Accessories
Student makes an ID case with a power bank and USB flash drive
From the same guy who made a life-sized BB-8
Back when I was still in high school, I always carried my 128MB USB flash drive with me. Since it was very expensive back then, I made sure I didn’t lose it by tying it to my ID lace, along with my house keys. Today, there’s another necessity you should carry around: a power bank. You surely don’t want to hang a bulky battery on your neck, but that won’t be a problem with this ID case.
Angelo Casimiro, the Filipino student that created a working life-size BB-8, has a new creation: an ID case prototype with a power bank and a USB flash drive. Portable batteries are already built in to modern wallets and cardholders, so putting it into an ID case is a great idea for students.

Image credit: Angelo Casimiro
Casimiro’s ID case prototype is made using a 3D printer. It has a sizeable 3000mAh Li-poly battery and a pull-down USB flash drive with a whopping 128GB of storage. According to him, the overall weight of the ID case is just 50 grams.
The battery capacity of the ID case should be able to fully charge an iPhone or Android smartphone depending on battery size, while the 128GB storage is more than enough to store software, videos, and games.

Image credit: Angelo Casimiro
On the side, the ID case has a full-size USB port for charging portable devices and an LED battery level indicator. The built-in battery is charged through a micro-USB port just like a typical power bank. A pull-down USB connector is hidden beneath the case when you have to plug it into a computer.
“I usually offer my 3D Printing services and electronics expertise to fellow La Sallians for product prototyping and fabrication, but never have I had a client with such a brilliant idea. David Zinampan and his groupmates had an idea to sneak in a compact 3000mAh Li-poly battery inside a custom 3D-printed ID holder while stuffing in a 128GB pull-down USB flash drive,” said Angelo in his Facebook post.
The ID case is just a prototype and a college project, so you won’t see it in stores anytime soon. But, it could actually be a product designed for students by students.
This prototype is just one of the many creations of Angelo. He has his own YouTube channel called TechBuilder where he showcases his inventions and DIY projects.
Update (July 23, 2018): I reached out to Angelo to ask more details about the project. His post regarding the ID case power bank was just meant to be a showcase of another finished DIY project in collaboration with David Zinampan, Sarah Tan, Celine Solis, Andreana Gabrielle Yu Santos, and Ivan Yeung. He didn’t expect it to go viral outside his circle. The demand pushed them to work on its patent and look into mass production. If things go well, there are plans to start a company and sell the ID case power bank as a consumer product.
SEE ALSO: 17-year-old Filipino student creates a working life-size BB-8 from household materials
Accessories
Xiaomi launches latest ecosystem devices: Watch 5, Redmi Buds 8 Pro, more
Smart, on-the-go products debut
Xiaomi has launched an entire slate of smart, on-the-go devices as part of their major first quarter ecosystem release.
These products, ranging from smartwatches to earbuds to smart home devices and electric scooters, were introduced alongside the flagship Xiaomi 17 series smartphones and Xiaomi Pad 8 series tablets.
All are now available in the Philippines. Here’s a quick rundown.
Xiaomi Watch 5
Price: PhP 18,999
The Xiaomi Watch 5 runs on Wear OS by Google. It has a large 1.54-inch display reinforced by strong sapphire glass.
The watch has a stainless steel middle frame, and a flagship dual-chipset design. Inside are the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and BES2800 low-power processor.
Users can leverage quick gestures with EMG, IMU, and PPG sensors for essential actions. Such can execute tasks like dismissing calls, silencing alarms, launching workouts, and more.
As usual, there are several sport modes, and advanced health monitoring features, which have been refined to deliver a better experience.
Redmi Buds 8 Pro
Price: PhP 3,999
The wearable leverages a 3-mic system with up to 12 m/s wind noise cancellation and up to 55dB ANC.
Inside are coaxial triple drivers for rich sound complemented by Dolby Audio. There are three color options: Obsidian Black, Cloud White, and Glacier Blue.
Users can enjoy up to 33 hours of playback along with its charging case.
As a quick addition, a Xiaomi Tag is available for PhP 899 for a single piece or PhP 2,799 for the four-pack.
This tool is compatible with Apple Find My or Google Android Find Hub, working within a user’s chosen OS ecosystem.
Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000
Price: Php 3,699 (Black and Silver) | PhP 3,899 (Radiant Orange)
Furthermore, Xiaomi’s latest power bank supports simultaneous charging of two devices while sporting a slim and portable look.
It is capable of up to 15W of wireless charging, and 22.5W of USB-C fast charging.
Xiaomi Smart Dehumidifier
Price: PhP 14,999 | PhP 9,499 (Lite)
For smart home devices, the company’s latest dehumidifier has 5 noise-reduction designs for as low as just a 35.8dB ambient noise.
It features smart dehumidification, an external drainage, and three modes, including a clothes drying mode.
Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Ultra
Price: PhP 46,999
Lastly, Xiaomi’s latest electric scooter is all about upgrades. It has improved front and rear disc brakes, as well as 12-inch tires.
The e-scooter comes with dual swing-arm suspension for better support, an ergonomic design, and a 3-inch display for the rider.
It also has a 1200W peak power with Boost mode, which is vital for uphill climbs or quick acceleration.
On a full charge, the ridable is capable of a 75-kilometer range, making it fit for casual commutes around the city and quick trips.
Other variants include the Electric Scooter 6 Lite and Electric Scooter 6 to suit
All the aforementioned Xiaomi AIoT devices are available at Xiaomi Authorized Stores nationwide, as well as Lazada and Shopee.
Accessories
IQOS x Isabel Santos turns heated tech into a cool, design statement
A limited-edition collaboration where product innovation meets contemporary Filipino art.
IQOS unveiled its latest collaboration with contemporary Filipino visual artist Isabel Santos.
Titled Curiosity Without Limits, the partnership places product design and personalization at the forefront, using art as the medium that reshapes the experience.
When hardware becomes a canvas
On a Friday night in Makati, RCBC Plaza felt less like a business address and more like a portal. The third floor glowed in deep blues and music echoed through concrete walls.
Inside, a crowd gathered not for a board meeting, but for something far more immersive. At the center stood a curated installation of IQOS devices and limited-edition accessories wrapped in Santos’ signature visual language.
Her works, known for their fluid motion, layered forms, and bold interplay of blue, teal, and bursts of warmth, extended beyond framed canvases and into physical objects people could carry.
Hand-painted IQOS devices, tote bags, pouches, luggage tags, and magnetic snap wallets were displayed like collectible pieces rather than merchandise.
Personalization as part of the ecosystem
Beyond display, the event emphasized interaction. Legal-age IQOS club members were given access to on-site customization stations, where devices could be personalized with exclusive Isabel Santos designs.
The process turned a familiar tech ritual into something participatory, aligning with the broader theme of curiosity driving experimentation.
A digital sensory wall responded to movement, animating Santos’ artwork through ripples and waves.
Nearby, a sketch station allowed guests to draw digitally. Guests were able to see their creations projected in real time onto a large screen. The experience reinforced IQOS’ positioning at the intersection of product innovation and experiential design.
Design meets contemporary culture
Isabel Santos, known for her motion-driven compositions and layered abstractions, unveiled and signed a central artwork created exclusively for the collaboration.
Her ability to translate emotional rhythm into visual form brought dimension to IQOS’ structured aesthetic.
The partnership was announced by PMFTC Inc., the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International, framing the initiative as a design-led project for legal-age nicotine users who would otherwise continue to smoke.
While IQOS devices are engineered around heated tobacco technology, the collaboration highlighted how design can influence perception and experience. The devices remained technologically consistent. What evolved was the narrative around them.
Beyond the launch
IQOS is positioning its hardware not only as a technological alternative, but as a lifestyle object shaped by collaboration and customization.
The IQOS x Isabel Santos collection extends to participating IQOS boutiques nationwide. Select locations in Bonifacio Global City, SM Mall of Asia, and Glorietta offer personalization services for a limited time, with a dedicated in-store installation unveiled at the Glorietta boutique.
Accessories
Jackery portable power solutions makes appearance at Doraemon Run
New portable power solutions provider set to make official launch soon
Jackery recently made its first public presence in the Philippines quietly after being among the sponsors of the Doraemon Run 2026 Manila.
The portable power solutions provider founded in 2012 in California showcased three of their innovative charging products at their booth: the Explorer 100 Plus, Explorer 300 Plus, and Explorer 1000 V2.
Naturally, participants at the fun run were able to recharge their small devices for free with Jackery’s products at the booth.
The biggest variant, the Explorer 1000 V2, has a total power storage of 1070Wh. Along with a 1500W maximum output power, it can easily recharge gadgets like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, cameras, and even drones.
It also has multiple USB-C, AC, and DC ports for simultaneous charging of such devices.
Interestingly, the smallest variant, the Explorer 100 Plus, does champion portability. It costs just about PhP 6,999 and comes with a 99.2Wh capacity. That’s about more than 26,000mAh and is enough to recharge five smartphones.
It comes with a USB-A and two USB-C ports, and is much like a slightly larger power bank. Although, make no mistake, it is also approved for flights.
All three of Jackery’s Explorer models also have an informative digital display. The brand also had the Solar Saga 100W foldable solar panel on display. This standalone backup power solution has an IP68 water resistance.
Currently, Jackery’s products are available online via Lazada and Shopee. An official launch event is expected later this year.
The brand name is an amalgamation of the words “jacket” and “battery”. This is a nod to what Jackery produced a decade ago: jacket batteries for consumer tech companies.
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