News

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium suddenly arrives with series-first dual cameras

A pleasant surprise!

Published

April 16, 2018

Marvin Velasco

It was only a couple of months ago during Mobile World Congress 2018 when Sony’s newest flagship Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact pair were unveiled. And while they’re finally rolling out to select markets this month, an even newer flagship has been quietly launched: the Xperia XZ2 Premium.

If the mention of “Premium” gives you the idea of a 4K HDR screen like on previous high-end Xperia handsets, that certainly applies here. The XZ2 Premium comes with a 5.8-inch 4K display that supports high dynamic range. Surprisingly, it’s of the traditional 16:9 screen ratio, and not the trendier 18:9 ratio found on even the standard XZ2.

The other, possibly more notable feature is the dual-camera setup on the back. It’s a first for the brand which has always stuck to a single shooter. Its implementation is similar to what Huawei has in place, wherein one has a 19-megapixel color sensor while the other has a 12-megapixel monochrome sensor. When put together, they produce clearer photos and videos in the worst of lighting conditions.

Combined, the pair of shooters can go up to an ISO of 51200, which is high for any sort of camera and fantastic for low-light photography. Similarly, videos can go up to ISO 12800, and the single 13-megapixel camera in front manages a respectable ISO 3200.

Another pair of upgrades are in the memory and battery of the XZ2 Premium. It now has 6GB of memory (more than the 4GB of the XZ2) and a 3540mAh battery (higher than the 3180mAh capacity of the XZ2) which can be wirelessly charged. Aside from those, the processor is still the same top-shelf Snapdragon 845 chipset.

Everything else is carried over from the slightly smaller Xperia XZ2, from the new curved body introduced to the Xperia series and IP68 water and dust resistance, to the Dynamic Vibration System and lack of an audio port.

Sony is currently mum about the pricing of the Xperia XZ2 Premium, but rollout should happen in the next couple of months. The first two colors to be offered will be Chrome Black and Chrome Silver.

News

Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million

Samsung allegedly used her image without her consent.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Samsung has an unlikely rival. Dua Lipa is suing the South Korean company for using her image without her permission.

In the marketing world, brand endorsers are part and parcel of how products are pushed to the market. Famous celebrities are often asked to advertise a product for their potential star power. That said, a company needs the endorser’s consent first.

According to a new suit (via Variety), pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for using her image to endorse TVs without her consent. The South Korean brand is reportedly using Lipa’s photo on the packaging of its TVs. Lipa alleges that the photo’s usage implies that she endorses the TV, which she does not.

The complaint also alleges that Lipa asked Samsung to take down the image last year. However, Samsung’s reply was, to her, “dismissive and callous.” The brand has then continued to use the image in its packaging.

To prove her point, the suit includes anecdotes of Samsung customers who bought the TV specifically because the packaging has Lipa’s image on it. To pay for damages, Lipa is asking for US$ 15 million from the global brand for copyright infringement.

Gaming

The Switch 2 is getting more expensive this year

The price increases will start this month.

Published

May 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Gone are the days when consoles get cheaper as time goes by. These days, especially because of the RAM crisis, gaming consoles are getting more expensive. Joining this worrying trend, the Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price hike.

Even upon launch, the Switch 2 was already pricier than its original counterpart. Currently, without the incoming price hikes, the console retails for US$ 449.99. It’s a lot but not completely out of reach.

Last week, Nintendo announced a price hike that might push the console to less than attainable levels. Starting May 25, the Switch 2 will cost JPY 59,980 (up from JPY 49,980) in Japan. The original generation is also getting a hike: JPY 47,980 for the Switch OLED, JPY 43,980 for the base Switch, and JPY 29,980 for the Switch Lite.

Abroad, you can expect price hikes on September 1. The Switch 2 will jump to US$ 499.99, CAN 679.99, or EUR 499.99, depending on where you live. These are the only official hikes announced right now, but Nintendo has confirmed that price revisions will be implemented in other regions, too.

As you might expect, the price increases are due to the ongoing RAM crisis. Though the console is an undeniable hit, the Switch 2 can’t hide behind its popularity against the price shortage dealt by unnecessary data centers. At the very least, users worldwide have time to grab the console in its original pricing before the hikes.

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

May 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.