News

Apple iPhone XS cruises to top of AnTuTu benchmark ranking

Leaving everyone else in its dust

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Benchmark scores haven’t been as vital in choosing the best and fastest smartphones as they once were. Nowadays, consumers prefer looking at the overall experience and how fluid the interface feels to them. And yet, there are moments when these numbers provide an early glimpse at just how fast a new phone could be.

That’s the case for the newly released iPhone XS, whose AnTuTu benchmark score has recently been revealed by the software maker itself through Chinese website Weibo.

With a score of 363,525, the new iPhone crushes the competition. For comparison, Xiaomi’s Black Shark was the top scorer with a total of 292,887, based on AnTuTu’s overall ranking from last month.

This means Apple’s new A12 Bionic chipset is an absolute beast in terms of raw performance. Not only does it beat the A11 Bionic of the iPhone X, which scored 233,698 on AnTuTu, it surpasses any Snapdragon 845-equipped Android available today.

We’re still working on our own iPhone XS review, but early signs show that it’s the smoothest and most responsive smartphone to date.

Huawei has its flagship Mate 20 series arriving soon, equipped with the recently unveiled Kirin 980 chipset. We’ll have to wait and see if it’ll be good enough to unseat all these new threats.

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9

New characters and quests await!

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As the self-aware Ubisoft has themselves admitted, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Black Flag remake is gaming’s worst kept secret today. Today, Ubisoft has finally dropped the pretense and took off the wraps on Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced.

As scheduled, the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is finally here. The remake of the game will retain the heart of the original game but builds everything again from the ground up. Obviously, the biggest improvement is the graphics, which leverages modern hardware to deliver a more immersive game.

Additionally, the combat and the stealth have been reworked to better mimic the systems introduced in later entries to the series including Shadows. Ship combat is also improved to offer more ways to fight on the high seas.

Speaking of naval combat, there will be three additional character to recruit as officers for your crew. Complete with their own backstories, these characters will provide new benefits for gameplay. Old characters, including the iconic Blackbeard, will also have new storylines and missions.

Despite its status as a remake, Black Flag Resynced does not replace the original game. Though it’s a rebuild, it adds to the experience, offering something more for those who want to relive life as a pirate.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced will be available starting July 9 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

SEE ALSO: Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a step in the right direction for the series

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News

realme 16 series 5G launches in the Philippines

Pro Plus variant, telephoto lens return; price, availability, offers

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realme has officially launched the realme 16 series 5G in the Philippines, composed of three variants: the 16 5G, 16 Pro 5G, and the 16 Pro+ 5G.

The latest numbered series entries promise improved photography, longer battery life, and smarter AI features.

The series is now available nationwide for the following SRPs:

  • realme 16 5G (8GB+256GB): PhP 25,999
  • realme 16 Pro 5G (8GB+256GB): PhP 31,999
  • realme 16 Pro 5G (12GB+512GB): PhP 37,999
  • realme 16 Pro+ 5G (12GB+512GB): PhP 43,999

To make the most out of purchasing any of realme’s new releases, customers can pre-order until April 30 for freebies such as the realme Buds Air7 or realme Watch S2.

Also up for grabs are a 5,000mAh power bank, Privilege Card, and discounts of up to PhP 2,000. These put the total perks’ value at about PhP 8,900.

In addition, Shopee customers can enjoy up to PhP 9,000 off until May 5 and get a free AKASO EK7000 series action camera. This means the device can be checked out for as low as PhP 22,499.

Master Portrait for moments that matter

The biggest highlight of the realme 16 series is the 200MP Multi-focal LumaColor Camera System on the Pro models.

This is designed for detailed shots across different focal lengths. Moreover, the Pro+ 5G brings back a 50MP 3.5x telephoto lens for more versatile portraits and zoom photography.

It can be recalled that the previous 15 series didn’t have a Pro+ model and also ditched the telephoto lens.

The more accessible realme 16 5G, on the other hand, has a dual 50MP portrait camera system powered by a Sony IMX852 sensor.

AI tools are available across all variants, including AI Edit Genie 2.0, AI Instant Clip, and AI Portrait Glow. There’s also more room to play with Vibe Master Mode and AI Photo Popout.

Built to last longer

All three variants are equipped with 7,000mAh batteries for extended daily use, with the Pro variants supporting 80W SUPERVOOC charging as well.

The Pro+ 5G runs on the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, while the Pro houses a Dimensity 7300 Max.

Both Pro models likewise have an Airflow Vapor Chamber Cooling System and have 144Hz AMOLED displays.

The base model, meanwhile, is powered by a Dimensity 6400 Turbo chipset and comes with a 120Hz AMOLED display in a more compact form.

Another key highlight is durability, as the entire lineup features IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K dust and water resistance.

The realme 16 series features these distinct colorways:

  • Pro+ 5G: Master Gold
  • Pro 5G: Pebble Grey, Orchid Purple
  • 16 5G: Air White, Air Black (with built-in Selfie Mirror at the back)
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Entertainment

DC’s Clayface teaser shows off a horror-filled superhero movie

Our first taste of James Gunn’s Gotham City will be frightening.

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Last year, James Gunn’s Superman sparked an impressive wave of excitement for the new DC Universe. Though this year’s spotlight is on Supergirl, Clayface is also getting an eponymous film, giving us our first taste of Gotham City in this bustling universe.

There’s been a lot of mystery surrounding this film. For one, Gotham City’s DCU debut is based on, arguably, a secondary villain, rather than any member of the Bat-Family. Secondly, Gunn has confirmed that the movie will heavily lean towards the horror genre, a feat others have tried but often failed.

Today, DC Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Clayface. And no, Gunn wasn’t kidding when he said this is going to be a horror film.

Tom Rhys Harries plays Matt Hagen, a rising movie star suddenly scarred by a violent attack. Desperate to resurrect his career, he resorts to a scientific experiment that turns his skin into moldable clay.

As the teaser hints, the film will not shy away from body horror, including shots of Hagen’s disfigured face either from the attack or from the clay. It’s a big departure from the more traditional style of Superman or Supergirl. But it’s a gamble that might pay off for a universe as young as the DCU.

It’s also apropos that the DCU’s first horror film is getting a horror-themed premiere. Clayface will premiere in cinemas on October 23, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Superman sequel, titled Man of Tomorrow, comes out in 2027

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