News
Chinese phone brands are (unsurprisingly) taking over Asia
In the latest well duh news of the week, Chinese brands Huawei, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Vivo are doing incredibly well in the two most important markets of Asia.
The metrics come from independent analyst company Canalys, which recently released smartphone shipment numbers for both China and India for the second quarter of 2017.
Let’s start with India:
Samsung still has a sizeable lead with minor growth compared to the second quarter of 2016. The bigger story, though, is the incredible growth of Xiaomi, Vivo, and OPPO during the same time span.
The three Chinese juggernauts are crushing the competition with their low- to mid-range offerings and expanding portfolios. Xiaomi, in particular, quadrupled its shipments compared to the same period last year.
Lenovo is simply hanging around, but is still making a big enough dent to take on Samsung’s 25 percent market share. It wouldn’t be surprising to see one of these brands overtake Sammy by next year, unless the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 is able to hold down the fort.
As for China, the stats Canalys provided paint a slightly different picture. Here are the shipment rankings for Q2 2017:
- Huawei — 23 million
- OPPO — 21 million
- Vivo — 16 million
- Xiaomi — 15 million
While not reflected on the list, the biggest story here is Xiaomi overtaking Apple to take the fourth spot in China. This was made possible by a 60 percent growth for Xiaomi year-over-year.
Do note, however, that shipment numbers don’t reflect profit. So, although the stats here look great, the reality is only Apple is making large profits from all the sales, with Samsung and Huawei far behind.
It’s gotten so bad, Huawei recently claimed to have given up on entry-level smartphones because of the small margins.
SEE ALSO: Huawei is ‘giving up’ on cheap phones
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News
HONOR slaps the iPhone Air with the all-new Magic8 Pro Air
First ultra-slim phone with three proper cameras at the back
Aside from the already-released HONOR Magic8, Magic8 Pro, and Magic8 Lite, the all-new Magic8 Pro Air and PORSCHE DESIGN Magic8 RSR finally complete HONOR’s Magic8 series for 2026.
Magically Airy
Even though most major Chinese brands have backed out from announcing their iPhone Air rivals, HONOR simply doesn’t want to be left behind as they have unveiled the (very mouthful) Magic8 Pro Air. Coincidental or not, it’s announced the same day as Infinix’s NOTE Edge.
From the term itself, it is, by far, HONOR’s slimmest compact smartphone at just 6.1mm and weighs only 158 grams. While it doesn’t totally beat the 5.64mm iPhone Air and the 5.8mm Galaxy S25 Edge, anything below the 8mm mark is still considered “very slim” enough in today’s smartphone standards.
HONOR made this featherweight champion all thanks to its Cicada Wing phone structure paired with an Aerial Aluminum mid-frame. It’s not only light, it’s durable altogether.
The Magic8 Pro Air is also the polar opposite of HUAWEI’s Mate 70 Air. Compared to that ginormous 7-inch screen, the Magic8 Pro Air is a lot smaller with only a 6.31-inch display. Meanwhile, iPhone Air is in the sweet spot at 6.5 inches while S25 Edge is at the conventional 6.7 incher.
That display isn’t lagging behind though with its 1.5K resolution, 6000 nits peak brightness, and HONOR’s revolutionary Eye-Care features with PWM Dimming for ultra-sensitive eyes.
Airy Yet Mighty
MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 is at the core of the Magic8 Pro Air. Coupled with a 12GB LPDDR5x RAM and either 256/512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, it’s a true definition of a compact flagship.
Cameras are for another story. The HONOR Magic8 Pro Air brings not just one, not two, but three cameras at its back — very surprising for a device this size. There’s a 50MP f/2.2 112-degree UWA (Ultra-Wide Angle) lens as well as 50MP f/1.6 main camera based on a 1/1.3-inch image sensor. The selfie shooter is not spared as well with its capable 50MP f/2.0 camera.
But, the star of the show has got to be its 64MP f/2.6 periscope telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom. This makes the first super slim smartphone to boast a dedicated zoom lens. ICYMI, the Galaxy S25 Edge and the iPhone Air lack a dedicated telephoto shooter and only relies through in-sensor cropping via their main sensors.
Furthermore, it is equipped with a 5500mAh battery which is more than enough for its “petite” form factor. It can then be filled fast with HONOR’s 80W SuperCharge and 50W wireless SuperCharge.
Last but definitely not the least, the color shades of the Magic8 Pro Air are a mix of iPhone Air and 17 Pro’s colorways — including the Light Orange alonsgide Fairy Purple, as well as the Feather White and Shadow Black classics.
Sleek Peek
It would not be a complete flagship series without THE very special PORSCHE DESIGN Magic8 RSR model in the roster. As usual, it’s always the maxed out variant of the already full-fledged Magic8 Pro flagship.
While it rocks the same display, cameras, and even the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC by Qualcomm, configuration goes beyond the limits with a 1TB UFS 4.1 storage and a whopping 24GB LPDDR5X memory — the biggest flex a slab-phone could get this 2026 with the ever-soaring RAM prices.
Battery and charging speeds were somewhat improved: 7200mAh and 120W HyperCharge (over 7100mAh + 100W of the regular Pro model).
Colors were then heavily-inspired from shades of Porsche’s supercars: Moonlight Stone and Slate Gray.
Additionally, the Magic8 RSR will also have a Professional Camera Kit — a first time for any HONOR smartphone.
Pricing and Availability
The HONOR Magic8 Pro Air and PORSCHE DESIGN Magic8 RSR are available in various pricing and configurations:
Magic8 Pro Air
- 12+256GB = CNY 4999 (US$ 700 / EUR 610 / GBP 530 / SG$ 910 / MYR 2970 / PhP 40,900 / INR 62,260)
- 12+512GB = CNY 5299 (US$ 745 / EUR 645 / GBP 560 / SG$ 965 / MYR 3145 / PhP 43,360 / INR 65,995)
- 16+512GB = CNY 5599 (US$ 785 / EUR 670 / GBP 580 / SG$ 1010 / MYR 3300 / PhP 45,150 / INR 69,690)
- 16+1TB = CNY 5999 (US$ 845 / EUR 730 / GBP 635 / SG$ 1095 / MYR 3560 / PhP 49,085 / INR 74,715)
PORSCHE DESIGN Magic8 RSR
- 16+512GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1115 / EUR 960 / GBP 820 / SG$ 1430 / PhP 63,685 / INR 95,930)
- 24+1TB = CNY 8999 (US$ 1260 / EUR 1070 / GBP 920 / SG$ 600 / PhP 70,905 / INR 107,700)
Global availability was not mentioned. Hopefully, HONOR will bring these (especially the Magic8 Pro Air) to international markets.
News
Infinix NOTE Edge debuts: High-end features for accessible pricing
Phone debuts Dimensity 7100 5G platform, more features
The Infinix NOTE Edge, which combines premium aesthetics and cutting-edge all-around capabilities, has officially launched.
Infinix’s latest phone sets new standards for design and user experience, featuring a 7.2mm body and a 3D curved screen. And in spite the ultra-slim design, the phone packs innovative features for an asking price starting at just US$ 200.
It debuts the MediaTek Dimensity 7100 5G platform and runs on XOS 16. It also houses a 6,500mAh battery with support for 45W charging and a self-repairing system.
Performance wise, the handset can sustain 90fps for popular titles. Connectivity is also boosted with 13 joint 5G optimizations with MediaTek.
When fully drained, the NOTE Edge’s battery activates a low-current repair process. This uses dynamic recrystallization to heal micro-cracks in low-power cycles.
In front, the phone sports a 1.5K display that is ergonomically shaped to sit naturally in the hand. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 7i and rated IP65 for water and dust resistance.
In addition, it has up to 4500 nits peak brightness and is complemented by a JBL-tuned dual stereo speaker system.
On the side is a customizable One-Tap Button that can activate the built-in FOLAX AI assistant.
On the outside, the Infinix NOTE Edge has a Pearl Light Ripple Shadow exterior. It is available on four colors: Lunar Titanium, Silk Green, Stellar Blue, and Shadow Black.
Particularly, the Silk Green variant introduces Infinix’s Polyurethane water-wave brushed texture process.
This makes up for a leather-like surface with silky smoothness that shimmers under sunlight.
Onto its cameras, the NOTE Edge comes with a 50MP main camera with a large 1/2 sensor. Infinix’s new Live Photo mode also lets users record 3-second dynamic clips with audio.
News
Two new Xiaomi audio wearables join REDMI Note 15 Series
The Mijia Smart Audio Glasses and REDMI Buds 8 Lite
Xiaomi has launched two new audio wearables on the same day it launched the REDMI Note 15 in the Philippines.
These two wearables are the Mijia Smart Audio Glasses and the REDMI Buds 8 Lite.
The two new offerings expand Xiaomi’s ecosystem, bringing innovative features in different form factors to users.
Mijia Smart Audio Glasses
The Mijia Smart Audio Glasses house a speaker system and four built-in microphones in a stylish eyewear design.
This enables users to stay aware of surroundings while enjoying crystal-clear audio and 4.5m/s wind noise reduction.
It is an ideal accessory for city walks, outdoor travel, and even more discreet scenarios like meetings and calls with a new privacy mode.
This mode leverages a custom algorithm to ensure clear audio while significantly reducing sound leakage.
Inside the glasses are non-coaxial steel-cased batteries. Full charging takes just about an hour, and fuels up to 13 hours of music playback.
Users can connect the wearable to the Xiaomi Glasses app for greater customization and control.
The Mijia glasses are available in three styles: Titanium, Pilot-Style, and Browline. All lenses can be replaced with prescription ones if needed.
In addition, the Browline and Titanium come with up to 25% blue light protection lenses while the Pilot-Style features up to a 99.99% UV light blocking rate.
Pricing:
- Browline and Pilot-Style: Starts at PhP 10,999
- Titanium: Starts at PhP 12,999
REDMI Buds 8 Lite
On the other hand, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite are built for those who seek practicality and crystal-clear sound at the same time.
The buds house large 12.4mm titanium-diaphragm drivers for clear sound and rich detail. They support Bluetooth 5.4 connection for AAC and SBC audio codecs for high-quality audio across a wide range of devices.
Moreover, the REDMI Buds 8 Lite feature up to 42dB hybrid active noise cancellation, on top of a Transparency Mode.
The ANC uses a combination of talk and feedback microphones to effectively detect and suppress ambient noise.
And with the Xiaomi Earbuds app, users can tailor-fit the sound better to their liking with five pre-installed EQ modes and the option to customize EQ tuning.
The Buds 8 Lite is available in Black, White, and Blue starting at PhP 1,199.
Joining the two new Xiaomi audio wearables are other AIoT devices that are now available at online and offline Xiaomi stores: the Mijia Smart Air Purifier Max, Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6, and 6 Lite.
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