News
Abenson goes big with iPhone 17 pre-order deals
Pre-order Oct. 9–16 and get exclusive freebies.
Abenson is kicking off pre-orders for the iPhone 17 Series from October 9 to 16, 2025, giving early birds the chance to snag exciting freebies and promos. Customers can choose from the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and the sleek new iPhone Air—each designed to match your power and style needs.
You can pre-order in-store at any Abenson branch or online through Abenson.com. Selected branches—Global City, Waltermart Sta. Maria, Alabang Town Center, and UP Town Center—will also host midnight launch events for those who reserve early.
Enjoy exclusive freebies
Abenson is making your iPhone upgrade more rewarding with exclusive giveaways:
- Free personal refrigerator worth ₱5,995 for every iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max pre-order
- Free mini party box worth ₱4,999 for all iPhone 17 and iPhone Air pre-orders
Both offers run from October 9–16, 2025, with claiming on October 17 only.
Pay easy with installment options
You can bring home your new iPhone for as low as ₱3,666.25/month for 24 months. Abenson’s partner banks are also offering 0% installment plans, cashback, and exclusive perks under the Shop Now, Pay Later promo.
Here’s a quick look at what’s available from October 9–19, 2025:
- Metrobank: ₱2,000 discount + 0% installment up to 24 months
- BDO: Up to ₱6,000 cashback
- BPI: 0% installment up to 24 months
- Security Bank: Up to ₱5,000 cashback
- RCBC: 0% installment + freebies
- UnionBank: ₱1,000 cashback
- HSBC: 0% installment pricing
- PNB: ₱3,000 cashback with minimum ₱85,000 spend
- GCash/GGives: Zero downpayment, 0.9% interest
- Home Credit: 0% interest for up to 24 months
Select bank offers also let you pay up to three months later and get up to ₱15,000 off on cash price.
Win big in the iPhone raffle
Each pre-order automatically gives you a chance to win exciting prizes such as a MacBook Air M2, iPad 11th Gen, Apple Watch SE 2, or even a Sony 55” Smart TV and Kolin 1HP Inverter Aircon.
The raffle runs from October 9–16, 2025, with claiming from October 17–19. Winners will be drawn on October 22, 2025.
Pre-order now at Abenson and make the most of these limited-time offers. Terms and conditions apply.
When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.
According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.
If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.
Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.
To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.
However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.
SEE ALSO: Apple Vision Pro gets M5 chip upgrade
Apps
YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally
The update is rolling out globally now.
Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.
Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.
Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.
There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.
Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.
There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.
SEE ALSO: YouTube remains top PH video platform; advertisers urged to continue investing
Enterprise
OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme
Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.
OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.
Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.
For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.
According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.
As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.
SEE ALSO: realme is reportedly going back to being an OPPO sub-brand
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