Her GadgetMatch

Why size matters: A woman’s perspective on phone size trends

Girls have needs

Published

March 5, 2019

Isa Rodriguez

“It’s not the size, it’s the performance.” Sure.

Honestly, that may apply to other things, but just not smartphones — you know, things that need to be in our teeny tiny hands to use. Here are a number of reasons why the “bigger is better” mentality is taking away from women’s smartphone experiences.

Top three reasons:

Our thumbs

Like, literally not being to reach everything on the phone screen because of our short thumbs attached to the small hands.

We’re not pointing short fingers here; it’s no one’s fault but anatomy’s. But, when it’s a physiological problem, we sort of hope that we get more than two small phone flagship options (as of last count: Samsung Galaxy S10e, Google Pixel 3) when at least 50 percent of the targeted users are affected. After all, we can buy new phones but not longer thumbs.

Small pockets and skinny jeans

Now that there’s been an advancement in the fight for pockets (yes folks, pockets on dresses are a thing), we have to talk about actually fitting things in there. When I say things, I mean my phone which I want to be able to keep in my pocket. Admittedly, we women tend to have smaller pockets based on various other factors but the simple equation is: Smaller bodies = smaller clothes = smaller pockets.

Not to mention, tight pants and clothes mean less space for us so why would you be so cruel as to deprive us of the utility of pocket use with your humongous phones?

Pretty tiny purses

Sure, we can always get bigger purses, but then the men in our lives will keep on asking to put their stuff in it because “it fits, anyway” so we’re not having that.

The cute purses we enjoy, on top of matching our outfits to a T, serve a utility: A space for lipstick, cash, and other emergency knick-knacks like tampons, mints, or Advil for when we get headaches from being treated as the lesser sex (but that’s another story). We’d love to throw in our smartphone in there… if it would fit…

Solutions I’m shooting down

Phone accessory galore

If the sudden uptick in PopSocket sales isn’t an indication that there are people having trouble holding on to their phones, I don’t know what is. As an avid PopSocket user myself, I can swear by how useful these things are. And sure, you get a better grip on your phone but it doesn’t really solve any of my screen reach problems.

Cute accessories like this phone case purse hybrid from Casetify exist but they are few and far between. Plus, they’re only available for certain phones so unless you’re on an iPhone, tough luck finding one that fits your device.

“But Isa, what if you can wear your phone?”

Yes, I get how that fixes things: It has a smaller, reachable screen and you won’t have to worry at keeping it in your purse or pocket. But folks, it looks like this:

ZTE Nubia’s Alpha wearable

Until I can wear my smartphone, and wear it looking great, I won’t stop at wanting smaller ones.

IMHO and other perspectives

Wider displays are always welcome, sure, but with disappearing bezels and companies forcing those notches in our faces, I don’t see why phones can’t shrink back to a size that fits my palms.

In the history of time, not once have I complained about having a screen that’s too small on a mobile phone because if I needed a bigger screen, tablets and TVs exist. Sure foldable phones are cool but why can’t these phones fold to a size that actually fits my small purse.

If phones folded this way… maybe they will fit my skinny jeans’ pocket?

I do recognize that like phones, women come in all shapes, sizes, and perspectives — bless the folk who believe we should only come in cookie-cutter shapes — so there are still probably those who disagree with my points here and that’s okay. They have the choice and no one’s stopping them. But I don’t with these phones and I can’t even. 🙄 That’s the problem.

Her GadgetMatch

What your smartphone color choice reveals about you

Eight colors, eight personalities. Here’s how to pick.

Published

August 14, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Your phone color says more than you think. With the Pixel 11 series, Google’s giving you eight ways to make that statement, and there’s genuinely one for every kind of person.

Hibiscus

You’re never the quiet one in the room. Hibiscus doesn’t ask for attention; it just takes it, and if that sounds like you, you’re probably not planning to start hiding now. This is the pick for anyone who’d rather stand out than blend in.

Pistachio

You’re the one who remembers everyone’s coffee order. Pistachio is soft and easy; the one whom people gravitate toward without quite knowing why. It doesn’t try hard to be liked. It just is.

Frost

You like things a little too organized. Frost means clean lines and a clear head, the color equivalent of a camera roll with zero mess in it. If your notes app has color-coded folders, this one’s calling your name.

Obsidian

You let the work speak for itself. No flash needed, because when you show up, the room adjusts anyway. Obsidian is the classic choice, the one that’s never trying too hard because it doesn’t have to.

Canyon

You’re the one who suggests the sunset drive. Canyon is warm and a little restless, always chasing golden hour whether or not anyone else is up for it. Available on the Pro and Pro XL, it’s built for people who treat every evening like it might be a good one.

Olive

You’re outdoorsy, but you’ll still show up looking put together. Olive is low-key and grounded, the one who doesn’t try too hard because it’s already comfortable in its own skin. Another Pro and Pro XL exclusive.

Fog

You’re hard to read, and you like it that way. Fog is understated on purpose, a Pro and Pro XL colorway for anyone who’d rather keep people guessing.

So, which one’s you?

Eight colors, three phones, one very personal decision. Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL goes on sale starting August 20 — with Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian on the base model; and Canyon, Fog, Olive, and Obsidian on the Pro line.

Which one’s calling your name?

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

June 23, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

If there is one Dyson launch that has generated unusual levels of anticipation this year, it is the Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan.

The compact cooling device quickly gained a following after its international release, reportedly selling out within a day in several markets. Now, just in time for the hottest and most humid months of the year (no thanks to climate change), it is finally arriving in the Philippines.

With temperatures continuing to climb, the timing feels almost inevitable. Lightweight and designed for use on the move, the HushJet™ Mini brings Dyson’s airflow technology into a portable format that fits easily into everyday life—whether commuting through the city, attending outdoor events, traveling, or spending long days under the sun.

Its appeal extends beyond functionality. Finished in Dyson’s Stone/Blush colorway, the device combines cooling performance with a sleek aesthetic that feels at home alongside the accessories people already carry daily.

The new Dyson HushJet Mini is your new companion against heat and humidity.

The launch also marks one of the most accessible entry points into the Dyson ecosystem. Priced at PhP6,499, the HushJet Mini offers consumers a practical way to experience the brand’s engineering and design in a product built for everyday use.

Given the strong demand seen overseas, interest is expected to be high when the fan officially launches in the Philippines.

Where, when, and how to get your own Dyson HushJet

The Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan in Stone/Blush will be available beginning June 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. at participating Dyson stores, including Mall of Asia, Podium, Greenbelt 5, and One Bonifacio High Street.

For those hoping to get their hands on one, it may be worth keeping a close eye on Dyson Philippines’ official social media channels and Dyson.ph. If international demand is any indication, this could be one of the season’s most sought-after releases.