Smartphones
Galaxy Z Fold6 quick look vs OPPO Find N3, HONOR Magic V2
Is the bar-type look working for you?
@gadgetmatch Which one is your GadgetMatch? 🤩 #GalaxyUnpacked ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Samsung has made minute adjustments to the dimensions of the Galaxy Z Fold6. However, they remain bullish on the bar-type look when it’s folded.
How does the bar-type look and feel compared against two foldables that got rave reviews for their form factors? We had a very, very quick side-by-side with the Galaxy Z Fold6, OPPO Find N3, and HONOR Magic V2.
Out of the three, the Galaxy Z Fold6 certainly feels the least more like a regular slab smartphone when folded. The Find N3’s stout look has its charm. Meanwhile, the Magic V2 still holds the title as the most largely available thinnest foldable.
We thought for sure these new form-factors will put pressure on Samsung to heavily alter the design of their foldable. A las, that is not the case. The bar-type has its advantage. It’s perfect for capturing photos and videos because of how easy it is to grip. But it remains borderline unusable as a regular smartphone because of how narrow it is.
We’ll have a more details comparison soon!
Galaxy Unpacked in Paris
After launching the Galaxy Fold5, Flip5 and more in their home country, South Korea, Samsung decided to go West again in a launch headlined by the Samsung GalaxyZ Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6.
Joining the newest Galaxy Z Series are the Galaxy Buds3 series and their exciting new set of wearables: The Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch7, and of course, the Galaxy Ring.
Galaxy AI
All of these devices have some form of Galaxy AI infused into them. For the Galaxy Z Series, everything we saw from the Galaxy S25 Series will come to these devices. There are improvements and new ones.
For instance, there’s an Interpreter app now on the Galaxy Z Series that takes Live Translate to the next level. Live Translate even works on the Galaxy Buds3 Pro. It’s a feature that should be helpful for frequent travelers especially as Samsung intends to expand language support from 16 at launch to over 20 before the end of 2024.
There are also features like Sketch to Image and Portrait Studio that new Galaxy users can certainly have fun with.
Meanwhile, the wearables also got AI support through Samsung Health. Samsung upped the number of LED monitors on both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch7 to make sure data is more accurately captured. This then goes into the Samsung Health app which will now show you an overall Energy Score which is calculated through a combination of your exercises, activities, heart rate, and more.
The higher the Energy Score, the better. Whether you’re using the new Galaxy Watches or even the Galaxy Ring, these metrics are being monitored and recorded so you can make adjustments for a healthier lifestyle.
India
Nothing opens first India store in Bengaluru
New retail space blends self-expression, creator culture, and community play.
Nothing has officially opened its first India store in Bengaluru, marking a major step in the brand’s global retail expansion.
Located in Indiranagar, Nothing Store Bengaluru spans 5,032 square feet across two floors. The space draws inspiration from 1970s assembly lines and workshops, translating Nothing’s rebellious design language into an interactive, hands-on environment built for the local community.
The store puts self-expression at its core. It is the only Nothing location worldwide where customers can personalise their products. A dedicated studio also supports creator unboxings and hands-on content, reinforcing the brand’s focus on co-creation.
The space includes a community hangout zone for events and meetups, alongside playful elements such as vending machines, claw games, and conveyor-belt displays. An in-house coffee shop, seating areas, and workshop spaces position the store as a cultural hub rather than a traditional retail outlet.
View this post on Instagram
Nothing and CMF products are available in store, alongside official Nothing merchandise. The brand says the location will evolve over time through collaborations, workshops, and limited-run installations by local creators, reflecting the rhythm and voices of the city.
Bengaluru was chosen for its role as India’s innovation capital and its community of early adopters, creators, and cultural tastemakers. Indiranagar’s creative energy and lifestyle focus made it a natural home for Nothing’s first physical store in the country.
The Bengaluru opening builds on Nothing’s first store in Soho. The company has confirmed plans to open additional locations in New York and Japan.
Nothing Store Bengaluru opens on February 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM IST. It is located at 660/1, 100 Feet Road, 1st Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru. Regular store hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily.
As someone who tells stories for a living, I’ve always stood behind the camera.
I know all too well that I’m exceptional at framing people and landscapes, capturing moments that make sense later.
When I flew to Northern Mindanao, I told myself I was going for a change of scenery. I wanted to exist inside my own narrative, too.
Bukidnon became the perfect backdrop for getting to know myself in and behind the frame. In my pocket was the OPPO Reno15 5G in Aurora White.
There were no expectations of the smartphone being part of the story. I just wanted to see if I could trust it to document my adventures.
Surprisingly, it did.
Refinement over noise
I’ve always been drawn to designs that stand out. Covering the Reno series from its earliest iterations up to the Reno15 has been a hallmark of my career in journalism.
I like pieces that catch attention. As a Leo, I’ve always loved it — in how I dress and in the items I carry. In the past, that meant bold finishes and loud statements, much like the Reno lines before this.
As I grew and aged gracefully, my taste evolved. I still want to demand some form of presence. I just don’t want it to feel abrasive.
The Reno15 demands attention without being loud. The Aurora White finish looks clean and polished from afar. Up close, the surface shifts under light and a shimmer reveals itself only when you move it.
The glass back flows seamlessly into the camera module, so the silhouette feels cohesive rather than decorative. It still carries that flat-edge familiarity people love to compare to an iPhone, and I get why.
In hand, the Reno15 5G feels substantial at 197 grams, yet it never became uncomfortable during long days of recording across different adventures.
The 6.59-inch frame sits comfortably when I’m scrolling one-handed or holding it up to film while moving, like when I rode a 4×4 to a ranch, gripping it tightly as rough terrain threatened to jolt everything out of place.
That said, I live actively. I move between environments without babying my devices. My arsenal looks like gear ready for battle, and that sums up what I need from a smartphone.
The Reno15 5G’s IP66, IP68, and IP69 protection means this beauty is tougher than it looks. It resists dust and handles water exposure. Add Splash Touch support, and even slightly damp fingers don’t interrupt what I’m doing.
Light under pressure
For someone who practically lives under the sun, the display became both a companion and a challenge.
When I was filming in open fields, the Reno15 5G’s screen sometimes struggled against harsh midday light. Even at 1200 nits in high brightness mode, the glare could be relentless.
I found myself stepping into pockets of shade, tilting the screen at careful angles, squinting just to confirm whether a shot was framed properly.
On days when there was no escaping the sun, I trusted the camera and my instinct for composition. I mounted the phone on my Ulanzi tripod, positioned myself in the scene, and focused on performing rather than obsessively reviewing every second.
There was a learning curve, but it reminded me that sometimes you have to let the moment unfold and stitch the story together later from whatever you captured.
Now Playing: Undercover Hong
My life as a creative director isn’t all shooting and exporting. I consume as much as I create. Inspiration has always come from film and television.
Lately, I’ve been watching Undercover Hong on Netflix, with Park Shin Hye playing Hong Keum-bo, an elite securities inspector who goes undercover as a rookie employee inside a suspicious investment firm.
Set in 1997 Seoul during the Asian Financial Crisis, the series commits fully to its time period. The palette leans into muted browns and dusty blues that echo economic tension.
Interiors feel dim and textured and office spaces look rigid. The fashion reflects the late ’90s without turning into a costume. Nothing is polished for surface appeal because everything feels rooted in its world.
On the Reno15 5G’s 6.59-inch AMOLED display, those tonal differences came through clearly. Dark scenes retained shadow detail instead of collapsing into flat black, while warm tungsten lighting looked rich without veering orange.
Beyond inspiration, I trim clips and scrub through footage I captured during my trip. The 120Hz refresh rate makes swiping and scrubbing feel fluid.
Where nothing lags
As someone fond of flagship devices like my OPPO Find X9 and iPhone 16 Pro, I know immediately when a smartphone feels like a compromise. The OPPO Reno15 5G is technically midrange, yet it never felt like one.
From setup to day-to-day use, everything felt smooth. Apps opened quickly so I switched between shooting, editing, messaging, and uploading without hiccups.
My neurodivergent brain appreciated that it could keep up with the constant mental tabs I have open.
The 6500mAh battery lasted about a day and a half after shooting across cities and mountains. Charging took around 45-50 minutes from zero to 100% with 80W SUPERVOOC.
What I appreciated most was O+ Connect. I’ve used it before on the Find X9 and previous Reno devices, and it continues to make my workflow seamless.
It’s no secret that I exist deep within Apple’s ecosystem. My MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro are cross-functional tools for my work. I even switched to Apple’s Creator Studio.
Using the Reno15 5G as my primary content device during testing could have felt disruptive. Instead, O+ Connect allowed me to move files across devices easily.
I treated the Reno15 5G like a mirrorless camera, then refined everything on a bigger screen.
A playground for precision
Artificial Intelligence has ingrained itself into our devices in ways that don’t always feel natural.
I’ve seen AI productivity tools work well for people in high-pressure professions. For me, efficiency doesn’t mean teaching a system how to think before it works for me.
What stood out in the Reno15 series was AI Mind Space. It allowed my scattered brain to consolidate screenshots, schedules, references, and fragments of information into one hub that actually mirrors how I operate.
As someone who saves everything for later, it felt less like automation and more like organization that understands me.
Then there’s AI Motion Photo Popout. As a creative director, I don’t like posting stories the way everyone else does. I have a desire, deep in my bones, to stand out.
Popout lets me lift subjects out of the frame and turn them into layered visuals. I used it for Instagram Stories and thumbnails instead of settling for a random still from a Reel.
Being able to refine directly in the Gallery — erasing distractions or turning motion into cinematic snippets — meant I could act on impulse without sacrificing my love for curation.
Learning to be seen
During my time in Northern Mindanao, I stopped pretending I didn’t want to be in the photos.
For the longest time, I’ve been more comfortable orchestrating the frame than occupying it. I knew where to stand and how to direct, or where the light should hit… but for everyone else.
This past year, I’ve been learning to own the space I’m in and not dimming my light simply because I’m afraid of how bright it might be.
The OPPO Reno15 5G’s 50-megapixel ultra-wide front camera made that easier than I expected.
I told OPPO’s Creative Manager in passing that I genuinely liked the new hardware when he asked how the experience had been so far, and I meant it.
The wider field of view meant I didn’t have to overthink whether everyone fit into the frame. I didn’t have to do that subtle, Gen-Z arm stretch or step back awkwardly just to make room for the scenery.
I could capture more of the background without looking hideous in the process. The frame felt immersive, yet balanced: Faces looked natural and proportions didn’t warp.
There’s something powerful about not having to choose between yourself and the scenery. You can be the subject, or you can be part of the story. With this smartphone, you’re allowed to coexist with both.
I even asked my photographer friend, Neil Jimenez, to take my portraits using the 50-megapixel telephoto portrait camera.
Holding still in front of the lens felt unfamiliar. I tried to remain statuesque, composed, trusting him to see what I usually see in others.
The portraits came out vivid without distortion. The backgrounds softened, but never stretched or exaggerated.
It was strange to watch myself in those frames. To notice how the light rested on my cheeks, and see how my smile shifted when something genuinely amused me. To observe expressions I never see because I’m usually the one observing.
There’s another side of you that only appears when you let yourself be seen.
Behind the lens where I’m most comfortable
If being in the frame felt vulnerable, being behind it felt like home.
Bukidnon still feels like a dream when I replay it in my head: Horses moving across open fields, mountains layered into one another like watercolor washes.
I shot wide and then cropped in. The main camera gave me enough details to experiment. Whether I stayed at 1x or zoomed into 2x or 5x, I shaped the narrative the way I wanted people to experience it.
I framed lines and symmetry, and leaned into negative space. I played with contrast, like the way Alpine Village’s architecture stands against the surrounding greenery in Dahilayan.
There was room to explore. Room to make mistakes. It felt like the device in my hand wasn’t just a tool, but a collaborator responding to the way I see the world.
Filmed and directed by yours truly
After leaving the love of my life last year, I began documenting my trips. Maybe it was for content or healing. But I started treating my life like a film I had to direct and star in.
Acting in your own story while directing it at the same time is harder than it sounds. It requires vulnerability and believing that your perspective is worth documenting.
Bukidnon became my practice. I recorded clips using the OPPO Reno15 5G in 4K HDR because I wanted the footage to be stable and detailed even when I was moving.
I remember stressing over file sizes, wondering if I had overcommitted to quality. But when you care about storytelling, you’d rather have too much detail than not enough.
There were pine-lined roads. Snippets of conversations. Landscapes that felt cinematic without trying. And of course, me being a dramatic, slightly unhinged main character like I was starring in a Taylor Swift music video.
Getting out of my comfort zone meant taking the Reno15 5G — mounted securely on a tripod — to a 350-meter zipline ride. For a brief moment, I imagined I was Elphaba flying away from the Emerald City.
View this post on Instagram
I also brought it to the Razorback ride, using Dual-View Video to record the mountains stretching in front of me while capturing my own reaction at the same time.
I’ve done something similar during an ATV ride in Bohol, but this felt different. Higher stakes (and chances of falling if I abruptly stop). Faster wind (and a cold one, because we’re high up in the mountains). More nerves (because I’m not in control).
View this post on Instagram
I was terrified. The accelerator felt awkward under my control and the seatbelt didn’t feel secure. I’m short, so even sitting comfortably required adjustment.
There was a moment where I questioned whether I had overestimated my courage. But I survived. This story is published. The video is up.
Sometimes, being able to capture how a place made you feel — not just how it looked — is priceless. Vulnerability and honesty matters.
The courage to step into your own frame matters. It just helps when the device in your hand is capable enough to keep up with the story you’re brave enough to tell.
Is the OPPO Reno15 5G your GadgetMatch?
The OPPO Reno15 5G isn’t perfect. Priced at PhP 36,990, it sits a few thousand pesos higher than its predecessor, so the jump asks you to think twice.
What you’re really paying for is refinement. It has smarter AI integrations and a more cohesive overall experience.
But here’s the thing: this is the first Reno in a while that feels grown up. It makes storytelling easier for people who live half their lives online, with a camera system and performance that feel steady enough to rival devices in higher tiers.
So if you’re wondering whether it’s your GadgetMatch, consider a Swipe Right if you’re a content creator who values camera versatility, especially a strong front camera. If you move between Android and Apple ecosystems and need something that lets you shoot, edit, and publish on the go, this fits that workflow.
Swipe Left if you’re extremely price-sensitive or if you rarely go beyond basic point-and-shoot and don’t see yourself using the AI tools built into the system.
The OPPO Reno15 5G won’t transform your life. But if you’re already in the middle of writing your own story, it’s a dependable co-director and co-producer.
And sometimes, that’s all you need.
India
TECNO POVA Curve 2 5G packs an 8000mAh battery
The brand’s biggest battery in a smartphone yet
This 2026, TECNO is refreshing its performance-focused POVA lineup by adding a new member in it.
Big power without the bulk
Despite its slim and curved 7.42mm design (and weight of only 195g), the POVA Curve 2 5G arrives with TECNO’s largest battery yet — 8000mAh battery to be precise.
TECNO says the battery is TÜV SÜD-certified for long lifespan and is engineered to last up to six years. It’s also rated to operate in extreme temperatures ranging between as hot as 60°C (140ºF) or as cold as -20ºC (-4ºF).
If you’re already in a pinch, there’s the 45W fast charging with Bypass charging support in tow.
Durability was not compromised as it has a Corning Gorilla Glass 7i Front Glass protection, IP64 water and dust resistance rating, even SGS-certification for 1.5m drop protection.
Speaking of front, it features a curved 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Beneath that glass lies MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 5G SoC.
On the software side, it runs the latest HiOS 16 (based on Android 16) with integrated AI tools in mind. That means AI-powered content summaries, writing assistance, call noise reduction, and automatic photo enhancements.
TECNO’s Ella AI Assistant has also been improved with more personalized interactions across the system. One-tap FlashMemo also exists for instantly capturing on-screen information. Moreover, Mind Hub organizes notes and AI-generated content in one place.
Lastly, connectivity gets a boost, too. With POVA Curve 2 5G’s dual-signal enhancement, it has an improved cellular and Wi-Fi performance in crowded or weak-signal environments. Interestingly, it also supports offline voice, text, and image communication up to 1.5km in open areas.
With all these in mind, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades.
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO POVA Curve 2 5G comes in three colorways: Melting Silver, Storm Titanium, and Mystic Purple.
It launches first in India this February 2026. Pricing is between INR 31,999 and INR 34,999 for the 8+128GB and 8+256GB configurations respectively.
It will also make an appearance at MWC 2026 this upcoming March 2 until March 5, 2026.
-
Gaming2 weeks agoPlayStation, LE SSERAFIM Chaewon team for the ‘Love of Play’ campaign
-
News6 days agoTECNO will showcase the CAMON 50 and POVA 8 series at MWC 2026
-
Accessories2 weeks agoSony WF-1000XM6 was accidentally leaked online
-
Reviews2 weeks agonubia V80 Max: Long battery, marginal upgrades, casual budget phone
-
Gaming2 weeks agoZenless Zone Zero Version 2.6 launches February 6 with idol group debut
-
Laptops1 week agoTECNO MEGABOOK K16s 13th review: No-frills beneath those grills
-
Gaming2 weeks agoMy Hero Academia: All’s Justice: A familiar Final War, made playable
-
Gaming2 weeks agoNew Civilization VII update will address everyone’s biggest issue



































































