News

Huawei’s next-gen chipset is said to be faster than Apple A10

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Huawei just unveiled the next-generation mobile chipset that will power the company’s rumored Mate 9 flagship, which is expected to debut on November 3 in Munich, Germany.

The new Kirin 960 system-on-a-chip features eight CPU cores — one set of four performance cores and another that utilizes four low-powered cores — and a graphics chip that could be headed to the Samsung Galaxy S8 as well. In other words, pretty exciting stuff if you care about specs and what they will mean for the Mate 9.

[irp posts=”6906″ name=”Is Huawei set to announce a Note 7 clone?”]

But if anything, today’s announcement suggests how the next breed of Android devices could close the gap or even pull ahead of the iPhones of tomorrow. If you ask Huawei, they will tell you they’re already ahead of their U.S.-based arch-rival, in that the Kirin 960 smokes the silicon inside the Galaxy Note 7 and iPhone 7 in multicore tests, outdoing its competition in all but one of the 14 most popular apps in China.

The Kirin 960’s GPU is said to be 180 percent faster than that of Huawei’s P9, closing in on the graphical power of the iPhone 7. Assuming that is indeed the case, we may be looking at one of the most powerful — if not the most powerful — Android phones ever produced.

The chipset also further lowers power consumption while playing demanding games like Pokemon Go, with an array of optimized motion sensors. For Pokemon Go, the claim is up to 1.2 days of playing time compared to a device that can barely handle half a day’s worth of playing. The Kirin 960’s onboard radio is capable of hitting peak download speeds of 600Mbps and working effectively in areas where cellular coverage is weak or unreliable.

As for its camera capabilities, the chip improves image clarity and brings more selective focusing options after the fact, further hinting at the dual-camera setup on the back of the Mate 9.

Considering the hardware of the P9 phones, it’s practically a given that the upcoming phablet will sport more than one rear camera, though the second camera’s purpose may not be to capture black-and-white images but to refocus shots after they have been taken. Huawei isn’t new to taking that approach. We’ve seen the Honor 6 Plus and what it could do with its cameras.

In any case, we’ll report back on November 3rd when the Kirin 960 (and Mate 9?) becomes official.

[irp posts=”4396″ name=”Huawei-made Honor 8 now available in the U.S.”]

Source: Android Central

Drones

DJI officially launches the Avata 360 with 8K immersive imaging

The new flagship drone introduces 1-inch sensors and 360-degree capture to the FPV world.

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DJI just redefined the “single take.”

The new DJI Avata 360 combines the raw thrill of FPV flight with a flagship 8K 360° camera system. It effectively gives creators a flying virtual camera that sees everything at once.

This means you no longer have to worry about pointing a gimbal while flying at high speeds. You can simply record the entire environment and choose your favorite angles later in post-production.

Brilliant imaging, post-flight freedom

The headline feature is the imaging, which utilizes dual 1-inch-equivalent sensors capable of 8K/60fps HDR video and 120MP stills.

These massive 2.4 μm pixels handle low light and high dynamic range like a pro, ensuring light and shadow are captured with exquisite clarity.

If you prefer a more traditional look, you can switch to Single Lens mode to capture classic Avata-style cinematic lines in 4K/60fps.

Because the drone records in a full sphere, the Virtual Gimbal feature allows for infinite rotation and tilt during editing.

You can fly in one direction while digitally rotating the horizon or shifting the perspective to look directly behind the drone without ever changing your actual flight path.

Flagship transmission, smarter safety

DJI didn’t just slap a new camera on the old frame. They beefed up the internals to ensure the flight experience is as stable as the footage.

The drone leverages the flagship O4+ video transmission system to deliver crystal-clear 1080p/60fps feeds with a massive 20 km range and strong anti-interference capabilities.

Safety has also seen a major upgrade with Nightscape omnidirectional obstacle sensing. This makes sunset and low-light flights significantly less stressful.

Plus, the front lens element now features a user-replaceable design. If you push a gap a little too hard and scratch the glass, you can swap it out yourself instead of shipping the whole unit back for repairs.

Intelligent tracking, high-speed workflow

The magic continues once the drone is back on the ground through the DJI Fly and Studio apps.

Features like ActiveTrack 360° and Spotlight Free allow the drone to lock onto subjects and replicate sophisticated camera movements that usually require a professional dual-operator setup.

With 42GB of internal storage and high-speed Wi-Fi 6 transfer, you can capture 30 minutes of 8K footage without an SD card and beam it to your phone at up to 100 MB/s.

Price, availability

The DJI Avata 360 is compatible with DJI Goggles, the RC Motion 3, and standard RC 2 controllers, with pre-orders live today and shipping starting in April 2026.

  • DJI Avata 360 (DJI RC 2): PhP 38,290
  • DJI Avata 360 Fly More Combo (DJI RC 2): PhP 47,890
  • DJI Avata 360 Motion Fly More Combo (Goggles N3): PhP 47,890
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Automotive

The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines

Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.

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Inchcape Philippines is officially shaking up the compact sedan segment.

The Changan Eado Plus has arrived on local shores, and it’s gunning for the top spot in your driveway.

Available in two trims — Luxe and Lite — the Eado Plus offers the Filipino driver a car that looks like a million bucks without the massive price tag.

Modern aesthetic inside and out

On the outside, the Eado Plus makes a bold statement with its prominent three-dimensional grille and streamlined body lines.

This polished, premium look relies on LED lighting to command a strong presence on the road. Inside, a meticulously curated cabin handles the daily grind with ease.

The Luxe variant carries a massive 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile, the Lite variant keeps you connected with a 7-inch display.

To beat the local climate, Changan included a PM2.5 air filter to keep the cabin air clean, alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that puts all your vital driving data front and center.

Performance and safety without compromise

Under the hood, a 1.5L Bluecore gasoline engine powers both variants. This engine works with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission (WDCT) to deliver a stable, responsive ride.

For those who want more control, the Luxe variant offers selectable Eco and Normal driving modes to match your mood or the traffic conditions.

Safety remains a top priority, as the Eado Plus houses a comprehensive suite of protection. Beyond the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the car packs in practical features like rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX tethers for families.

Pricing, availability

To celebrate the launch, Changan offers the Eado Plus with aggressive introductory pricing through April 30, 2026.

During this period, the 1.5 Luxe DCT costs only PhP 749,999, while the 1.5 Lite DCT goes for just PhP 699,000. These rates offer a significant discount from the standard prices of PhP 799,999 and PhP 750,000, respectively.

Drivers can choose from four colors: White, Black, Andean Gray, and Titanium Silver Gray (via special order).

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Gaming

Nintendo will make it cheaper to buy digital games than physical

Physical releases will have the same price.

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The days of lining up for a newly released game are well and truly over. Though some games still experience shortages in brick-and-mortar stores, such as the widely successful Pokémon Pokopia, gamers can get their titles digitally. Now, Nintendo is making digital releases more enticing by offering a tempting discount on the eShop.

Starting in May, Nintendo will start charging different prices for the physical and digital releases of first-party games. While physical releases will still have the same prices going forward, digital releases via the eShop will enjoy a discount.

The discount, of course, will likely depend on the title itself. Nintendo has already given the upcoming Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as the first example. The new platformer will cost US$ 70 from retailers. However, it will cost only US$ 60 on the digital eShop.

The company says that the new pricing scheme “simply reflects the different costs associated with producing and distributing each format.” With the prices of chips skyrocketing, it’s no surprise that the physical release is more expensive than the digital one.

To be more technical about it, Nintendo has started skipping a physical game card for a while now. The physical release of Pokémon Pokopia, for example, has only a game-key card or a code to download the game. In this format, physical releases are just pretty cases you can display on your shelf.

Also, digital releases do carry the added risk of getting delisted on the whims of the developers, the publishers, or Nintendo itself. It is, however, still a cheaper option, especially in a world where getting any discount is a welcome thought.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo sues the United States

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