Features

Is Fortnite Battle Royale a worthy PUBG console alternative?

Published

October 11, 2017

Joseph Berida

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is gaming’s latest phenomenon, and like anything that’s super hot in the industry, it’s already being cloned by other game developers. Fortnite Battle Royale is the most popular clone so far. How well does it stack up as a console alternative?

With over 13 million units sold and a Steam record of almost two million concurrent players at its peak as of this article’s writing, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (also known as PUBG) is 2017’s biggest game. No surprise then that copycats have sprung up since PUBG went viral. Fortnite Battle Royale comes closest to the former’s success, having over one million players when it launched on September 26.

So what exactly is it about these games that has gamers flocking to them?

As mentioned in our quick play games list, PUBG is an online competitive multiplayer shooter heavily inspired by the film adaptation of the Japanese novel Battle Royale. 100 players parachute from a cargo plane onto an island where they have to fight over limited resources and stay within a safe space that gets increasingly smaller over time. Last person or team standing wins.

Fortnite Battle Royale copies that concept wholesale, with very minor cosmetic differences such as the “party bus” replacing the cargo plane and the “storm” signified by a transparent pink wall replacing the contracting blue wall of death.

Well, there is also the one major difference, which is the entire crafting mechanic from the original version of Fortnite.

A short background on Fortnite

Fortnite is a cooperative survival game where players have to gather materials to build structures and weapons to fight off a zombie horde. It’s still in beta with a full free-to-play release planned for next year, but it’s available now on PS4, XB1, and PC for US$ 30. Epic Games, the company that created Fortnite, saw the popularity of PUBG and decided to make their own free-to-play version of it. This stirred up a whole controversy with Bluehole, the makers of PUBG.

Setting aside this spat between two extremely profitable companies, does Fortnite Battle Royale actually compare to PUBG as a good alternative, especially since the former is available on consoles while the latter isn’t?

Colorful contrast

While not being terribly original visually, Fortnite Battle Royale at the very least pops with its bright DreamWorks-like design, unlike PUBG’s drab late-2000s action shooter aesthetic. Overwatch might be the king of cool cartoony 3D graphics, but there isn’t a whole lot of competition in that market that Fortnite Battle Royale can’t still be nice to look at.

The verdant hills and small living spaces evoking suburban and countryside Americana of Fortnite Battle Royale stand out next to the barren, brown, and bombed-out quasi-Eastern Europe of PUBG. The former’s one map is significantly smaller than the latter’s, but it shows more character.

Dynamic environments

The kiddy CGI scenery isn’t just a backdrop for mayhem. Because of the crafting mechanic from vanilla Fortnite in place, almost every object and structure in Fortnite Battle Royale can be harvested for resources. That also means just about anything can be destroyed, whether it’s a pre-made house or a custom-built room that a player is hiding in.

In PUBG, environmental destruction is limited to tiny wooden shacks, glass windows, and doors. Safety can still be guaranteed behind a concrete wall or boulder. Not so in Fortnite Battle Royale, which adds a whole new level of anxiety, as no place is truly secure.

It also works the other way, since you can build yourself a makeshift fort complete with stairs and traps in the middle of an open field if you have the resources. This obviously makes you a target, but it can spell the difference between a rousing win or a crushing defeat when it’s down to a handful of players and the safe zone is limited to a small spot of land.

Switching to the building mode also leaves you vulnerable. Anyone can just shoot you when you’re busy buttoning through the types of structure you can build and the materials to build them with. It’s a risk-reward dimension that just isn’t present in PUBG.

Slow and floaty

It might not be such a dangerous proposition to switch to building mode, though, if the game were more responsive and the controls more intuitive. The button layout for the combat controls maps closely to standard shooting games on consoles, but there is no immediate example that comes to mind for the crafting controls. It’s not the easiest thing to wrap your head around, so going back and forth between the different layouts when you’re in a heated situation can lead to fumbling through your building options.

The shooting as well as general character control aren’t perfect either. The guns don’t have much of a kick when you’re firing them, nor do they give much force feedback when you’re the one getting fired on. Your avatar doesn’t have much weight to its movement, too. There’s a distinct delay when picking up items from the ground and when tabbing through your inventory.

Fortnite: Battle Royale has a very light, dare I say, cheap feel to it. It’s all the more apparent after playing Overwatch and Destiny 2, both games that provide a very tight and tactile sensation with every push of a button and pull of a trigger.

Emulating the core thrills

Despite bungling the controls, Fortnite Battle Royale still captures the excitement that’s core to PUBG’s success. That is, trying to survive against overwhelming odds in a massive map that slowly but surely forces confrontation in wildly different ways.

Whether it’s going in guns blazing and wiping out numerous opponents or avoiding fights and getting the one crucial kill at the very end, it gets the blood pumping either way. Being able to jump right into a new game when you do fail is also retained from PUBG’s formula, so it’s easy to keep on playing after dying.

Fortnite Battle Royale, like PUBG, doesn’t have an official “1.0” version release, so here’s hoping for more polish on the product in the future. Right now, it’s a decent facsimile to PUBG, and being the only option on consoles that provides a PUBG-like experience, it’s worth checking out. It’ll only cost you about 16GB of hard drive space and US$ 0.

[irp posts=”21299″ name=”Best Video Games of 2017 (Q3 Edition)”]

Features

Why the OPPO Reno15 5G series is a creator’s essential

4K Ultra-Steady, 50MP groufies, and AI edits in one device.

Published

March 19, 2026

MJ Jucutan

There are two kinds of travel essentials: the ones you pack because you have to, and the ones you pack because they make the story better.

Often, we feel forced to choose between traveling light and bringing the bulky gear necessary to document the trip properly.

On your next trip, the OPPO Reno15 5G Series eliminates that compromise. With a thoughtful mix of hardware and software, it becomes your pocket-sized production crew, ready to capture life as it unfolds.

The crew in your pocket

The first rule of travel is to keep things light, but for a creator, “light” cannot mean lower quality.

Whether you are navigating crowded night markets or chasing the golden hour on a steep, adventurous rooftop, the 4K Ultra Steady feature ensures your footage looks composed even when the environment is chaotic.

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This stabilization changes the energy of a travel vlog, turning handheld montages into polished, cinematic clips that are ready for a Reel the moment you hit save.

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Capturing everything and everyone

Travel stories are built on shared memories, but too often, the person behind the lens is left out.

Group shots often become a messy scramble to squeeze everyone into a tight frame. The 50MP Selfie Camera changes that outcome with its 0.6x ultra-wide-angle mode

It captures the entire group with sharp detail across the frame, ensuring no one is relegated to the blurry edges.

Even if you need to crop the image later for a specific social media layout, faces remain clear and the background stays defined.

The result is a “groufie” that feels complete and professional

Scroll-stopping memories

We often summarize our trips through collages: layered photos that tell a single story.

The AI Motion Photo Popout tool brings a new dimension to these memories. With a few taps in the Gallery, the subject separates from the background to create a sophisticated, layered effect.

These edits serve as the perfect foundation for Instagram Story covers, Reel thumbnails, or high-quality personal wallpapers.

It’s a subtle digital adjustment that makes a visible difference in how your audience experiences your journey.

Reliability for the modern creator.

A smartphone is no longer just a gadget; it is a creative partner. The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G features a sleek design that looks at home beside a passport or a boarding pass.

It’s light enough for long days of exploration but polished enough for high-end city trips. The reliable battery life supports early flights, full-day itineraries, and even late-night uploads.

You’ll spend less time searching for an outlet and more time capturing the moments that matter.

Which OPPO Reno15 Series 5G is your GadgetMatch?

The series offers variants designed to fit your specific creative style.

Pick the OPPO Reno15 5G if you want a balanced everyday companion, and if you want flexibility and reliability without overcomplicating the process.

There’s the OPPO Reno15 Pro; the choice for creators where photography and videography are the main event, offering enhanced tools in a compact form.

But if you’re a value-conscious traveler who wants a practical entry point that provides core camera and AI features, then the OPPO Reno15 F 5G is your GadgetMatch.

Whichever you choose, the series proves that a travel accessory can do more than complement an outfit. It preserves your stories because it doubles as a content creator’s must-have tool.

The OPPO Reno15 Series 5G is now available in OPPO stores nationwide and the OPPO Online Store.

SEE MORE: The art of being in and behind the frame | OPPO Reno15 Pro: Camera Review

Features

Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

So you can focus more on what matters

Published

March 13, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles and JP

@gadgetmatch A phone that does more… so you can focus more on the moments that matter. The Galaxy S26 Ultra lets Galaxy AI handle the small stuff so you can stay present for the moments that matter. Also great for the occasional KPop concert video. Pre-order until March 17 and get double storage worth up to PhP 14,000. https://www.samsung.com/ph/smartphones/galaxy-s26-ultra/buy/ #GalaxyS26Ultra #EverydaywithGalaxyAI @samsungph ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch

Here’s the dream: a phone that helps you stay on top of things, so you can focus more on what matters.

That’s basically the idea behind Galaxy AI on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Instead of adding more things to do, the phone helps take care of the small stuff for you. Things like reminding you what’s next, or surfacing the information you need right when you need it.

So you spend less time digging through apps and more time actually doing the things you planned to do.

Editing photos is easier too. With Photo Assist, you can just describe the change you want… and Galaxy AI fills in the rest.

And if you’re cleaning up a video, Audio Eraser can reduce background noise — even from clips on third-party apps like Instagram or YouTube.

The point isn’t to make your phone the center of attention. It’s to make it helpful enough that you can forget about it for a while. Until something worth capturing happens.

And when things get a little chaotic — like concerts, street performances, or just life moving fast — Super Steady Video helps keep your shots level.

That’s definitely coming with me to the next K-pop concert.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra. Smarter phone. Slightly less stressed me.
Pre-orders are open now — with double storage for early buyers, plus additional discounts and installment offers from participating banks.

Which is great… because apparently I shoot way too many videos.

Features

Samsung is done chasing specs, says TM Roh

Samsung shifts beyond spec wars

Published

March 9, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

For more than a decade, the smartphone industry has been defined by a familiar race. More megapixels. Faster processors. Bigger batteries. Thinner designs. Being first. Being the most. And being the fastest.

The industry rewarded brands that appeared to be chasing specs. Bigger numbers meant progress. At least on paper.

But if you ask Samsung, the days of chasing specs may no longer define the future of Galaxy smartphones.

During a regional roundtable following the launch of the latest Galaxy devices, I asked TM Roh how the company decides when it’s time for a major hardware upgrade if it isn’t simply chasing specs.

His answer revealed how Samsung now approaches the future of its flagship smartphones.

According to Roh, hardware upgrades are increasingly tied to how well they support Galaxy AI.

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware,” Roh said during the session, speaking through a translator. He added that Samsung develops its hardware, software, and AI capabilities together — and that major upgrades tend to arrive only when the company reaches what he described as the “desired level of excellence.”
(Quotes are approximate translations.)

“To make Galaxy AI run smoothly, it must be backed by strong hardware.”
(Approximate translation from TM Roh during the roundtable)

In short, Samsung says it’s no longer chasing specs for the sake of winning spec-sheet battles. Not anymore.

Samsung CEO TM Roh answering questions at a media roundtable in San Francisco

When hardware stops chasing numbers

Hardware innovation still matters. But Samsung increasingly frames those improvements as tools that enable smarter software experiences.

During the roundtable, Roh pointed to Samsung’s custom application processors, which now include stronger neural processing capabilities designed to handle AI workloads more efficiently. Dedicated hardware is also being introduced to strengthen privacy and security — including technologies embedded directly into the display. (See: Privacy Display)

Even cameras, historically one of the biggest battlegrounds for smartphone innovation, are evolving in the same direction.

Roh noted that while sensors and lenses remain important, modern smartphone photography now relies heavily on AI-powered image processing working alongside the hardware. This could also explain why, as of writing, Samsung has resisted the extra telephoto lens accessories that is prevalent with other brands.

The shift is subtle but important. Instead of emphasizing bigger numbers on spec sheets, Samsung positions hardware upgrades as part of a broader system designed to support intelligent software.

Why Samsung gets dunked on online

That philosophy, however, exists in tension with how smartphones are often discussed online.

In a landscape driven by benchmark charts and viral comparisons, incremental refinement rarely generates the same excitement as dramatic hardware leaps. Over the past few years, the Galaxy S series has occasionally become an easy target for criticism — especially as rival Android manufacturers compete to deliver the biggest numbers, the fastest charging speeds, or the thinnest designs.

The temptation in tech media, particularly on platforms like YouTube, is often to dunk on Samsung rather than examine the nuance behind its approach. Spectacular upgrades and dramatic spec sheets make better thumbnails.

Yet listening to Samsung executives across multiple briefings reveals something interesting: the messaging is remarkably consistent. Whether discussing cameras, processors, or ecosystem features, the company repeatedly returns to the same principle. Hardware innovation matters most when it unlocks a better overall experience.

A company that knows its role

That consistency suggests Samsung knows exactly who it is in the smartphone industry.

As the largest Android smartphone manufacturer globally, Samsung occupies a position where competitors often measure themselves against it. Many brands differentiate by pushing aggressive specifications or experimenting with bold hardware changes.

In many ways, everyone else is punching up.

Scale changes priorities. When you’re building devices for hundreds of millions of users, the focus shifts toward reliability, ecosystem integration, and increasingly, AI-powered experiences that work consistently across products.

Why Southeast Asia matters in Samsung’s AI strategy

During the roundtable, Roh also emphasized the importance of Southeast Asia and Oceania to Samsung’s AI strategy.

According to the company’s internal research, the region ranks among the most receptive markets for AI-powered mobile features. Younger demographics and heavy social media usage are driving adoption.

In markets where smartphones are central to communication, content creation, and digital services, AI-powered tools — from translation features to image editing — have found strong traction.

That context helps explain why Samsung continues to position AI as the defining layer of its next-generation devices.

Is the smartphone spec race ending?

For years, smartphone makers built their identities around chasing specs.

Bigger numbers meant better phones. Faster chips meant progress.

Samsung, it seems, is chasing something else.

Whether that bet ultimately reshapes the smartphone experience remains to be seen. But if Roh’s comments are any indication, the next major leap in Galaxy hardware won’t happen simply because the numbers can go higher.

It will happen when Samsung believes the experience — not the spec sheet — is ready to move forward.