an official part of AppleCare Services.

This protection program also covers one-time unwarranted exchanges (or change of mind returns) from micro scratches to color options. It will even replace your iPhone (of the same model and configuration) if it was stolen once.

There’s also the 1 Infinite loyalty program. Members can earn points from purchases and redeem them for devices, accessories, services, and training.

The Power Mac Center SM Aura APP store is located on Level 2 and is open daily from 10AM to 10PM.

News

MediaTek launches the Dimensity 9600 Pro

Smartphones are scheduled to launch later this year.

Published

September 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The stage is set for next year’s smartphones. Both MediaTek and Qualcomm have unleased their upcoming flagship chipsets for the coming generation. If you’re looking for the Qualcomm side of things, go here. But if you’re looking for MediaTek, then you’re in the right place.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro adopts the 2nm process mode, which makes MediaTek one of the first companies to use it. The chip itself features a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU. Specifically, it has two C2-Ultra cores going up to 4.55GHz, three C2-Pro cores going up to 4.35GHz, and three C2-Pro ones going up to 3.1GHz. This configuration can reportedly achieve 17 percent better single-core performance and 15 percent higher multi-core performance.

Besides all that power inherently built in, the chipset also has the G2-Ultra NX GPU. This GPU can deliver 27 percent higher peak performance, 24 percent lower power consumption, 18 percent faster raytracing, and gaming at up to 185 frames per second.

Finally, the chipset has the Imagiq 1290 ISP. With this engine, the processor can handle 60fps motion capture and 4K240 direct-output ultra-slow-motion video.

Alongside the Dimensity 9600 Pro, MediaTek is also launching the Dimensity 9600M, a slightly more lightweight option of the Pro that deliver flagship level performance to more users outside of that price point.

Smartphones that will come with the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M will launch sometime in the fourth quarter.

News

Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series

This time, there are two models.

Published

September 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The end of the year always heralds the next step of processors for next year’s smartphones. Besides the oodles of phone rumors we’ll have before the year ends, these new processors give us a powerful hint of what the new machinery can do. Today, Qualcomm has unveiled that next generation, announcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.

Yes, this time, the Snapdragon flagship chipset will come in two flavors. Let’s start with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

The “base” model of the duo has an octa-core Oryon CPU with two prime cores going up to 5GHz. It also has an Adreno GPU that touts 35 percent faster performance compared to the previous generation. Additionally, the chipset has a 16MB Flex Cache which can supposedly leverage the cache better to deliver better single-threaded performance.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will also have a new Spectra ISP. The engine can support single image capturing at 320 megapixels, or 64 megapixels with a triple rear camera combo. It also supports 8K video capturing at 30fps. Further, Intelligent Pixel Control features better contextualization skills so the camera can more accurately detect what you’re taking a photo or video of.

Finally, the X105 5G modem offers the usual array of 5G connectivity options but also goes up to supporting Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 8.

Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 offers much of the same as the duo’s regular model. However, it features 18MB of high performance memory, video recording that goes up to 60fps at 8K resolution, and new Matrix Cores that boost frame generation for gaming.

As expected, both models will appear in new smartphones from later this year to next year.