News

Samsung Galaxy A57, A37 bring Galaxy AI closer to more users

Galaxy AI meets midrange

Published

March 25, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Samsung is expanding its AI push beyond flagships with the launch of the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 — two devices positioned as accessible entry points into the broader Galaxy ecosystem.

These new Galaxy A Series smartphones don’t just refresh specs. They carry over a growing part of what Samsung now considers core to the Galaxy experience: AI-powered tools, long-term software support, and tighter ecosystem integration.

For users who aren’t quite ready to commit to a flagship Galaxy S device, this is Samsung making its case: you can start here.

A softer entry into Galaxy AI

The headline feature here is what Samsung calls “Awesome Intelligence,” its midrange-friendly take on Galaxy AI.

Running on One UI 8.5, both devices bring features that feel familiar if you’ve seen Samsung’s recent flagships — just scaled for a wider audience.

There’s Voice Transcription baked into the Voice Recorder, letting you convert recordings into text. AI Select surfaces contextual actions directly from the screen, making it easier to grab text, images, or snippets without jumping between apps. And yes, Circle to Search with Google is here too, now with multi-object recognition.

Even Samsung’s voice assistant gets a boost. Bixby becomes more conversational, while Google’s Gemini is integrated to handle more complex, cross-app tasks.

It’s not the full flagship AI suite, but it’s enough to give you a taste of how Samsung sees everyday interactions evolving.

And that’s really the pitch: not everything, but enough to get you started.

Cameras that lean on AI, not just megapixels

Both phones pack a familiar but reliable triple-camera setup, anchored by a 50MP main sensor.

On paper, it’s straightforward. In practice, Samsung is leaning heavily on AI to elevate the experience.

Object Eraser now produces more natural edits. Best Face (on the Galaxy A57 5G) helps salvage group shots. And scene optimization works in the background to balance exposure, skin tones, and detail.

Low-light photography also gets a boost with improved Nightography, aiming for clearer shots without needing manual tweaks.

The Galaxy A57 pulls slightly ahead here, with better image processing, faster shutter speeds, and more refined detail handling — the kind of upgrades you’ll notice when shooting moving subjects or tricky lighting conditions.

For most users, though, both cameras aim to do the same thing: remove friction. Point, shoot, fix — all within seconds.

Built for everyday use (and long-term ownership)

Where the Galaxy A Series continues to shine is in longevity.

Both the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G promise up to six generations of Android and One UI updates, plus six years of security patches — a commitment that used to be reserved for premium devices.

That’s paired with practical hardware choices:

6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED displays with up to 120Hz refresh rate
5,000mAh battery on both models
IP68 water and dust resistance
Samsung Knox security with features like Private Album and Privacy Alerts

The Galaxy A57 5G adds a bit more headroom for performance, with upgraded CPU, GPU, and NPU, along with a larger vapor chamber to keep things stable during longer sessions. That’s true whether it’s for gaming, recording, or just heavy multitasking.

It’s also slimmer and lighter, with a more refined finish that pushes the Galaxy A Series closer to flagship territory, at least in-hand.

The ecosystem play

More than anything, the Galaxy A57 and Galaxy A37 feel like onboarding devices.

They’re not trying to outshine the Galaxy S lineup. Instead, they introduce you to how Samsung wants everything to work together — from AI tools to SmartThings to cross-device workflows.

It’s the kind of phone you get when you’re curious about Galaxy, but not fully committed yet.

You get a preview of the experience. The AI tools. The software longevity. The ecosystem hooks.

And if it clicks, Samsung is betting you’ll eventually move deeper into its lineup.

Pricing and availability

Philippine pricing and availability

The Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G are now available in Samsung Authorized Stores nationwide.

For pricing, the Galaxy A57 5G comes in three configurations:

128GB – PhP28,990
256GB – PhP30,990
512GB – PhP37,990

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A37 5G is available in:

128GB – PhP25,990
256GB – PhP27,990

Color options vary per model. The Galaxy A57 5G is offered in Awesome Navy, Awesome Gray, Awesome Icyblue, and Awesome Lilac. The Galaxy A37 5G, on the other hand, comes in Awesome Lavender, Awesome Charcoal, Awesome Graygreen, and Awesome White.

For added peace of mind, Samsung Care+ is also available, offering coverage options designed to help protect the device’s value over time.

In the US, the Galaxy A57 5G starts at $549.99, while the Galaxy A37 5G starts at $449.99.

Context matters here.

In the US, these price points sit firmly in the midrange — not quite “entry-level,” but still more accessible than flagship devices that typically start at $799 and above. They’re often positioned as practical upgrades for users coming from older devices or prepaid/carrier plans.

But when directly converted to Philippine pesos, that’s roughly around PhP30,000+ and PhP25,000+, respectively — a range that already overlaps with aggressively priced upper midrange and even some near-flagship alternatives locally.

For comparison, what many would consider a true “entry point” in the Philippines usually starts closer to PhP12,000 to PhP15,000 ($200–$250).

Which makes the positioning interesting.

These may be “entry points” into the Galaxy ecosystem — but not necessarily entry-level in terms of price, especially in markets like the Philippines. That’s a distinction that matters.

Early take

On paper, the Galaxy A57 5G and Galaxy A37 5G check a lot of boxes: modern design, capable cameras, meaningful AI features, and long-term support.

As much as these feel like “entry points,” they’re also creeping closer to premium territory. And that balance will ultimately decide how compelling they really are.

Gaming

Razer Blade 16 (2026) packs more cores, faster memory

Razer’s thinnest gaming laptop yet

Published

March 26, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Razer has officially unveiled the 2026 version of its Blade 16, doubling down on what it does best: squeezing high-end performance into an ultra-slim chassis.

This year’s refresh focuses on meaningful internal upgrades. That includes a new Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, faster LPDDR5X memory, and NVIDIA’s latest RTX 50 Series laptop GPUs — all while keeping the Blade 16 as the thinnest gaming laptop in Razer’s lineup.

Performance gets a serious bump

At the core of the new Blade 16 is the Intel Core Ultra 9 386H, featuring 16 cores and up to 4.9GHz boost clock. Razer claims a 33% increase in core count versus the previous generation, translating to stronger performance across gaming, content creation, and AI workloads.

There’s also an integrated NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS, enabling faster on-device AI tasks like image generation and live translation.

Memory gets a notable upgrade too. The Blade 16 now supports up to 64GB of LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM, which Razer positions as the fastest available in a laptop today. The result: quicker responsiveness for heavy multitasking, creative apps, and AI-assisted workflows.

On the graphics side, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 50 Series (Blackwell architecture) brings DLSS 4 and enhanced AI capabilities for both gaming and creator use cases.

Display and design stay premium

Razer isn’t fixing what isn’t broken. The Blade 16 retains its signature CNC-milled aluminum chassis, measuring just 14.9mm thick and weighing around 2.14kg.

The display remains a highlight. You get a 16-inch QHD+ OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, now brighter and certified for VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 1000. It supports full DCI-P3 coverage, Calman calibration, and NVIDIA G-SYNC, making it just as suited for creators as it is for competitive gaming.

Battery life and efficiency improve

Despite the performance gains, Razer is also pushing efficiency. Thanks to Intel’s newer architecture and system-level optimizations, the Blade 16 can hit up to 13 hours of productivity use and up to 15 hours of video playback under ideal conditions.

That’s a notable improvement for a machine in this class, especially given its slim form factor.

Connectivity and audio step up

The 2026 Blade 16 gets a future-ready connectivity suite, including Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6.0. There’s also a full set of ports, from USB-A to HDMI 2.1 and an SD card reader.

Audio gets an upgrade too. The six-speaker system now supports THX Spatial Audio+ with virtual 7.1.4 surround, aiming to deliver more immersive sound both on speakers and headphones.

Price and availability

The Razer Blade 16 configured with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB VRAM) and 32GB LPDDR5X-9600MHz RAM is priced at US$3,499.99 / €3,599.99 MSRP.

It is available now, exclusively via Razer.com and select RazerStores worldwide.

Still the Blade, just sharper

At a glance, the 2026 Blade 16 doesn’t reinvent the formula. But under the hood, it pushes performance, memory speed, and efficiency forward in ways that matter.

It’s still the same idea: a no-compromise gaming laptop that looks like it belongs in a minimalist workspace — just faster, smarter, and a bit more future-proof this time around.

Entertainment

Forgotten Island is an upcoming film based on Filipino culture

The film features the talents of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, and Lea Salonga.

Published

March 26, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Despite all the Filipino actors in Hollywood today, it’s still difficult to feel scene in an industry where Filipino stories aren’t as abundant. Now, it’s time for the Philippines to shine. DreamWorks Animation has just released the first trailer for Forgotten Island, an upcoming animated film based on Filipino culture.

Played by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano, Jo and Raissa are childhood best friends about to go their separate ways after one decides to study abroad. However, during their last night together, they discover a magical portal that takes them to Nakali, the Forgotten Island.

The island calls itself home to an army of creatures from Philippine mythology including The Dreaded Manananggal (voiced by Lea Salonga). Dave Franco also plays a weredog named Raww.

Besides the presence of all these monsters, the island has an even more dangerous quirk. The longer that Jo and Raissa stay on Nakali, the more of their memories are erased until they eventually forget each other. It then becomes a race to find their way home before they lose memories of their friendship forever.

Supporting the main cast, the film will feature the voice talents of Manny Jacinto, Jenny Slate, Jo Koy, Dolly de Leon, Amielyn Abellera, and Ronny Chieng. It will be made by Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, the prolific team behind the critically acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Forgotten Island premieres in Philippine cinemas on September 23.

Laptops

ASUS launches Zenbook DUO and S14 in the Philippines

Plus, the ZenBook A16 is coming soon.

Published

March 25, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

At CES 2026, ASUS unveiled an exciting lineup of notebooks headed for launch throughout the year. Earlier this month, the brand finally launched the latest Zenbooks built for maximum portability. Now, ASUS has released the new Zenbook S16 and S14, plus the new Zenbook DUO, in the Philippines.

Zenbook S16, S14

Much like its predecessor, the latest Zenbook S16 is designed for ultra portability. In terms of thinness, the notebook measures only 1.1 centimeters. Plus, it weighs only 1.5 kilograms, making it a perfect addition to your daily kit. The Zenbook S14, on the other hand, weighs only 1.1 kilograms.

As is always expected from the Zenbook S lineup, both laptops will have a tactile Ceraluminum lid, bolstered by an EasyLift hinge for ease of use. It will also have an ErgoSense keyboard with dished keycaps.

The 16- and 14-inch 3K ASUS Lumina OLED screen has touchscreen capabilities and a refresh rate of 120Hz. For audio, the S16 has a six-speaker Dolby Atmos system, including four front-firing tweeters and dual woofers. The S14 has four speakers.

Under the hood, the Zenbook S16 will sport an AMD Ryzen AI 9 465 chipset, while the Zenbook S14 has an Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 processor.

For battery, the S16 will have an 83 Wh battery, which can reportedly last over 21 hours, and the S14 has a 77 Wh battery.

Zenbook DUO

If portability isn’t your main focus, the new Zenbook DUO packs in two screens in one device. Though it packs a bit more punch the Zenbook S series, the dual-screen notebook still weighs only 1.65 kilograms.

The Zenbook DUO features the newest Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 processor, up to 32GB of memory, and up to 1TB of internal storage. This time, both screens have anti-reflective coating for a better viewing experience.

As with the previous generations of the DUO, this iteration comes with a detachable keyboard and a four different use cases including dual screen, laptop, desktop, and sharing modes.

Powering the beast is a huge 99Wh battery. ASUS says that this is the most they can pack inside without getting users in trouble at the airport.

Zenbook 14

To be clear, this is different from the Zenbook S14, but it bears a striking resemblance to that previous notebook, both in terms of design and hardware. For one, the new Zenbook 14 is 14.9mm thin and only 1.2kg light.

The 14-inch screen carries a WUXGA ASUS Lumina OLED display, putting out images in a 16:10 aspect ratio. The notebook also has an Ergosense keyboard and touchpad for more comfortable typing and more precise controls.

Under the hood, the Zenbook 14 trades the S14’s Intel chip for an AMD Ryzen AI 7 445 processor, capable of up to 50 TOPS. It will also have 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

For battery, the notebook will have a 75 Wh battery, reportedly capable of lasting over 15 hours of unplugged use.

Zenbook A16

Embodying the spirit of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” the brand is also introducing a modest upgrade to the Zenbook A series.

The new Zenbook A16 is only 1.2 kilograms in weight. Plus, with a 70Wh battery, the notebook can remain unplugged and outside for an entire day. The A16 comes with a 16-inch 3K 120Hz OLED screen and the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.

Price, availability in the Philippines

The Zenbook S16 comes in Scandinavian White and starts at PhP 134,995. Meanwhile, the Zenbook S14 comes in Antrim Gray and sells for PhP 129,995.

The Zenbook DUO comes in Moher Gray and starts at PhP 179,995.

Meanwhile, the Zenbook 14 comes in Jade Black and sells for PhP 79,995.

Finally, the Zenbook A16 is coming soon.