News

Huawei Mate 30 Pro retakes position as DxOMark camera king

An excellent score of 121

Published

September 26, 2019

Kenrick Buduan

Huawei Mate 30 Pro’s impressive specs truly raises the bar for a 2019 flagship phone. Among its impressive specs are the quadruple rear cameras found in this flagship.

Looking at the raw specs of the camera alone, there is a 40MP wide-angle lens, 40MP ultra-wide-angle lens, 8MP telephoto lens, and a Time-of-Flight (T0F) 3D depth-sensing camera in the back. In the front, there is a 32MP camera and a ToF sensor. But there is more to that raw specs in creating a good photo. Fortunately, Huawei delivers on all fronts as proved by DxOMark’s camera review.

The cameras alone are so impressive that DxOMark gave Mate 30 Pro a high score of 121. The score is the highest given by DxOMark, dethroning the score of 117 previously set by Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G.

Mate 30 Pro’s Night Mode is more or less represented by this photo of Shanghai at night.

Impressive for photo stills

DxOMark gave a score of 131 for photos taken by the Mate 30 Pro. The Mate 30 Pro capture high levels of detail even in low light conditions. Apparently, its cameras capture photos with minimal noise and lots of detail in low light. The photos also show a good balance of noise and detail — something tricky to achieve for a smartphone.

In terms of exposure and color, the Mate 30 Pro performs very well. Photos are well-exposed and retained a high dynamic range (HDR) even in low light conditions. Also, they are well-saturated more than the P30 Pro, which DxOMark found to be a positive aspect in favor of the Mate 30 Pro.

Night Mode shooting is also favorable for the Mate 30 Pro. It did well in low-light conditions, whether or not the flash is on. As a matter of fact, DxOMark remarked that its night mode is the best among all flagships.

Zooming on subjects is no problem at all for the Mate 30 Pro. It may have lost the P30 Pro’s 5x optical zoom, but the 3x optical zoom in this phone still captures excellent photos. Zoom shots in close and medium range are captured with good details. Meanwhile, autofocus is not a problem as the cameras were quick to focus, in all conditions. Most smartphones struggle with low-light, but the phone’s autofocus locks on the subject immediately.

Those who love their bokeh would be happy with the Mate 30 Pro. The photos taken show excellent depth estimation and detail, but they can be undersaturated and lacking in HDR. Also, the 18MM field-of-view limits what can fit inside a photo taken by the phone.

The phone won’t disappoint selfie lovers too, as it took selfies with good exposure and HDR. Colors are accurate and details are good. It is worth noting, however, that the lens are fixed-focused, unlike other flagships released this year.

Videos are great, but not the best

For the videos taken by the Mate 30 Pro, DxOMark gave a score of 100. Samsung Note 10+ 5G scored higher with a 101. Still, the phone captures videos with good detail and minimal noise in all conditions.

The Mate 30 Pro lacks HDR video recording; nonetheless, colors are vivid and exposure is accurate in most conditions. The autofocus is fast and accurate, while stabilization is good. Its cameras compensated well for the walking motion and camera shake.

And last, the Mate 30 Pro captures videos in 4K by default.

Aside from the impressive camera specs, the Mate 30 Pro packs a 6.62 inch edge-to-edge screen which curves at 88 degrees. The new Kirin 990 processor is powering the device which enables 5G connectivity. Battery is sufficient at 4,500 mAh which can be charged with either 22W or 40W Huawei SuperCharge.

It is available in various color variants: Emerald Green, Space Silver, Cosmic Purple, Black. A vegan leather option is also available, coming in two colors: Forest Green and Orange.

News

Sony revives classic Walkman headphones with USB-C MDR-3R

Iconic 1980s headphones

Published

November 6, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Sony is bringing back one of its iconic Walkman-era headphones with the MDR-3R. The new wired headphones modernize the original MDR-3 with USB-C connectivity and updated features.

Introduced in 1979, the original Walkman and MDR-3 headphones helped popularize portable music listening. The MDR-3R carries that legacy forward with a familiar design and modern conveniences.

The headphones retain the original’s lightweight, open-ear construction. They also feature interchangeable blue and orange ear pads. Sony even gives the packaging and instruction manual a design inspired by the original model.

The MDR-3R connects to compatible smartphones and other devices through USB-C. Users can listen to music without charging, pairing, or installing updates. A built-in microphone and in-line remote also make calls and playback controls more convenient.

Sony equipped the headphones with the same 23mm driver units as the original MDR-3. The company also tuned them to closely reproduce the original’s sound signature. They deliver balanced audio, natural vocals, and the emotional richness associated with Sony headphones.

Sony MDR-3R gets a Stranger Things edition

Sony is also launching a special MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition. The collaboration celebrates the 1980s inspiration shared by the Walkman era and Netflix’s popular series.

Inspired by Max’s signature headphone style and the mysterious Upside Down, the special edition features exclusive design details. These include an engraved Stranger Things logo and custom packaging.

Sony also considered environmental impact when developing the headphones. Approximately 25 percent of the plastic used in the product comes from recycled materials. The packaging is also plastic-free.

Price and availability

Sony has opened preorders for the MDR-3R and MDR-3R Stranger Things Edition. Availability and pricing vary by market.

In the United States, the standard MDR-3R costs US$59.99, while the Stranger Things Edition costs US$79.99. The standard model is available through Sony and authorized retailers.

In Singapore, both models will launch in December 2026. The standard MDR-3R costs SG$89, while the Stranger Things Edition costs SG$129. Both are exclusive to Sony Stores and Sony Store Online.

In the Philippines, Sony has yet to announce local pricing and availability. Based on US pricing, the headphones would cost approximately PHP 3,500 for the standard edition and PHP 4,700 for the Stranger Things Edition, before local taxes and retail adjustments.

Entertainment

The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert finally arrives in Manila

The run goes from March 4 to 6 at Solaire.

Published

November 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

As far as films in concert go, The Lord of the Rings is the classic experience for fans. Since 2008, the concert experience has been touring the globe, enamoring fans of the series with live renditions of Howard Shore’s iconic soundtrack. Now, the experience is finally arriving in Manila. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert will run in the Philippines from March 4 through 6 next year.

There’s a reason why the iconic trilogy is the classic experience for films in concert. Besides being a legendary film franchise, the series features Howard Shore’s Academy Award-winning score. Fans will likely still recognize the dulcet strings of the Shire or the grandiose crescendo of the Fellowship.

From March 4 to 6, The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert will run at The Theatre in Solaire. Under the baton of Reuben Blundell, the concert will star the 96-member Filharmonika Orchestra, the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ 100-member adult choir and 50-member boys’ choir, and soloist Malena Rampi.

Film Community Philippines members can get exclusive pre-sale access from November 9 to 11. Meanwhile, public ticket sales will start on November 20 via TicketWorld.com.ph.

Gaming

The next Elder Scrolls game is called Sentinel

And it will be set in Hammerfell.

Published

November 4, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.

Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.

The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.

Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.

Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.