News

Samsung, LG promise to launch better midrange phones this year

Relying on flagships just doesn’t work anymore

Published

July 19, 2018

Luigi Leonardo

Have you noticed the sheer abundance of smartphone models out in the market lately? Of course, the market has always featured a wide variety. However, brands have now diversified greatly to accommodate more markets.

Headlined by Samsung and Apple, the phone market has traditionally offered a catch-all flagship and droves of forgettable others for the budget spenders. Throughout the years, over-saturation has caused this strategy to falter.

According to Strategy Analytics, the balance of power is shifting. As of this year’s first quarter, Samsung’s grip on the world’s top spot has weakened by 2.5 percent. From 80.2 million units sold in 2017’s first quarter, Samsung shipped only 78.2 million units this year.

On the other hand, Apple has increased their numbers to 52.2 million units sold from just 50.8 million units last year. Likewise, Chinese companies Huawei and Xiaomi enjoyed huge gains, growing by 114 percent and 225 percent, respectively.

With the threat of loss in mind, Korean companies Samsung and LG have since adopted a “shotgun approach” with their releases this year. Instead of putting their eggs in one basket, they are releasing as much diversity as they can.

Since its ascension to the top, Samsung has always launched various lines catering to the midrange and budget markets. However, until recently, these models never offered much advantage in these segments. Additionally, they were shipped almost exclusively to developing markets, such as key countries in the Southeast Asian region. Meanwhile, LG has a decidedly weaker midrange lineup.

In fact, both companies rely heavily on their flagship and premium models to draw in sales.

To fight this, Samsung and LG are trying a strategy that works for Huawei and Xiaomi (which, incidentally, grew this year). The strategy involves outing midrange and budget phones that can competitively go one-on-one with flagship features.

Both Huawei and Xiaomi have a wider variety of options for users. In fact, Huawei even has its own sister brand dedicated to the market — Honor. With Xiaomi potentially launching their own sister brand, the brands’ successes speak more for themselves.

Whether this translates into a more competitive Galaxy J or LG Q series, only time will tell. Currently, both companies have already launched eight to nine models this year, compared to their eleven models in total apiece last year.

Related Topics:Apple Huawei LG Samsung Xiaomi

News

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

Head to SM Megamall for activities, guest appearances, surprises

Published

March 21, 2026

GadgetMatch

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.

News

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

Titan Toughness takes center stage!

Published

March 20, 2026

MJ Jucutan

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!

News

Stylish, student-friendly HONOR X8d launches

Price, pre-order offers

Published

March 19, 2026

Manila Connoisseur

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.