Smartphones

Everything done to the HONOR Magic V3 this week, ahead of IFA 2024

Hydraulic press and washing machine tests, plus a Guinness World Record attempt

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

In case you missed it, the HONOR Magic V3 will be unveiled to a broader audience officially next month at the IFA 2024. And HONOR has been quite busy when it comes to marketing its latest flagship foldable.

A successor to the HONOR Magic V2, the HONOR Magic V3 pushes the boundaries of foldable smartphones by becoming the thinnest inward-foldable phone in the market.

This week, HONOR previewed the Magic V3’s breakthrough technologies through a collaboration with tech YouTuber SuperSaf. The video was released on Wednesday, featuring an in-depth look at the new foldable. You may watch the entire seven-minute clip here.

In a nutshell, the video highlights the Magic V3’s durability and battery technology. The upcoming device features a 3rd generation Silicon-carbon battery, which, along with a robust electrochemical structure, makes up for a reduced battery size and thinner form factor without compromising performance.

Additionally, the foldable’s back cover is a special fiber with a strength of 5,800MPa, surpassing materials like Kevlar and carbon fiber. This ensures strength while keeping the phone’s weight minimal.

Hydraulic press test

HONOR also subjected its latest product to a hydraulic press test. Quite the addictive brand of videos you’ll usually see on YouTube, the hydraulic press test is when random objects are placed onto a hydraulic press machine until it gets crushed.

This video highlights the Super Steel material on the Magic V3’s hinge, self-developed by the company itself. For the final number, the phone withstood a force of 1,150 kilograms under the machine.

The Super Steel has a tensile strength of 21,000MPa. By slimming down the hinge body thickness, more space was made available for structural reinforcement.

Complementing this hinge is titanium as the Vapor Chamber substrate, for an increased heat dissipation area, reduced weight, and improved performance over the previous generation.

Washing machine test

Next, HONOR involved the Magic V3 in a washing machine test, to see its water resistance capabilities.

The clip shows that the Magic V3 is the first to pass 2.5m IPX8 Water Resistance Test. The phone was placed in a washing machine and emerged intact afterwards.

Guinness World Record attempt

Finally, HONOR partnered with master card stacker Bryan Berg to see if he can successfully build the tallest house of cards in eight hours — and then place the Magic V3 on top of the structure.

Obviously, this highlights the foldable’s lightness. Weighing at just 226 grams, the Magic V3 is the lightest book-style foldable in the market. That’s on top of it being the slimmest of its kind right now.

After hours and hours, Berg successfully set a new Guinness World Record. He had a 54 storey-tall house of cards, built on the course of over eight hours. GWR adjudicator Thomas Bradford witnessed this successful try.

The cherry on top? You guessed it: the sleek and lightweight HONOR Magic V3, placed downwards while folded like a roof at about a 45-degree angle. You can see the foldable on top of the structure for yourself below.

HONOR will officially launch the Magic V3 globally at IFA 2024 in early September in Berlin, Germany.

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Philippines

realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition: Price, availability in the Philippines

Hogwarts magic meets smartphone design

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October 29, 2026

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The realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition is now available in the Philippines for PHP 39,999. This limited-edition smartphone features a color-changing Hogwarts crest, an exclusive Harry Potter-themed interface, and a collection of Wizarding World memorabilia.

Limited to fewer than 200 units nationwide, the special edition is designed for fans and collectors of the beloved franchise.

Hogwarts magic in every detail

The realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition comes in Magic Brown, featuring an Enchanted Texture Leather back with a three-dimensional diamond pattern inspired by wizard chessboards.

Its centerpiece is the Hogwarts Four-House Crest, which reveals the signature colors of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff when exposed to direct sunlight or ultraviolet light. This effect uses realme’s Quadra Light-Sensing Color-changing Tech.

The phone also features a gold Hedwig-inspired camera design, matching gold accents along its edges, and a laser-engraved “Welcome to Hogwarts” inscription on the side.

A Hogwarts-inspired interface

The Harry Potter theme extends to the phone’s software. Exclusive wallpapers depict Hogwarts Castle at different times of the day, with Golden Dawn for daytime and Mystic Dusk for nighttime.

Other customizations include boot-up and fingerprint animations inspired by Hogwarts acceptance letters, more than 30 redesigned app icons, and camera watermarks inspired by the four Hogwarts houses.

A trunk full of collectibles

The limited-edition packaging takes the form of a Harry Potter-inspired trunk featuring the Hogwarts crest and the realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition branding.

Inside, fans will find a Hogwarts acceptance letter addressed to Mr. Potter, character postcards featuring Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and bookmarks representing all four Hogwarts houses.

The package also includes Hogwarts Crest pins and a Hogwarts Express-inspired ticket bearing the route from London to Hogwarts via Platform 9¾.

realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition price and availability

The realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition is priced at PHP 39,999 in the Philippines. Only fewer than 200 units will be available nationwide.

Hogwarts-inspired store displays will be available at the following locations:

  • SM Fairview
  • SM North EDSA
  • SM Calamba

The device will also be available at kiosks in SM Clark, SM Dasmariñas, and SM Megamall.

For further updates, visit realme’s official Facebook page.

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Philippines

Samsung Galaxy A18, Galaxy A08 now in the Philippines

Everyday smartphone experience

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October 29, 2026

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Samsung has unveiled the new Samsung Galaxy A18 and Samsung Galaxy A08 smartphones in the Philippines.

These affordable A series handsets bring more capable performance, long-term reliability, and core AI experiences to users.

The Galaxy A18 features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display and is powered by a Helio G99+ processor.

It comes with an upgraded DDR5 memory and supports RAM Plus, which uses available storage as virtual memory.

At its back is a 50MP wide camera, 5MP ultra-wide camera, and 2MP macro camera.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A08 comes with a 6,000mAh battery, Helio G99+ processor, and upgraded memory.

It also comes with a similar 50MP main camera, along with a 2MP depth camera, and 8MP front camera.

Core AI experiences, long-term reliability

Both the Galaxy A18 and Galaxy A08 come with core AI experiences, including Circle to Search.

Moreover, both phones come with multiple AI agents to help users move more seamlessly between supported Galaxy native apps, Google apps, and select third-party apps.

Both handsets also feature IP64 rating for protection against dust and water splashes.

Furthermore, the devices support up to six generations of OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

Price, availability

The Samsung Galaxy A08 comes in Dark Blue, Silver, and Green, for the following prices:

  • 4GB+64GB: PhP 11,190
  • 4GB+128GB: PhP 13,090

Samsung is offering up to PhP 1,200 in savings until November 30.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy A18 will be available by December in Black, Silver, and Light Blue.

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Hands-On

Apple iPhone Duo Unboxing and Hands-on

Supported apps, crease, cameras, and MagSafe all tested

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October 22, 2026

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Apple’s iPhone Duo is finally here!

Aside from unboxing the all-new iPhone-dable in Night Sky, we take a closer look at the display crease, check out the under-display camera quality, see which MagSafe accessories work with it.

Most of all, which apps support it (or not).

But how well does the dual-screen experience on an iPhone actually work? Watch our Apple iPhone Duo unboxing and hands-on to know more!

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