Lifestyle

Huawei Mate 20 Review: The simpler sibling

No need for the Pro?

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The Huawei Mate 20 is the simpler sibling in the Mate 20 lineup, and honestly… it simply works.

I’m an everyday normal guy, with normal demands from my smartphone. And when you’re like me, and you don’t have a specific thing in mind when choosing a phone, it helps to have a device that is just good in every aspect.

In real-world use, there’s nothing to complain about in terms of performance. It’s got a Kirin 980 processor, and it runs the way any flagship phone with the latest and greatest processor should.

A phone that’ll go perfect with your OOTD

When it comes to our phones, I’ll agree with Isa, our Lifestyle Editor, that they’ve become more than a gadget and are now also an accessory to show off.

This phone looks great! So much so that I’ve caught myself intentionally not putting it in my pocket, just so I can show it off.

And while there might also be many other good-looking options out there, the Mate 20 wins in my book because I can use it without a case and not have to worry about getting fingerprints all over it.

On our Midnight Blue review unit, I’ve loved the special glass texture that barely shows any fingerprints and how it makes the phone easier to grip.

Good display, but speakers need work

Flip the phone over and there’s the huge 6.53-inch screen that’s great for consuming media, but I will say that it was an adjustment having to get used to such a wide phone again.

Now while I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all gotten relatively used to notches by now. It still must be said that the notch on the Mate 20 is tiny (much smaller than the notch on its Pro sibling) and easy to forget about when watching videos in full screen.

One thing I did notice in watching videos is that while the Mate 20 might have stereo speakers (from the earpiece and the bottom firing speaker), the sound comes out uneven and mostly from the speaker at the bottom. It would have been better if the sound were more balanced.

Battery for days… literally

Usually, I start my day at 8am and end at about 9pm. How has the 4000mAh battery capacity been for me? In using the phone for about two weeks, I’ve never ended my day with less than 35 percent left. It’s been such a joy not having to carry around a bulky powerbank with me!

In a day that usually includes social media, using maps for directions, watching YouTube, and Netflix, no longer do I have to tell myself to get off Instagram because I need to preserve battery.

It’s a phone that will last you a full day and then some. When you do end up needing to charge, it juices up quick — boost of about 50 percent in 30 minutes.

Typical Huawei cameras

Now, let’s talk about the cameras. There are three cameras on the back: Its main camera has 12 megapixels, the ultra-wide shooter has 16 megapixels, and the 8-megapixel telephoto camera goes up to 2x optical zoom.

To put it plainly, they’re good. And I can tell you they’re good all day, but I think it’s better if I just show you:

And of course something that Huawei has been amazing with is nighttime photography:

Plus, the addition of a wide-angle lens is great for getting more into the frame:

  

All these photos we’re taken with the Master AI setting on and shot completely in automatic mode.

Now, I don’t take a lot of selfies — we leave that to Isa at GadgetMatch — but if that’s your thing, the Mate 20 has a 24-megapixel selfie camera. Also, here’s a selfie of me with Jason Mraz:

Here are more selfie samples (I turned off the beauty mode for these):

Glad to see you headphone jack!

The regular Huawei Mate 20 doesn’t have the curved screen like the Pro does. It doesn’t have the in-display fingerprint scanner, either. What it does have that the Pro model doesn’t, is a headphone jack. 

True story: When I was traveling around Singapore and my Bluetooth earphones died, it was a lifesaver to be able to plug in regular wired earphones so I could continue listening to music.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

This phone ticks all the boxes I needed it to. Good cameras? Check! Great battery life? Yes, sir! Is it good for watching Netflix? You betcha!

It isn’t as flashy as the Pro model, but the Mate 20 to me is meant for someone who doesn’t need any of the bells or whistles, and just wants a phone that’s going to work when you need it to.

Entertainment

DC’s Clayface teaser shows off a horror-filled superhero movie

Our first taste of James Gunn’s Gotham City will be frightening.

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Last year, James Gunn’s Superman sparked an impressive wave of excitement for the new DC Universe. Though this year’s spotlight is on Supergirl, Clayface is also getting an eponymous film, giving us our first taste of Gotham City in this bustling universe.

There’s been a lot of mystery surrounding this film. For one, Gotham City’s DCU debut is based on, arguably, a secondary villain, rather than any member of the Bat-Family. Secondly, Gunn has confirmed that the movie will heavily lean towards the horror genre, a feat others have tried but often failed.

Today, DC Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Clayface. And no, Gunn wasn’t kidding when he said this is going to be a horror film.

Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising movie star suddenly scarred by a violent attack. Desperate to resurrect his career, he resorts to a scientific experiment that turns his skin into moldable clay.

As the teaser hints, the film will not shy away from body horror, including shots of Hagen’s disfigured face either from the attack or from the clay. It’s a big departure from the more traditional style of Superman or Supergirl. But it’s a gamble that might pay off for a universe as young as the DCU.

It’s also apropos that the DCU’s first horror film is getting a horror-themed premiere. Clayface will premiere in cinemas on October 23, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Superman sequel, titled Man of Tomorrow, comes out in 2027

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Cameras

The Fujifilm instax mini 13 is your new, favorite plus-one!

Say goodbye to awkward “who’s taking the photo?” debates with the camera that puts you at the center of the frame.

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We’ve all been there: you’re at the center of a perfect moment — a sunset rooftop toast or a reunion with your best friends — and you’re stuck behind the screen trying to get the lighting right.

Fujifilm’s new instax mini 13 is here to let you stop worrying about the “how” and start living the “now”.

The first thing you’ll notice is the glow-up. The mini 13 swaps the tech-heavy look for a soft, sculpted aesthetic that feels like a dream in your hand. It comes in five candy-colored hues: Dreamy Purple, Frost Blue, Candy Pink, Lagoon Green, and Clay White.

The biggest flex is you can finally be in the shot. The new dual timers (2 or 10 seconds) mean no more awkward “who’s taking the photo?” debates.

Just prop it up with the included angle adjustment accessory, set the timer, and join the frame.

The tech inside is just as intuitive. A simple twist of the lens powers it on or shifts it into Close-Up Mode, while the Parallax Correction ensures your centered shots actually stay centered.

Because we live for the “post,” the updated instax UP! app uses AI to scan your physical prints with pinpoint precision.

It strips away the glare and the background noise, leaving you with a clean, digital version of your favorite tactile memories.


The Fujifilm instax mini 13 is now available in the Philippines, and retails for PhP 5,399.

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Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s latest bundle is the power couple your floors have been waiting for

The answer to the wet-and-dry cleaning problem most of us have quietly accepted as just ‘life’

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There’s a particular kind of domestic frustration that doesn’t get talked about enough: the moment you finish vacuuming, look down at your gleaming hard floors, and realize they still need mopping. Two tools. Two routines. One slightly deflated sense of accomplishment. Dyson, apparently, has been paying attention.

For a limited time, the brand is bundling two of its machines into a single, rather attractive package — the Dyson WashG1™ wet floor cleaner and the Dyson V8™ Slim cordless vacuum — positioning them as the complete answer to the wet-and-dry cleaning problem most of us have quietly accepted as just life.

Meet the pair

The WashG1™ is Dyson’s take on the wet floor cleaner, designed to wash hard floors in one streamlined pass rather than the traditional drag-and-splash method that mostly moves grime from one end of the room to the other. No buckets, no wringing, no staring at a suspiciously grey mop head and wondering when exactly it stopped being useful. It’s the kind of appliance that quietly earns its counter space — and then some.

Compact, cordless, and deceptively powerful: the V8™ Slim for when the mess is small but your standards aren’t.

The V8™ Slim, meanwhile, is the lighter, nimbler sibling of Dyson’s cordless line. Useful for the crumbs under the dining chair, the dust gathering behind the shelves, and every other small, daily chaos that a full-sized vacuum feels excessive for. Cordless and compact, it’s the machine you’ll actually pick up instead of sighing and walking past the mess.

Together, they cover the full floor care spectrum: the V8™ Slim handles the dry sweep, the WashG1™ follows with the wash. It’s a logical pairing, honestly — the kind that makes you wonder why you’ve been doing it any other way.

Why this Dyson combination matters

Hard floors, for all their aesthetic appeal, are unforgiving surfaces. Dust settles visibly. Spills linger. And vacuuming alone, as satisfying as the process can be, doesn’t quite address the layer of grime that accumulates on high-traffic areas over time. A wet cleaner handles what a vacuum can’t, and vice versa — which is precisely why owning both, rather than cycling through them separately across different shopping occasions, makes a certain kind of sense.

There’s also something to be said for the ease of a dedicated routine. When both machines live in the same home, cleaning stops being a production and starts being a rhythm — a quick pass with the V8™ Slim in the morning, a proper wash with the WashG1™ when the floors need it. Less deliberation, more just getting it done.

The numbers

Originally priced at PhP 74,800 for both, the bundle is currently available at PhP 45,900 — a saving of PhP 28,900. The mechanic is straightforward: purchase the WashG1™ and the V8™ Slim comes with it.

The promo runs from April 16 to 30, 2026, available at Dyson Stores nationwide. For those who’ve been watching these two machines from a careful distance, the window is narrow — but the value proposition is hard to argue with.

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