Buyer's Guide

Gift ideas for the gamer in your life

A quick guide

Published

September 6, 2024

GadgetMatch

Are you having a tough time figuring out what kind of gift to get for the gamer in your life? If you’re not a gamer yourself, it can be quite a daunting task.

Fear not as we’ve put together a quick list of gifts that are relatively safe to get no matter what platform the gamer in your life plays on.

Let’s jump right in!

Gaming Headset

Game immersion at its finest. Nothing does that better than a quality pair of gaming cans. The audio design in games has never been better than today. In fact, they’re so good that in some instances, they are crucial parts of the gameplay itself.

This is especially true in shooter types where you’re able to hear where footsteps come from. A headphone that supports 3D audio will do wonders here.

And then of course there are rhythm games whose core challenge involves syncing your groove with the music. It’s much easier to do that when you have good headphones on.

If you share a household, it’s also great to help the gamer stay focused on what they are playing. And if they’re into multiplayer, make sure you get one that has a mic so they can easily coordinate with their teammates in game.

Bluetooth Mobile Controller

There’s nothing we love more than one gadget you can use for many things. Bluetooth mobile controllers that you can use on iPhones, Androids, handhelds, and your PC fall in that category. That’s versatility at its finest.

There are also a couple of form factors to choose from. There are ones where there’s space in the middle where you can slot in a smart device that’s between five to eight inches. There are also more traditional-looking controllers that can easily pair with any of the aforementioned devices.

Whichever one you choose, make sure to check the device compatibility as this can vary widely. Although many of the bluetooth controllers released in the last couple of years already have this feature. So if this is something you’re considering, also check the release date. If it’s within the last couple of years, chances are, those are one of the better and more versatile ones.

Extra Storage (SSD, HDD, MicroSD)

One thing all gamers have is a backlog of games. Theoretically, It should be easier to knock those down with more storage.

See, if you have more storage on your gaming machine, it’s easier to make the decision on which games to install or not. You can install them in one go and not have to go through the install and uninstall process every single time.

With games getting even more massive these days, having more storage is definitely a boon.

Figuring out which one to get can be tricky though. The first place you should start is what system they play on. Are they on PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, or mobile? This will help you find out if you need to get an SSD, HDD, or a microSD card. Learning where the gamer in your life spends most of his time playing will help making this buying decision easier. Good luck!

GGives on GCash

In case you’re wondering how you’re going to afford any or all of these gift ideas, the quick and easy answer is through GCash with GGives.

With GGives, what initially seems to be an insurmountable purchase becomes achievable. You can make these happen in installment plans that work with your budget.

For eligible users, GGives offers payment terms of 6 to 24 months. There’s ZERO downpayment. The interest rates are competitive, and you can even borrow from PHP 1,000 up to PHP 125,000.

Best of all, you can handle all of the transactions directly on the GCash app. With GGives you’ll enjoy flexible and low payments that fit your budget.

Back to the list!

Gaming Handheld

Gaming handhelds are the hottest things in gaming right now. These devices allow you to take your PC Gaming library wherever you go.

Some of the more popular ones are the SteamDeck, ROG Ally, and Legion Go. And there are more coming soon. This is another tricky item so make sure you read and watch plenty of reviews if this what you ultimately decide to gift your favorite gamer.

These come at a pretty hefty price tag though so that’s where GGives will really come in handy provided you’re eligible.

Game/s on their wishlist

Yes, we did say all gamers have a backlog. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want more games.

Take the time to learn what kinds of games the gamer in your life enjoys playing. Do they primarily play FPS (first person shooters)? Are they into sports games? Do they like exploring Open Worlds? Perhaps they love RPGs (role playing games) or the usual easy choice – a story-driven, action game.

Once you have these down, it’ll be easier for you to pick out which games to buy. Make sure you check out both critic and user reviews to get a full picture of what that game is like. While you’re at it, might as well check out our gaming section too if we have reviews of the games you’re eyeing.

You can also lurk in online gaming forums that they frequent. Chances are, they’ve already laid out the exact games they want in one way or another.

Find out what’s on their wishlist and surprise them with it. Getting a new game for free never gets old.

Related Topics:gaming Gaming Handheld Headset

Buyer's Guide

Buyer’s Guide: TECNO SPARK 50 Pro vs SPARK 50 5G

Which afforda-phone SPARKs more joy?

Published

June 18, 2026

Vincenz

Within two months, TECNO separately launched the SPARK 50 Pro and SPARK 50 5G.

Clearly, the uprising brand aims to target consumers who want to buy a shiny new smartphone within their means. This also meant budget buyers might get confused which to get between the two.

Interested yet still confused? Read more to know which SPARK is your GadgetMatch.

Design

While design is (and will always be) subjective, the design of the TECNO SPARK 50 Pro and SPARK 50 5G are on two different sides of the coin.

The newer SPARK 50 Pro is offered in stronger color choices — from Midnight Blue to the Dynamic Orange I own. Albeit, there are the less flashy Ink Black, Titanium Grey, and Cloud White shades.

On the other hand, the SPARK 50 5G has classier colorways: Champagne Gold, Mint Green and Fantasy Purple. That’s alongside the subdued Ink Black and Titanium Grey options.

Personally, the SPARK 50 5G’s clean-looking horizontal camera bar design was the clear giveaway. While the SPARK 50 Pro is a bit slimmer at 7.8mm, the SPARK 50 5G is still comfortable to hold despite being thicker at 8.18mm.

Furthermore, the Champagne Gold unit I rock looks more premium and doesn’t try to be in with the unnecessary “orange” trend.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 5G

Durability

Usually, design and durability coincide with one another. But, that’s not always the case.

Despite the SPARK 50 5G having an aviation-grade body, it only has an IP64 rating. It can withstand dust particles but, only water splashes and light sprays. Good to note though that it is MIL-STD-810H compliant.

Meanwhile, the less premium-looking SPARK 50 Pro actually boasts the sturdier IP68 and IP69 water and resistance ratings. This means it can withstand dust, water immersion, and even stronger, high-pressure sprays.

This makes the SPARK 50 Pro one of the few phones to have an IP rating previously limited to flagships and higher-end midrangers.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 Pro

Audiovisual

Both the SPARK 50 Pro and SPARK 50 5G share a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display. Both are also 720p in resolution and refresh rate maxes out at 120Hz.

Obviously, these phones don’t have the best in class displays. But, for such segment and price, having such display tech alongside a punch-hole cutout (instead of a raindrop notch) means a lot.

Stereo speakers are also powered by DTS sound. Undoubtedly, these two phones are like identical twins in this segment.

The only thing that the SPARK 50 5G has the upper-hand is none other than its inclusion of 3.5mm audio jack that the SPARK 50 Pro lacks. Still beneficial for people who fully rely on wired audio.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 5G

Performance

While the front part is harder to distinguish from one another, each inner core is what separates these phones apart.

The TECNO SPARK 50 5G is powered by the MediaTek’s Dimensity 6400 SoC.

Of course, it’s not the most powerful out there. But, for its league, it’s a capable chipset that can multitask and run most game titles. Even 5G support never forgotten.

Meanwhile, the SPARK 50 Pro, despite having that “Pro” superlative, only runs the Dimensity G100 Ultimate. CPU speeds are obviously lower. Worse? It’s only limited to 4G speeds.

On the positive note, it gives better camera support.

Memory sizes are available in 4,6, and 8GB with storage options in either 128 or 256GB. Fortunately, these phones still have a dedicated microSD slot.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 5G

Camera

With the camera talk already mentioned, most would think that the 50MP main rear camera of the SPARK 50 Pro and SPARK 50 5G are just the same. Well, they’re not.

Photography duties of the SPARK 50 Pro are mainly handled by Sony’s LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) image sensor. For reference, that’s the same image sensor found on most modern midrangers.

The SPARK 50 5G uses an older Sony Exmor sensor. Aperture slightly differ at f/1.9 and f/1.8 respectively.

For further context, here’s how the two smartphones produce photos.

To compensate for that, the SPARK 50 5G tends to over-sharpen and color boost its photo output over SPARK 50 Pro’s natural image rendering.

The SPARK 50 Pro also has a better-looking bokeh falloff than its 5G counterpart.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 Pro

Power

Finally, the highlight of both phones: battery capacity.

ICYMI, the TECNO SPARK 50 Pro has two versions: a single-cell 5600mAh model and a bigger 6000mAh dual-cell version.

The SPARK 50 5G takes it up a notch with an even bigger 6500mAh capacity.

Although that is only a 500mAh (or 900mAh) discrepancy, that battery boost still means a lot for an every day user.

Charging-wise, the SPARK 50 Pro has a faster 60W speed over the regular 45W charging in the 5G version.

IMHO, I would still choose a bigger battery over faster charging speeds. Still, it’s great to have both in a single package.

Editor’s Choice: SPARK 50 5G

Which afforda-phone SPARKs more joy?

If we are going to tally the scores, the clear afforda-phone choice is none other than the TECNO SPARK 50 5G.

It ticks 4 out of 6 boxes — from that classier design to its beastly battery despite that thin chassis. Even better, a 5G-capable chipset and 3.5mm audio jack inclusion that the “Pro” variant simply lacks.

However, that doesn’t mean the SPARK 50 Pro is lackluster.

If you value the cameras and durability more than anything else, the TECNO SPARK 50 Pro is clearly the one you should get.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to how much of your hard-earned savings you are willing to let go.

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.