Smartphones

The Pixel 8 series is finally here!

Featuring Tensor G3 and more camera tools

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After several leaks over the past few months, the Pixel 8 series has little to hide. However, despite how little mystery is left, the launch of the new flagship is still just as surreal. Now, just as scheduled, Google has finally unveiled the entire series. Presenting (officially, this time): the Pixel 8 series.

Pixel 8

Compared to the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel 8 makes things a bit more different between the two models. The regular model shrinks a tiny bit. It will have a slightly smaller 6.2-inch OLED display — putting out images at 1080p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 2000 nits of peak brightness. For durability, the screen will have the same Gorilla Glass Victus.

Underneath (and as expected), the Pixel 8 will have the new Tensor G3 chipset and the Titan M2 security coprocessor. It will also have 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.

For cameras, the regular model will have a 50-megapixel main sensor (with 1.2µm pixel width and f/2.2 aperture) and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. In front, you’ll get a 10.5-megapixel selfie shooter. The cameras will still get the same slate of Google-powered editing features including Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. Videos can go up to 4K resolution and 60fps. And, for the first time, the series will have Audio Magic Eraser, a new tool which can automatically reduce noise and unnecessary audio in a recording.

For connectivity, the Pixel 8 will support Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G Sub 6GHz, and 5G mmWave. It will also come with Dual SIM slots.

Finally, the regular model will have 4574mAh of battery capacity. Fast charging promises up to 50 percent charge in only 30 minutes. A single charge can supposedly last more than 24 hours.

Pixel 8 Pro

The spotlight is naturally pointed at the Pixel 8 Pro. It will come with a 6.7-inch display, putting out images at 2992×1344 resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 2400 nits of brightness. Though the size largely remains the same, the screen will come with a more durable Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Inside, the Pixel 8 Pro will also have the Tensor G3 chipset. It will have 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage.

For its cameras, the Pro model will have the same 50-megapixel main sensor. However, it will come with a 48-megapixel ultrawide sensor (with 0.8µm pixel width and f/1.95 aperture) and a 48-megapixel telephoto camera (with 0.7µm pixel width and f/2.8 aperture). The model will have the same selfie shooter. Besides the slate of features coming with the regular model, the Pro will come with Video Boost and Night Sight Video.

For battery, the Pixel 8 Pro will come with 5050mAh of capacity.

Both models will come with Android 14. Additionally, Google promises that both models will receive seven years of software updates.

Price and availability

The Pixel 8 comes in Obsidian, Hazel, and Rose. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 Pro will come in Obsidian, Porcelain, and Bay.

Preorders are already open. Both models will start shipping on October 12. The Pixel 8 will sell for US$ 699. The Pixel 8 Pro will sell for US$ 999.

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This Nokia phone can also be a powerbank

The Nokia 300 Charge has a 3700mAh battery that can charge other devices.

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Did you know that the original Nokia 3310 had only up to 1000mAh of battery life per charge? And yet, a single charge is enough to last ages. That’s because a “dumb” phone doesn’t really need a lot of juice to work. But what if you stick a larger battery onto a dumb phone. Well, you can get a phone that can double as a powerbank, and that’s just what the new Nokia 300 Charge is.

Despite the abundance of smarter options today, dumb phones, especially those from Nokia, can still find a home in the hands of those who don’t want to feel connected 24/7. Now, there’s another use for a dumb phone: a savior for your main phone.

The Nokia 300 Charge has a sizable 3700mAh battery. Powering the phone, the battery can supposedly last up to 40 hours on standby. However, it can also double as a powerbank for your other devices, which is a basic 10W reverse wired charging with an included 4-in-1 cable.

Technically, a 3700mAh powerbank is sorely inadequate for today’s devices that often go beyond 5000mAh already. Still, if you’re in a tight situation, the Nokia 300 Charge might be a lifesaver.

In addition to saving your devices from an empty battery, the phone can also save you from darkness with a built-in LED flashlight.

Inside, you’ll get a basic Unisoc SC6531E chipset with 4GB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage. For that added flavor of nostalgia, the Nokia 300 Charge comes with a retro QVGA camera.

HMD has not announced when the phone will come out or its price, but you can expect it to be cheaper than most phones today.

SEE ALSO: Not even Nokia phones are safe from AI features

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Smartphones

Sony Xperia 10 VIII launches with focus on ease of use

Brighter display, enhanced speakers, quick access to payment apps

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The Sony Xperia 10 VIII has officially launched, offering users a package designed for ease of use in mind.

The new smartphone comes with a display about 50% brighter than the previous model. This improved visibility comes in handy especially outdoors.

Meanwhile, enhanced stereo speakers complement the display for a better overall audiovisual experience. The speakers deliver clearer and more powerful sound, with improved overall volume and stronger bass.

Lastly, the Xperia 10 VIII comes with a “Rewards & Pay” menu which enables quick access to frequently used payment and rewards apps by a quick double press of the power button.

With access to Google’s latest AI features, including Gemini, Circle to Search, and Ask Photos, the handset offers greater usability and convenience.

In the battery department, the device also offers up to two days of battery life — ready for unexpected prolonged usage periods.

The Xperia 10 VIII will come in Frozen White, Frosted Grey, and Misty Lilac. It will be available in select countries by October 2026.

An optional style cover includes a built-in stand that supports both portrait and landscape positioning for content consumption or casual browsing.

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HONOR Magic V6: Price, availability in the Philippines

Pre-orders start at PHP 119,999

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HONOR has officially launched the Magic V6 in the Philippines, bringing its latest book-style foldable to the local market.

The HONOR Magic V6 is now available for pre-order at PHP 119,999. Pre-orders run from August 25 to September 4, 2026 through HONOR Experience and Partner Stores, as well as HONOR’s online store.

Customers who pre-order during the promotional period will also receive a free HONOR Pad X8b worth PHP 12,999 when they claim their purchase on September 5.

That makes the Magic V6 one of the more premium foldable options available locally. But after spending considerable time with the device for our full review, I found that its appeal isn’t simply about packing flagship hardware into a foldable.

The Magic V6 gets remarkably close to feeling like a regular flagship smartphone when folded, while still delivering the larger-screen experience that makes a book-style foldable useful.

Read our full HONOR Magic V6 review

Thin, light, and built to last

The Magic V6 measures just 8.75mm when folded and 4.0mm when unfolded on the White version. It weighs around 219 grams, giving it a surprisingly familiar feel in the hand.

That’s something I called out in my review. Despite being a foldable, the Magic V6 doesn’t feel like a tablet folded in half. It feels much closer to a traditional flagship smartphone.

HONOR also equipped the foldable with its Super Steel Hinge, which has a claimed tensile strength of 2,800MPa. An AI-assisted bionic cushioning system helps distribute impact from accidental drops and everyday use.

The Magic V6 also carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance.

Its inner display uses UTG flexible glass, while the outer display gets HONOR’s Anti-scratch NanoCrystal Shield. The latter uses up to 5,600 layers of silicon nitride coating to improve scratch resistance, durability, and reflectivity.

The two displays measure 6.52 inches externally and 7.95 inches internally. Both support adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The outer screen reaches up to 6,000 nits peak brightness, while the inner display reaches 5,000 nits. Both also support 4320Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort.

A 6,660mAh battery in a foldable

One of the Magic V6’s biggest selling points is its battery.

It packs a 6,660mAh HONOR Silicon-carbon Battery, which HONOR calls the largest battery ever fitted into a foldable smartphone.

The battery uses roughly 25 percent silicon content and reaches an energy density of 921Wh/L. Despite the capacity, HONOR managed to keep the device’s body remarkably thin.

It also supports 80W wired and 66W wireless HONOR SuperCharge, along with wireless reverse charging.

In my review, battery life became one of the Magic V6’s biggest strengths. I found myself worrying less about the battery the longer I used the device. Even when using the phone unfolded, taking photos, multitasking, and going through a regular workday, I felt confident that it would get me through the day.

Under the hood, the Magic V6 runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage.

Cameras and productivity

The Magic V6 uses a triple-camera system consisting of a 50MP main camera, 64MP periscope telephoto, and 50MP ultra-wide camera.

The telephoto camera uses a 1/2-inch sensor and supports CIPA 6.5-stop image stabilization. HONOR also includes AI-powered imaging features such as AI Color Engine, Magic Color 2.0, Magic Video Color, and AI Image to Video 2.0.

I found the camera system to be one of the standout features of the Magic V6. It takes photos that I wouldn’t hesitate to post immediately on social media, although I still noticed some limitations once I went beyond 6x zoom.

The foldable also runs MagicOS 10, with HONOR AI Agents covering tasks such as settings, photos, suggestions, and contextual actions.

For productivity, HONOR adds Fast Flex for quickly activating split-screen mode and Multi-Flex for running up to three apps simultaneously on the inner display.

Works with Apple devices

HONOR is also positioning the Magic V6 as a cross-platform device.

It can connect with iPhone, Mac, AirPods, and Apple Watch through HONOR Share for file transfers, notification sharing, and Mac workflows. The Magic V6 also supports Quick Share for easier file transfers between Android and compatible Apple devices.

This isn’t just a theoretical feature, either. I regularly used the Magic V6 to move files between the phone and my MacBook Pro M4 during my review.

HONOR has also integrated Google Gemini, including Gemini Live interactions using text, voice, or images.

Buyers get a three-month Google AI Pro trial, which includes access to additional Gemini features, Flow, NotebookLM, video generation powered by Veo 3.1, Nano Banana Pro, and 5TB of cloud storage.

HONOR Magic V6 Philippines price and availability

The HONOR Magic V6 costs PHP 119,999 in the Philippines.

It is available in Red, Gold, and White.

Pre-orders run from August 25 to September 4, 2026, through HONOR Experience and Partner Stores and online.

Customers who pre-order can claim a free HONOR Pad X8b worth PHP 12,999 on September 5.

The local launch gives Philippine buyers access to one of HONOR’s most ambitious foldables yet. And based on our time with it, the Magic V6 delivers on the core promise of a book-style foldable: a phone that feels surprisingly normal when folded, then becomes a much larger productivity tool when you need it.

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