News
Xiaomi unveils Mi 9 with Snapdragon 855 and 48MP primary camera
Has all the specs fans want
After the week-long tease, Xiaomi has officially announced the Mi 9. As seen with all the pre-launch material, the Mi 9 is going to be a beastly smartphone with all the latest specs and features you’d expect. Indeed, fans are in for a treat.
The Mi 9 directly succeeds the Mi 8, which is Xiaomi’s main series of flagship devices. The overall design hasn’t changed much; the curved glass design (using Gorilla Glass 5) is still the overall aesthetic of the Mi 9. Although, there are some noticeable tweaks to make the Mi 9 more appealing.
For starters, the notch has been vastly reduced, making the 6.39-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display more immersive. It’s topped with the latest Gorilla Glass 6 and has support for Always-On display. Xiaomi has also integrated the fingerprint scanner to the display coupled with AI face unlock for faster authentication.

Going inside the phone, we have the Snapdragon 855 processor and Adreno 640 graphics chip. By using the most powerful mobile chipset for Android phones, the Mi 9 is a certified powerhouse. It’ll also come with up to 12GB of memory and up to 256GB of storage.
Camera-wise, the Mi 9 has four cameras overall: three at the back and one in the front. The triple rear camera setup is composed of a main 48-megapixel primary shooter with an f/1.75 aperture, a 12-megapixel sensor with a telephoto lens, and a 16-megapixel shooter with an ultra wide-angle lens.

On the software side, there’s AI scene detection and a steady handheld night mode for taking photos in the dark. As for selfies, the small notch houses a 20-megapixel camera complete with AI portrait selfies and scene detection, as well.
A modest 3300mAh battery powers everything. It can charge quickly up to 27W over USB-C. However, the standard retail package comes with an 18W charger only. Not only that, the Mi 9 is capable of 20W rapid wireless charging. For comparison, the Huawei Mate 20 Pro that was unveiled in October last year supports up to 15W wireless charging.
The new Xiaomi flagship starts at CNY 2,999 or roughly US$ 445 for the base 6GB+128GB variant. For CNY 3,299 (US$ 490), you can already get the 8GB+128GB variant. But, if you want the limited edition transparent Mi 9 with 12GB of memory and 256GB of storage, you’ll have to shell out CNY 3,999 or almost US$ 595.
SEE ALSO: Xiaomi has become an undisputed leader by market share
Globe is giving Filipinos a new way to stay connected — whether at home or on the go — with The loop, its latest portable 5G Wi-Fi device.
Officially unveiled at The Blueprint event, The loop combines style and function in one compact device. It looks like a sleek mini basket with a handle on top and a touchscreen display in the middle — designed for everyday use, not just tech setups.
While it serves as a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to 16 devices simultaneously, Globe also built Theoop to fit right into modern lifestyles. You can stream music, watch videos, and even make video calls directly from the device — perfect for family bonding moments, group trips, or quick catch-ups anywhere.
With its built-in battery, The loop keeps your connection running for up to two days even during a power outage, making it a reliable companion at home or outdoors.
Price and availability
Available in green, orange,and white and soon in pink! The Loop retails for PhP 10,999.
Available on TikTok Shop! Get the connection you’ll love and feel the 5G energy with exclusive launch deals.
- 🛒 Shop Exclusive Deals: @enjoyglobe on TikTok
- Globe AT HOME Website: https://shop.globe.com.ph/gah5gwifi/
Also available at select Globe The loop stores nationwide — including Alabang Town Center, ICONIC Store BGC, Glorietta 3, Robinsons Place Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM City Cebu, and more.
Globe’s The loop is more than a Wi-Fi gadget — it’s an experience built to keep every connection within reach.
Gaming
New Civilization VII update will address everyone’s biggest issue
Soon, everyone can play as a single Civ.
Despite being enjoyable in its current state, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is a work in progress. Firaxis Games is still working on improvements, especially as suggested by the franchise’s fans. Now, approaching the new game’s first anniversary, Civilization VII is getting a massive patch, called the Test of Time update, later this spring.
Playing as a single Civ
Test of Time will address the biggest problem that players had with the base game: the inability to play as a single Civ. Currently, players are forced to evolve into Age-appropriate Civs at the end of the previous Age. The system leads to odd histories, such as Maurya somehow evolving into modern-day America.
Starting with the update, players can now take a single Civ across the test of time. And it’s not a shoehorned feature, too. Civs will now have an Apex Age, meaning the Age they were historically associated with. Playing Civs outside of their Apex Age will introduce a new kit that corresponds to the other Ages.
Plus, this also introduces a new system called Syncretism. Playing a Civ outside of their Age allows players to choose a unique military unit or infrastructure from other Civs to help bolster their strategy.
The new system works in reverse too. Players can start a game in the Modern Age using an Antiquity Age Civ. Finally, if players decide to use this system, the AI will follow suit, ensuring an equal playing field.
Reworked victory conditions
Besides the playability of Civs, Civilization VII will rework Victories. Instead of a clear path to victory via Legacy Paths (which players have complained as being too rigid), the new Triumph system will introduce new optional objectives to prod players further down the line of victory.
Plus, getting extraordinary progress in one victory condition can help players earn victory even before the Modern Age. Victory can be earned as early as the Exploration Age, but Firaxis has not explained how this can happen.
Firaxis says that the new system should help the game feel more dynamic and exciting after the Antiquity Age.
Now, to celebrate the actual anniversary, players will get access to a new leader, Gilgamesh, a fan favorite from the previous game. He will be free for all players with update 1.3.2.
Gaming
CM Punk graces cover of WWE 2K26
The game will feature over 400 playable characters, the largest to date.
Compared to the gigantic NBA 2K, WWE 2K is a relatively small series. Well, with thirty teams and a healthy roster of hall of famers, that’s no surprise. This year, however, WWE 2K26 wants to catch up, featuring the biggest roster that the franchise has ever had and a plethora of new features.
WWE 2K26 will feature over 400 playable characters, which includes current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT. As always, Legends and Hall of Famers will be playable wrestlers.
This year, however, the roster of classics are much healthier. Specifically, there are three different editions dedicated to past wrestlers. The first, called The King of Kings Edition, centers the spotlight on Hall of Famer and Chief Content Officer, Triple H (or Paul Levesque). The Attitude Era Edition features Superstars from that era, including Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, and The Rock. Finally, the Monday Night Wars Edition includes Superstars from WCW such as the nWo’s Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.
Meanwhile, the Standard Edition features a Superstar that’s been no less decorated over the years. CM Punk, who will also grace the cover, will have his entire career featured in the annual 2K Showcase.
For gameplay, WWE 2K26 has four new match types: I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell, and Dumpster. Intergender matches are also available now. The environment is now more interactable with more usable weapons. Plus, the Stamina and Reversal systems have been reworked.
The Standard Edition (US$ 69.99) launches on March 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
The King of Kings Edition (US$ 99.99), the Attitude Era Edition (US$ 129.99), and the Monday Night War Edition (US$ 149.99) will all launch a week prior, on March 6.
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