Features

ASUS Vivobook Slate 13 OLED: Stay on top of your game

Efficient and entertaining experience!

Published

March 16, 2022

MJ Jucutan

Believe it or not: We’re already living in the age of technology we’ve all envisioned when we were younger.

Gone are the days when these trinkets and electronics appear as mere distractions. Nowadays, they’re tools to help you become more efficient so you can live your life the way you want it to.

At a time when there is so much happening at once, it’s best to use a machine that will help you stay on top of your everyday activities. Par exemple, the ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED.

Versatility at its core

There’s still bearing in using a 2-in-1 laptop, especially when it comes in different modes to help you work and play. For instance, the Vivobook 13 Slate OLED can be used horizontally, with our without its keyboard attachment, or vertically like a tablet.

It comes with a magnetic cover that snaps easily yet sticks strongly, along with an attachable keyboard. This makes the Vivobook 13 Slate OLED ideal for work or school activities, and suitable for those who prefer doing their work on the go.

Productive, agile, and efficient

Whether you’re still a student or a fresh face in the workforce, being efficient is a skill you need to learn. It’s something that you can use for the rest of your life. Of course, your gear must keep up with you if that’s the path you’ll be taking.

The Vivobook 13 Slate OLED sports a quad-core 3.3 GHz Intel processor, augmented by a 128GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD and an 8GB RAM. It also has Microsoft Office pre-installed so, in a nutshell, the laptop can help you finish and submit your essays, reports, and other papers. By the way, that’s a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 out of the box.

It takes care of your eyes too. Not only does it have a low harmful blue light, it also produces clearer images at lower brightness to suit your environment. That means your eyes won’t strain too much, if at all.

Having it on laptop mode boosts your productivity, too. You gain instant and secure access to the Slate through the fingerprint sensor integrated on the power button. When using the attachable magnetic keyboard, typing can be as comfortable as the regular laptops you’re familiar with. Thanks to its keys spaced 19.05mm apart, and its 1.4mm key travel.

Further, it’s lightweight enough to carry wherever you want — even with its accessories on. The slate also comes in a secure pouch to safeguard the device and your other essentials.

Never forget to play

Even if you’re busy catching up with deadlines, you mustn’t forget to play — music or videos. The Vivobook 13 Slate OLED packs a powerful quad-speaker Dolby Atmos sound system complementing the laptop’s 13.3-inch OLED Dolby Vision touchscreen.

In addition, DisplayHDR True Black 500 and 100 percent DCI-P3 cinema-grade color ensures you’ll be getting extreme details and vivid, realistic colors. Combined with the 16:9 aspect ratio and PANTONE Validated screen, it’ll be like having a movie theatre at your fingertips.

When you’re swamped with work, take a break and stream your favorite tunes on Spotify or watch Samantha and Rachel on Business Proposal. Or any Netflix series that will give your mind a reset.

Staying connected

On hardware, the laptop is equipped with two USB-C ports, an audio jack, and a microSD card reader. It’s complete with the necessary ports you’ll need for your activities.

You can also charge its long-lasting 50Wh battery through a USB-C Easy Charge. Meaning, it can be charged from a power bank or any USB-C charger!

You can also partake in quick Zoom meetings. Hard at work here is the 5MP front facing camera. You’ll still be seen and heard loud and clear. Communication is quite smooth, thanks to its four wide-range speakers.

And if you ever feel like it, there’s a 13MP rear camera for you to use however you please.

Play with a pen

Perhaps, what we like the most is how it has support for ASUS Pen 2.0, solidifying that laptop-tablet appeal. The stylus comes with interchangeable tips, too, and writes intuitively as if the pen is like a regular pencil.

Aside from using the pen for writing and scrolling, it can also be used for taking screenshots or navigating your presentations. For an accessory this small, there’s so much you can do with it.

Price and availability

The ASUS Vivobook 13 Slate OLED is now available in ASUS Concept Stores with a starting price of only PhP 39,995. For more information, visit this link.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and ASUS Philippines.

Cameras

What HYROX Hong Kong looks like up close

Photographed on the Canon EOS R6 Mark III.

Published

June 11, 2026

MJ Jucutan

HYROX drew people from all over the world for a single purpose: finish the course. In Hong Kong, athletes showed up at AsiaWorld-Expo ready to run, row, and push through 8 stations of pure functional fitness.

So, we brought the Canon EOS R6 Mark III to capture one of the most demanding fitness races on the planet.

The Expo floor is a lighting nightmare, a mix of harsh overheads and deep shadows, but the 32.5MP sensor handled the contrast without breaking a sweat.

The 40fps electronic shutter and Pre-continuous shooting meant we were already capturing the moment half a second before we consciously decided to press the shutter.

Covering a race means staying mobile, and the 8.5-stop IBIS let us move freely alongside athletes without losing the shot. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II stayed locked on athletes even when they were squinting through the final stretch.

What came out were stories of triumph and determination. Even when their bodies were screaming, they pushed through anyway.

This is what HYROX Hong Kong looked like from the inside.

Words by MJ Jucutan. Photos by Sky Rodillas.

Buyer's Guide

Buyer’s Guide: Xiaomi Pad 8 Series

Do you need the base or the Pro?

Published

June 8, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Choosing between the Xiaomi Pad 8 and the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro feels like picking between a “sweet treat” and a “full-course meal.”

It’s deciding between a reliable travel companion and a specialized workstation. Both tablets rock a slim 5.8mm profile and a manageable 485-gram weight, and a 9200mAh battery.

However, under the hood, they are playing in different leagues. Especially since the “Pro” moniker adds serious muscle to the internals, and a solution for that glossy screen distraction.

Specs at a glance

Product	Xiaomi Pad 8	Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro
Processor	Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Display	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)
Surface	Ultra-Glossy Glass	Optional Matte Nano-Texture
Storage/RAM	Up to 12GB LPDDR5X / 256GB	Up to 16GB LPDDR5T / 512GB
Rear Camera	13MP	50MP
Front Camera	8MP	32MP
Charging	45W Turbo Charge	67W HyperCharge
Pricing	Starts at PhP 20,999	Starts at PhP 38,999

Why you should pick the Xiaomi Pad 8

The standard Pad 8 is that “Goldilocks” device, hitting that sweet spot between price and premium hardware.

It’s ideal if your tablet usage is centered on media consumption and light productivity. Since it shares the same 11.2-inch screen size as the Pro, it fits perfectly on an airplane tray table, making it a dream for frequent flyers.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is no slouch; it still runs titles like Racing Master at 60fps on Ultra-High settings. If you’re a fan of XG or KiiiKiii, you’ll appreciate the quad-speaker setup and Hi-Res Audio support without needing to pay the “Pro” tax.

It’s the smart choice for those who want a capable second screen to complement their main laptop.

Why you should level up to the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro

The “Pro” is for those who found the standard model’s limitations — like the glossy screen reflections or the 128GB storage ceiling — to be a dealbreaker.

The biggest upgrade is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a powerhouse chip that turns the tablet into a legitimate workstation for video editing in CapCut or heavy multitasking in HyperOS 3.0.

Beyond power, the Pro version offers a Matte Glass Edition, which completely solves the “reflection” issue that can ruin your movie sessions or drawing time under bright lights.

You also get significantly better cameras, such as a 32-megapixel front sensor for professional-looking video calls. There’s also a 50-megapixel rear camera for high-res document scanning.

Finally, the 67W HyperCharge means you spend less time tethered to a wall and more time being productive.

Which Xiaomi Pad is your GadgetMatch?

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 if you want the best value for your money.

It’s thin, light, and powerful enough for 90% of users. It handles gaming, writing, and music playback with ease, making it a worthy recipient of a seal of approval for anyone on a budget.

Just be sure to skip the 128GB entry model and go for the 256GB version to ensure you get those faster storage speeds.

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro if you are a “power user” who hates screen glare. If you plan to use the Focus Pen Pro for serious creative work or need 512GB of space for a massive game library, the Pro is worth the extra investment.

It’s a high-speed machine that charges faster, captures better photos, and runs every app with flagship-level fluidness.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 starts at PhP 20,999 with Normal Keyboard while the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro starts at PhP 38,999 with Touch Keyboard. Both tablets come with free Focus Pen Pro.

Apps

The No-Nonsense guide to mid-year shopping

Let AI do the heavy lifting for you this Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale

Published

June 5, 2026

MJ Jucutan

The mid-year sale season is here, but the days of mindless impulse buying are over.

Shoppers are shifting toward intentional, value-driven decisions, focusing on quality, authenticity, and actual utility over flashy, low-quality gimmicks.

From 8:00 PM on June 5 until 11:59 PM on June 8, 2026, the Lazada 6.6 Super WOW Sale is dropping major discounts. But the real win is using the platform’s tools to maximize your budget.

Lock in the baseline discounts

Before diving into specific items, map out how to stack the core offers.

You can stretch your money by hunting down LazFlash Deals for up to 90% off, collecting up to PhP 3,000 in stackable vouchers, and ensuring every order qualifies for the free shipping offers available throughout the event.

True value comes from combining these three layers of savings on things you already need.

Jisulife: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Filter for authentic value

Shopping smart means avoiding the trap of “too good to be true” counterfeits that end up in the trash.

Data shows a massive consumer shift toward trusted quality, with LazMall growth vastly outperforming standard listings during major sales.

To ensure your money goes toward genuine products with real warranties, restrict your browsing to official, brand-certified stores.

If you are upgrading your tech, parenting gear, or wardrobe, look to trusted names anchoring the sale like UGREEN, JisuLife, ANTA, Maserati Watches, Momcozy, and O.TWO.O.

UGREEN: One of the participating, trusted brands you can get from LazMall

Outsmart the noise with built-in tech

Don’t waste hours scrolling through endless listings or guessing which product is better.

The smartest way to navigate a massive mid-year event is to let the platform’s built-in features cut through choice paralysis.

Tools like AI Lazzie and AI Picks allow you to instantly compare similar items, analyze prices, and get personalized recommendations based on actual data rather than generic marketing hype.

Smart Shopper Tip: True value is a mix of the right price, verified authenticity, and a seamless return policy. Use this sale period to stock up on everyday essentials and high-quality upgrades rather than panic-buying items you’ll regret later.