News

Apple might make the notch bigger this year

Coming in a new iPhone XR

Published

February 9, 2019

Luigi Leonardo

More than a year ago, Apple instigated the entire notch phenomenon. After the arguably successful iPhone X launch, Android started following suit. Soon, both premium and budget markets implemented their own variants of the notch. Likewise, some contrarian brands developed their own countermeasure against the controversial notch, including holed smartphones and waterdrop notches.

Being the instigator, Apple will not get off the notch hype train. While Android is shifting far away from the form factor, Apple will brandish the notch with heads held high.

According to a new rumor, the company is going all-in on the notch. Apple is supposedly developing prototypes flaunting differing notch sizes. The rumor, however, suggests that a wider-notched iPhone XR sequel is in the works. With the massive timeline available to Apple, various iPhone XS and XS Max variants might come out as well.

If true, the iPhone XR exclusivity coincides with the market’s current perception of budget phones. Several companies have turned their cheaper variants into experimental breeding grounds. For example, the basic Huawei P30 will likely resurrect the missed headphone jack.

Speaking of missed I/O ports, the year’s batch of iPhones may switch over to the current industry standard, USB-C. The rumored strategy is the company’s first move away from its proprietary cache of wires. If true, a USB-C iPhone will join the rest of the world in universality.

Finally, a lesser rumor hints at a green iPhone XR. Apple has not implemented a green variant since the iPhone 5C. Even then, the polarizing plastic elicited only mixed reviews. However, Apple’s current aluminum build might make for a better green iPhone.

Regardless, the night is still long. Usually, Apple launches new phones around September. With a vast period between now and then, the company can still make radical changes to the final product. If anything, the earlier rumors suggest startling changes to Apple’s time-tested formulas.

Related Topics:Apple iPhone iPhone XR iPhone XS iPhone XS Max

News

TCL expands mobile lineup with latest NXTPAPER series

3 new smartphone models featuring a paper-like viewing experience

Published

August 10, 2026

GadgetMatch

TCL has expanded its mobile lineup with the launch of the latest NXTPAPER smartphone series.

Part of the new NXTPAPER roster are the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra, NXTPAPER 70 Pro, and K70 Power 4G.

The new generation of smartphones is designed to deliver smarter, more comfortable, and more powerful mobile experiences for today’s connected lifestyle.

At the heart of the lineup is the company’s proprietary NXTPAPER technology, and award-winning display innovation.

It combines both hardware and software advancements to reduce eyestrain while preserving vivid colors and sharp picture quality. The result is a paper-like viewing experience.

Bannering the roster is the NXTPAPER 60 Ultra. It is powered by a Dimensity 7400 Elite processor and runs on Android 16.

It comes with up to 512GB of internal storage and 12GB of base RAM, plus 12GB more for expansion.

In front is an expansive 7.2-inch 120Hz FHD+ display featuring Nxtpaper 4.0 and a 32MP selfie camera, while at the back is a 50MP main camera, along with a 50MP 3X telephoto camera.

This variant houses a 5,200mAh battery with support for 33W charging.

Right under the 60 Ultra is the NXTPAPER 70 Pro. It is powered by a Dimensity 7300 processor, and comes with a 6.9-inch 120Hz FHD+ display and a 50MP main shooter.

This model has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It has a similar 5,200mAh battery with 33W charging.

Lastly, the K70 Power 4G is a budget choice, with a Helio G100 Ultra chipset, 6.75-inch 120Hz display, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 50MP main camera.

Price, availability

In the Philippines, the latest NXTPAPER smartphones are available for the following pricing:

NXTPAPER 60 Ultra: PhP 35,995
NXTPAPER 70 Pro: PhP 22,995
K70 Power 4G: PhP 9,495

All devices are available through Shopee.

Apps

Canva teams up with SB19 to turn A’TIN’s passion into creativity

Campaign lets fans access assets, editable templates, more

Published

August 8, 2026

GadgetMatch

Canva Philippines has joined forces with SB19 and Sony Music Entertainment to launch the “Kaya sa Canva” campaign.

This first-of-its-kind initiative is aimed at transforming the popular Filipino boy band’s fanbase into creators by giving them access to official design assets, exclusive templates, and powerful creative tools.

That’s of course as fans have a way of creating artwork, banners, and more outputs to honor their idols.

As such, the partnership enables the A’TIN (SB19’s fanbase) to access the Canva-exclusive SB19’s Creative Hub.

This dedicated space lets fans access assets, including SB19-inspired sticker packs, custom typography, and editable templates inspired by the group.

Fans around the world will initially have access to templates for photo-booth strips, wallpapers, posters, and videos.

The campaign will then expand with Canva-exclusive assets celebrating the group’s New Era, as well as their latest single, “Lawless”.

Meanwhile, the original song “KAYA” is accompanied with an upbeat music video, doubling as a love letter to A’TIN and a masterclass in Canva’s tools.

Every visual and animation is fan-inspired, a celebration of the creativity, passion, and dedication that’s defined in the community from day one.

News

The iPhone 18 might sell out for an unexpected reason

The ongoing shortage might play a part in the phone selling out earlier than expected.

Published

August 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

An iPhone selling out is not news. Because of how popular the phones are, it’s within the realm of probability that Apple runs out of stock at some point. According to a new report, this year won’t be any different… but it’s for an entirely different reason.

First reported by analyst Tim Culpan, Apple is reportedly struggling to meet its demand for semiconductors for the iPhone 18 and the foldable iPhone. The ongoing memory shortage is cutting off Apple’s ability to deliver the required supply of smartphones in a timely fashion. The report even claims that TSMC, which helps produce the iPhone, is sitting on a shipment of processors, worth US$ 1 billion, that don’t have memory chips.

Now, Apple is still confident that it can weather the launch. However, if the shortage persists, the iPhone 18 generation will likely sell out much more quickly than expected.

It’s an interesting time for Apple to experience such a shortage. It’s been heavily rumored that the company will launch its very first foldable phone next month, creating a new market for the brand. Apple definitely wants this attempt to succeed after the tepid response to its last new product, the Vision Pro.