News

Apple iPhone isn’t top-selling phone in China anymore

Published

January 30, 2017

Marvin Velasco

The world’s largest smartphone market hasn’t been so fond of iPhones lately. It was a close fight, but Apple has finally been overtaken by China’s very own brands.

For the first time since 2012, iPhones are no longer the most sold handsets in China for a single year. In 2016, Apple managed to sell a total of 12 million iPhone 6s units, which accounted for two percent of all phones sold in the country, while OPPO earned four percent of the market with 17 million sales of its R9 flagship smartphone.

We saw it coming: Last October, we reported about OPPO and Vivo’s surge in China’s rankings. It was only a matter of time for them to catch up to Apple and take over the charts.

This would explain why the Cupertino company is so hellbent on officially setting foot in India. Although Apple has been making good sales in the nation of 1.2 billion people, they’ll need to begin locally producing components in order to comply with the government’s requirements for setting up its own retail stores in the country.

Apple’s primary weakness in such markets is the lack of diversity in its portfolio. By having only premium handsets to its name, the company has no way of competing against the entry-level and midrange offerings of OPPO and Vivo, whose smartphones have been improving in quality, as well. Even the strong promotion of the iPhone 7 wasn’t enough to lure in the average Chinese consumer.

Huawei has also been rising up at the expense of Apple. Year-on-year shipments of the former have been up by 21 percent, while the latter has experienced a 21 percent decline during the same period.

Apple will really have to step up its game with the next iPhone to keep up this year. Samsung, who’s well aware of the booming midrange segment, has already launched its Galaxy A series, which sits below the flagship Galaxy S line. Google, on the other hand, might be releasing a lower-priced Pixel later this year.

[irp posts=”7228″ name=”These are the new top vendors in the world’s biggest smartphone market”]

Source: CNBC

Image credit: Mike Deerkoski

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

Published

July 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140^th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140^th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

News

Samsung releases teaser with Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs

Spot also teases upcoming Galaxy foldable devices

Published

July 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung has just premiered a new spot that showcases clips directly from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, just a few weeks before the movie hits cinemas later this month.

The clip showcases Spider-Man as he fights crime and puts his phone through the wear and tear of superhero life.

In the spot, the Fabricator creates a number of devices for Spider-Man built to stand up to the pace and unpredictability of life behind the mask. This includes what clearly looks like a Galaxy Z Flip phone.

This provides a behind the scenes look into how Peter Parker ultimately landed on a Samsung phone — as fans speculated from the first trailer.

Meanwhile, Ned can also be seen using the Spidey Tracker to try and catch Spider-Man throughout the city on his Samsung phone.

The campaign pretty much formalizes Jacob Batalon — who plays Ned Leeds — as Samsung’s Team Galaxy’s newest ambassador.

The clip ends with the text “A brand new shape for a Brand New Day”, which is also a callback to what the brand has been teasing regarding the future of its Galaxy foldable devices.

Samsung to release latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked

Next week, Samsung is set to launch its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

Ahead of the launch, customers who wish to reserve as early as now can get a US$ 30 credit during pre-order, for a total of up to US$ 1,230 in savings.

Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 US$ 500 Samsung.com gift cards towards their purchase.

Apps

iOS 27 public beta gives us our first taste of Siri AI

You can access the beta for free.

Published

July 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Normally, public betas come and go with nary a peep from anyone but dedicated fans and testers. After all, why care about a beta when the final release is likely just around the corner? This one, however, is special. Today, Apple launched the iOS 27 public beta, and it’s our first taste of the redesigned Siri AI.

Recently, WWDC 2026 unveiled Apple’s latest attempts at entering the AI segment. Whereas previous iterations to incorporate AI failed to make an impact, Siri AI promises to provide users with helpful feedback that’s actually helpful.

Now, in the public beta for iOS 27, users all over can finally access the new assistant. To get to the beta, you need to be a part of the beta program, which you can easily sign up for on beta.apple.com. Once signed up, you can get the update from Software Update in Settings. You’ll see options for a developer beta and a public beta. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta.

At face value, Siri AI offers much of what you’d get from a traditional AI-powered assistant. However, it does slightly differ because it integrates the entire phone. The assistant contextualizes your information (including emails, messages, and photos) to give you the most accurate feedback that you might need.

If that’s not enough, Siri AI also has its own chatbot app. If you’re more used to ChatGPT, the assistant should give you that bit of familiarity.

Now, if you don’t want to go for a beta, Apple is expected to launch iOS 27 in its final form sometime in September.