News

Google Pixel 6 series now official

Published

October 20, 2021

Rodneil Quiteles

The Google Pixel phones have always been about harnessing the best of what Google has to offer and putting in a smartphone. This concept is even more evident in their newest smartphones the Pixel 6 series which include the Pixel 6 and the Pixel 6 Pro.

We’ve already seen the device so there are no more surprises on that part. The main focus of the phone is the all-new Material You design showcasing the best of what Android is at the moment. We’ve already shared some of what to expect in this Android 12 Beta rundown. But some of the must-tries are the Themed Icons, New Widgets, as well as Dynamic Colors for various apps.

Complementing these design changes is the new and improved display. The Pixel 6 goes up to a 90Hz refresh rate while the Pixel 6 Pro goes up to 120Hz.

Of course, the improvements go beyond the aesthetics. Search has been expanded to People, Apps, App Shortcuts, and many more. The smart features extend to Calling Assistance — the one CEO Sundar Pichai showed off at Google I/O some years back where the Google Assistant handles the call for you.

There’s also Assistant Voice Typing which can be quite helpful for multitaskers. Then there’s this writer’s personal favorite — Live Translate. You can point to an image and have the Pixel translate the text. Pretty useful if you’re traveling (that is if you’re allowed to travel) in a country whose language you’re not familiar with. It supports English, German, and Japanese online as well as 48 other languages online.

Vaunted Pixel cameras

Fans and tech reviewers alike have raved about the Google Pixel’s cameras. For the Pixel 6 series, Google added more features to make you not want to lug around a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

A tool plenty might have fun with is Magic Eraser. It lets you touch up and remove unwanted elements in an image while preserving the look of the photo. It’s like photoshop for dummies like yours truly.

If you’re a fan of capturing moving things, the new Motion Mode lets you do Action Pan that focuses on the moving subject and adds blur to enhance that moving effect. Then, there’s Long Exposure for light trail images that everyone seems to love so much.

It’s also great for capturing people. There’s Face Unblur which is pretty self explanatory, as well as Real Tone which captures the right skin tone of people.

For video, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is able to capture 4K moving frames both in the rear and front cameras.

For battery and charging, the Pixel 6 series comes with a 30W wired charging brick. Google says it can charge the phone from one percent to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Here are the specs

Pixel 6

Display — 6.4” FHD+ AMOLED, 90Hz
Processor + OS — Google Tensor, Android 12
RAM + Storage — 8GB + 128/256GB
Battery — 4614mAh, 30W Fast Wired Charging, 21W Fast Wireless Charging
Cameras — 50MP f/1.85 (main), 12MP 114º (UWA), 8MP 84º (selfie)

Pixel 6 Pro

Display — 6.71” QHD+ LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
Processor + OS — Google Tensor, Android 12
RAM + Storage — 12GB + 128/256/512GB
Battery — 5003mAh, 30W Fast Wired Charging, 23W Fast Wireless Charging
Cameras — 50MP f/1.85 (main), 12MP 114º (UWA), 48MP 4x (telephoto), 11.1MP 94º (selfie)

Pricing and availability

Pixel 6 — US$ 599
Pixel 6 Pro — US$ 899

That’s mostly it for now. You can also check out this Pixel 6 tips and tricks or watch our Unboxing Video.

Gaming

Xbox saves Kojima’s PHYSINT after PlayStation drops support

PlayStation says the separation was mutual, but Kojima hints otherwise.

Published

September 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Things aren’t going well in the PlayStation camp. After two months of frankly questionable decisions, the company adds another to the pile by dropping support for Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT.

For a while now, Kojima and PlayStation were in a very productive relationship with the Death Stranding duology, a critically acclaimed collection of titles for the platform. When things looked like they were going well, Kojima announced PHYSINT, an espionage-themed game which reminded fans way too much of Metal Gear Solid.

If you were investing in a PlayStation 5 to play Kojima’s latest thriller, you might want to move your chips elsewhere now. PlayStation has just dropped support for the espionage game, meaning PHYSINT will no longer be a first-party title for the platform.

Though PlayStation claims that the decision came after “careful consideration,” Kojima himself has said that the move was “unexpected,” going against PlayStation’s assurance of a mutual separation.

Very quickly, Xbox has announced that their platform will support PHYSINT instead. It’s a big get for the competing brand because Xbox Game Studios is already supporting OD, Kojima’s other upcoming horror project starring Sophia Lillis.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say more. As is tradition, Kojima will not explain much more about his upcoming titles. In fact, OD’s trailer barely says anything. One thing’s for sure, though: we’re all in for quite a ride.

Entertainment

PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2

Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost

Published

September 10, 2026

GadgetMatch

The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.

The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.

Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.

What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.

Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.

The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.

The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.

Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.

News

iPhone Duo: Price, availability in the Philippines

As listed on the Apple website

Published

September 10, 2026

GadgetMatch

Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It uses a passport-style design that opens into a larger display while retaining a more conventional smartphone experience when folded.

Price and availability

The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990 in the Philippines for the 256GB model as listed on the Apple website.

Here’s the full local pricing:

256GB — PhP 159,990
512GB — PhP 175,990
1TB — PhP 207,990
2TB — PhP 254,990

The iPhone Duo comes in Star White and Night Sky.

Actual availability in the Philippines has yet to be officially announced.

A foldable design with two displays

The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display when folded and expands to a 7.6-inch main display when opened. Both orientations use the same aspect ratio, allowing iOS to transition between them seamlessly.

The rear chassis uses Ceramic Shield, while the front display gets Ceramic Shield 2. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.

Its hinge uses carbon fiber supports and magnets that produce an audible click when the phone is folded.

A20 Pro brings flagship performance

The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple says the chip delivers 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.

It also comes with the new C2 cellular modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster uploads. Like other foldables, the Duo can be used in different configurations, including tent mode and a partially folded book-like position.

48-megapixel camera system

The iPhone Duo gets a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera alongside a 12-megapixel 2x telephoto camera.

For selfies and video calls, it has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The inner display also uses an under-screen camera for a cleaner look.

Battery life goes beyond a day

The iPhone Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.

Charging is also quick. Apple says a 20-minute charge can replenish half the battery, while a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of video playback.

For the complete specifications and first-look details, check out our main iPhone Duo launch coverage.