Philippines

Samsung Galaxy Fold: Price and availability in the Philippines

Its price tag is not for the faint of heart

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First announced alongside the Samsung Galaxy S10 and refined later on in 2019, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has now made its way to the Philippines. The country’s two biggest telecommunication providers are also joining in the fray.

With Globe, pre-orders start November 18 with Globe’s ThePLAN or ThePLATINUM. It will be available until December 1st or until stocks last; only 400 units will be available.

With Smart, interested parties may start their application by preparing the following requirements: contact information, proof of income or financial capacity, proof of identity, proof of address, and email address. Visit a Smart Signature store anywhere in the country to submit your requirements. For more details visit Smart’s website.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is available at Signature Device Plan L at PhP 4,099 per month for 24 months with a one-time cash-out of PhP 20,700. With it comes 15GB of monthly data, Unli AnyNet Texts, Unli On-Net Calls, and 150 minutes of AnyNet calls.

It’s also available with the premium postpaid plan called Smart Infinity under the Limitless/Traveler Plan 3500 with a monthly amortization of PhP 2,000 for 24 months. Under the Limitless/Traveler Plan 5000 for 30 months, the Galaxy Fold can be had for free.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold is available for PhP 109,990 at Abensons, Ansons, Samsung Experience Stores, Lazada, and other official distributors. It’ll come with a pair of Galaxy Buds, one year of Samsung Care+ and Samsung Concierge.

Samsung Concierge and Samsung Care+

Samsung Concierge gives access to specialized customer care programs including a 24/7 dedicated hotline, free pick-up and delivery assistance, and service express lanes, among others. Customers get to directly consult with the company’s tech experts for any queries.

Samsung Care+ is a hassle-free year-long program to assist Galaxy Fold owners for any emergency concerns. It also includes repair coverage for one year.

A new device category

The Galaxy Fold is Samsung’s first foldable smartphone. It sports a foldable 7.3-inch Infinity Flex Display. Revealed months ago, the display can freely transform between an expansive 7.3-inch tablet and a smaller 4.6-inch phone. Unfolded, the phone is a QXGA+ resolution powerhouse. Folded, the phone carries a workable HD+ display.

Powering the device is a 7nm octa-core processor, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of internal storage. Outside, the phone carries a triple rear camera setup — 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera + 12-megapixel wide-angle camera + a telephoto lens. In front, it has a 16-megapixel selfie shooter when folded. It has two batteries that combine for a total of 4380mAh.

During the first reveal, the Galaxy Fold was said to be available in four colors with LTE and 5G variants and will retail for US$ 1,980. Global availability of the refined version was announced in September at IFA 2019 in Berlin.

SEE ALSO

Samsung is already working on a more affordable Galaxy Fold

Samsung admits redesigned Galaxy Fold is still too fragile

The Galaxy Fold fails a crucial folding test

Samsung teases the next Galaxy Fold

Automotive

VinFast updates battery subscription policy for large upfront savings

Up to 20% upfront savings with a battery subscription model

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VinFast has updated its battery subscription policy for the Philippine market, offering consumers up to 20% savings in upfront costs.

In addition to the traditional vehicle purchase with battery included, customers can own a VinFast EV under a battery subscription model.

This option offers a more attractive initial investment, with upfront costs reduced by up to 20% — depending on the model.

Battery subscription fees are applied flexibly, starting from PhP 1,600 per month, based on actual distance.

For instance, the VinFast VF3 can be purchased at PhP 590,000 under the battery subscription model rather than PhP 745,000. The monthly subscription fee then starts at PhP 1,600.

Meanwhile, for the VF6 and above variants, the monthly costs start at PhP 2,350. Customers can also save more than PhP 1.5 million on the VF 9 Plus.

Flexible financial tool

Positioned as a “lifetime battery warranty” solution, the battery subscription policy is a flexible financial tool that optimizes cash flow. It is likewise a long-term commitment to consumers.

VinFast assumes full responsibility for battery performance throughout the subscription period. This includes maintenance, repairs, and free replacement when battery capacity drops below 70 percent.

In the event of battery damage caused by an accident, VinFast will handle the issue under the battery subscription policy. This helps minimize financial risks for customers.

The pioneering policy reinforces VinFast’s customer-centric commitment, advancing green mobility in the market.

Meanwhile, customers who opt for the traditional vehicle purchase with battery included, VinFast can still offer comprehensive aftersales benefits. This includes a battery warranty of up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometers.

The dual approach allows interested consumers to be in control of the ownership model that best suits their needs and personal financial capabilities.

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Computers

3D printing made accessible: Bambu Lab enters Philippine market

Empowering consumers to create tangible objects

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Photos from Rodneil Quiteles

China-based brand Bambu Lab has officially entered the Philippine market in a bid to reshape how consumers perceive and use 3D printing technology.

Established in Shenzhen, China in 2020, Bambu Lab aims to make 3D printing more accessible, practical, and relevant to daily life through printers and other supplies.

The goal is to support practical home use, creative hobbies, product design, and even specialized tools, while putting emphasis on ease of use.

With such optics, Bambu Lab is trying to make consumers feel that there is less deep technical knowledge required and that they can actually create physical objects with 3D printing.

One of their products is the entry-level Bambu Lab A1 mini, which is compact enough to fit on a small desk.

The brand also has more advanced models which are capable of printing multiple colors and materials on a single run.

To complement the hardware ecosystem, Bambu Lab’s open platform MakerWorld lets users browse, select, and print from an extensive library of shared 3D designs directly from their own desktops.

The platform features a wide variety of objects across multiple categories. There’s household items, DIY tools, children’s toys, props, and educational materials.

In the Philippines, Bambu Lab will open its first concept store at One Ayala, Makati City. The concept corner will give mallgoers the opportunity to see the range of 3D printers and consumables firsthand.

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News

nubia joins durability competition with launch of V80 Max

Budget smartphone introduces durability-related upgrades

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Not to be left behind in the budget smartphone durability and waterproofness competition, nubia has launched nubia V80 Max in the Philippines.

The latest device starts at just PhP 6,499 via ecommerce platforms like Lazada, Shopee, and TikTok Shop. It has a regular retail price of PhP 9,999.

Unarguably, the most significant upgrades from the V70 Max are the 1.8-meter drop resistance and IP64 water and dust resistance.

The phone features 360-degree all-round protection for impacts, ensuring they keep up with most competitors offering the similar durability-laden features.

Everywhere else, the improvements are incremental. The budget handset is powered by an octa-core processor with up to 1.8GHz clock speed.

The phone houses a 6,000mAh battery with support for Bypass Charging and even reverse charging.

In front is a 6.9-inch 720p display with up to 780 nits of brightness, which is 41.8% brighter than the previous generation. On paper, the panel is also capable of up to 120Hz refresh rate.

For its cameras, the nubia V80 Max has a 50MP main camera coupled with a 16MP front camera.

Additional OS features include AI Scam Alert, AI Social Publisher, and more. The V80 Max also introduces weak signal optimization for challenging areas.

It even has a network-free communication capability of its own, called nubia LinkFree.

Customers can get the new budget device in five colorways: Stardust Purple, Stellar Silver, Aurellia Gold, Sky Cyan, and Space Black.

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