Tablets

The 8th-generation iPad brings a lot of upgrades

Already available for orders

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Whereas the new iPad Air touts the more powerful A14 Bionic chip, Apple is also bolstering its entry iPad through a much-needed upgrade. Though its slimmer sibling took the spotlight, there’s a lot to love about the 8th-generation iPad.

A12 under the hood

With the powerful A12 Bionic chip, the new iPad boasts up to 40 percent faster CPU performance and with twice as much graphics capabilities. In this iteration, Apple is bringing its machine-learning Neural Engine system to the iPad for the first time.

Strengthened by iPadOS 14

Starting September 16, Apple is rolling out the upcoming iPadOS 14 to compatible devices including the new iPad. Among other things, the update will ease functionalities between the iPad and the Apple Pencil. Bolstered by the new Neural Engine, users can now accurately transcribe their handwriting into typed text in no time at all.

Further, the new iPad will have updated, cleaner designs for several functions including FaceTime, Siri, Search, Photos, and Files. The update also redesigns widgets for a more seamless home screen.

A greener iPad

In 2030, Apple hopes to become carbon neutral, marking a vital green goal for the tech maker. In line with that, the new iPad uses 100 percent recycle aluminum and 100 percent recycled tin. It also remains free from harmful chemicals and uses wood fiber for its packaging.

Pricing and availability

The 8th-generation iPad is already up for preorders starting today. Apple will ship the units beginning Friday, September 18. The iPad will retail for as low as US$ 329.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch SE now official, has Family Setup

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TechLife Pad Neo SE: Price, availability in the Philippines

Now available at PhP 8,999 SRP, with deals on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

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TechLife has officially launched the Pad Neo SE. It’s a 10.1-inch tablet aimed at families, positioned as a study device first, with room for creativity and after-school entertainment. It comes in Space Grey, Bubble Blue, and Aurora Green.

The Eye Comfort Display is the main draw. The larger screen gives kids more space for research and online classes. It’s designed to keep longer study sessions easier on the eyes.

Dual stereo speakers handle lessons and shared family viewing, while split-screen support lets kids and parents run two tasks at once.

The tablet supports Smart Parental Control and Google Kids Space. Parents can pick the apps, books, videos, and learning content their kids can access.

For the hardware, the Pad Neo SE runs Android 16 on an octa-core processor. It offers up to 8GB of RAM, including memory expansion, and 64GB of storage that can be expanded up to 1TB.

Also, its 6000mAh battery last through a full school day of classes and lessons. Rounding out the spec sheet are 5MP front and rear cameras and the Google Gemini AI assistant.

Price, availability in the Philippines

The Pad Neo SE retails at PhP 8,999. With vouchers, it can go for as low as PhP 7,099 on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

As part of TechLife’s Peak Season offers, which run from October 29, 2026 to January 3, 2027, buyers get a free Folio Case or a free Power Bank R211 5,000mAh, depending on availability. An online giveaway for the Pad Neo SE also starts October 29 on TechLife’s official social media pages.

Vouchers apply to participating online platforms only. Stocks and vouchers are limited. Freebies are available while supplies last.

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Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 out now, starts at PhP 25,995

Designed for today’s media consumption habits

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Lenovo has launched the new Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 tablet designed to deliver an immersive entertainment experience for today’s media consumption habits.

It is priced at PhP 25,995. As part of the launch, Lenovo is offering special freebies for purchases from October 28 to November 15, while supplies last.

Early buyers can get a free Lenovo Tab One or in-store vouchers up to PhP 3,000. Full mechanics can be seen here.

The tablet features a 12.1-inch 2.5K display with Dolby Vision and HDR10 support, complemented by a JBL-engineered 9-speaker system with Dolby Atmos.

A built-in Bluetooth speaker mode also enables the tablet to function as a standalone speaker.

This combination takes care of the audiovisual aspect, but the tablet comes with upgrades across versatility and intelligent features. Such expands the role of the slate across a broader range of activities and environments.

The Lenovo Tab Plus Gen 2 comes with a 360-degree rotating kickstand, supporting multiple positions across both portrait and landscape modes.

This versatility support various scenarios, like streaming in bed, following recipes in the kitchen, or taking the tablet on a camping trip.

The tablet houses a 10,200mAh battery to support long usage hours. It charges at up to 45W. Also inside are up to 12GB of memory and up to 256GB of storage, as well as a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 processor.

For multitaskers, the Tab Plus Gen 2 can also be connected with the Lenovo Tab Pen Plus, Lenovo Wireless Keyboard, and Lenovo 68W USB-C Wall Charger.

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Apple unveils its biggest iPad mini update yet

Apple upgrades its compact tablet.

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Apple has unveiled a redesigned iPad mini, introducing an OLED display, a faster processor, and improved durability. The update brings significant changes to Apple’s smallest tablet while retaining its compact form factor.

The new iPad mini features an 8.5-inch OLED display, up from the previous model’s 8.3-inch LCD screen. The upgrade promises deeper blacks, improved contrast, and a better viewing experience for videos, games, and other content.

Apple has also equipped the tablet with its A20 Pro chip, delivering improved performance and enhanced capabilities for artificial intelligence tasks.

Bigger OLED display, improved performance

The new iPad mini features a Super Retina XDR OLED display with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits for HDR content. It can also reduce its brightness to just 1 nit, making it more comfortable to use in darker environments.

Apple has reduced the tablet’s thickness to 5.4mm while retaining its compact design. The redesigned model also features slimmer bezels.

For video calls, the tablet features a 12-megapixel Center Stage front-facing camera positioned along its landscape edge. This makes video calls more convenient when using the tablet horizontally.

The new model also introduces IP67 water and dust resistance, offering additional protection against everyday accidents.

Improved AI capabilities

The A20 Pro chip powers the new iPad mini, bringing improvements to CPU and graphics performance.

Apple says the processor delivers up to 60 percent faster multithreaded CPU performance and up to 4.5 times faster AI performance compared with the previous generation.

These improvements support Apple’s expanding Apple Intelligence ecosystem and its latest Siri capabilities.

The upgraded hardware should also benefit users who edit photos, multitask across applications, and run demanding games on the compact tablet.

Pricing and availability

The new iPad mini starts at US$699 for the Wi-Fi model and US$849 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant in the United States.

In Singapore, the tablet starts at S$999 for the Wi-Fi model and S$1,229 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version. Eligible customers can get the Wi-Fi model starting at S$929 with education pricing.

In the Philippines, the new iPad mini starts at PhP 49,990 for the Wi-Fi model and PhP 59,990 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant. Eligible customers can purchase it with education pricing starting at PhP 45,990.

The tablet comes in midnight and starlight finishes, with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage configurations.

In the United States, preorders begin October 28, 2026, with availability starting November 6. Singapore preorders open October 29, with availability also beginning November 6.

Apple has yet to announce a specific preorder or release date for the Philippines. The company says the new iPad mini will be available soon through its Philippine online store and authorized resellers.

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