News

AI-powered HONOR Magic8 Series launches in China

YOYO Agent, next-gen AI imaging, record-setting performance

Published

October 15, 2025

Rodneil Quiteles

HONOR has officially launched the HONOR Magic8 Series in China. Dubbed the brand’s first Self-Evolving AI Smartphone, the new flagship line introduces next-generation YOYO Agent intelligence, breakthrough AI imaging, and industry-leading performance.

Leading the lineup is the HONOR Magic8 Pro, engineered to redefine the flagship smartphone experience for the AI era.

Smarter living with YOYO Agent

The HONOR Magic8 Series centers around three pillars: hardware performance, system interaction, and ecosystem integration. Its all-new YOYO Agent now supports automatic execution in over 3,000 real-world scenarios.

It can handle simple tasks like “find all my screenshots and delete the blurry ones” or more complex ones like “summarize this week’s expenses and email them to my manager.” The AI agent activates when needed, completing multi-step actions automatically to save users time and effort.

HONOR adds a dedicated AI Button for instant access to YOYO. Long-pressing launches YOYO Video Call, which provides information about anything it sees. Double-clicking opens the camera for quick shots. The button can also be customized for one-touch access to favorite functions.

YOYO Memories builds a personal knowledge base while keeping privacy intact. It uses deep semantic understanding to analyze photos, chat records, and documents—helping users recall key details without exposing personal data.

Redefining AI-powered photography

HONOR raises the bar for mobile imaging with the new AiMAGE Camera System. The HONOR Magic8 Pro leads the way with a 200MP Ultra Night Telephoto Camera featuring a 1/1.4-inch sensor and wide f/2.6 aperture. This allows clearer, brighter photos even at long distances.

HONOR’s AI anti-shake tech makes users seven times more likely to capture sharp zoomed images, even without a tripod. The AI Adaptive Stabilization Model reaches CIPA 5.5-level stability, improving shake detection and response accuracy.

The series also debuts Magic Color, the first AI-powered color engine in the industry. It uses deep learning to extract 16.77 million colors, enabling cinematic color accuracy in real time. With device-cloud collaboration, users can recreate film tones or build their own templates directly in the camera or through Magic Portal.

AI-tuned performance and endurance

The HONOR Magic8 Series runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform. It introduces GPU-NPU Heterogeneous AI super-resolution and frame-generation technology that boosts gameplay from 60fps at 850p to 120fps at 1080p.

The Magic8 Pro carries a 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery supported by three HONOR E2 power management chips. These chips use AI to optimize power, heat control, and long-term battery health. With 120W wired and 80W wireless HONOR SuperCharge, the device delivers fast, all-day performance.

Refined experience with MagicOS 10

HONOR’s MagicOS 10 powers the Magic8 Series with cross-platform support for Android, HarmonyOS, iOS, and Windows. This enables seamless file sharing, task syncing, and device continuity.

MagicOS 10 introduces a translucent visual design across the interface. It dynamically adjusts lighting and color tones for readability and allows users to customize transparency to their liking.

The phones also meet SGS-certified durability standards, offering 10x drop resistance and IP68/69/69K protection. The design ensures resilience in daily use while maintaining a premium look and feel.

Color, pricing, and what’s next

The HONOR Magic8 Series comes in Sunrise Gold, Sky Cyan, Black, and Glacier White. Pre-orders in China begin in October 2025, with the HONOR Magic8 starting from RMB 4,499 and the Magic8 Pro from RMB 5,699..

The company will announce international availability later this year.

HONOR Robot Phone

HONOR capped the launch with a teaser of the HONOR ROBOT PHONE — an all-new device that merges AI intelligence, robotics, and advanced imaging. Part of the HONOR ALPHA PLAN, this new form factor represents the company’s next step toward leading the global AI device ecosystem.

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

Published

July 17, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140^th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140^th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

News

Samsung releases teaser with Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs

Spot also teases upcoming Galaxy foldable devices

Published

July 16, 2026

GadgetMatch

Samsung has just premiered a new spot that showcases clips directly from Spider-Man: Brand New Day, just a few weeks before the movie hits cinemas later this month.

The clip showcases Spider-Man as he fights crime and puts his phone through the wear and tear of superhero life.

In the spot, the Fabricator creates a number of devices for Spider-Man built to stand up to the pace and unpredictability of life behind the mask. This includes what clearly looks like a Galaxy Z Flip phone.

This provides a behind the scenes look into how Peter Parker ultimately landed on a Samsung phone — as fans speculated from the first trailer.

Meanwhile, Ned can also be seen using the Spidey Tracker to try and catch Spider-Man throughout the city on his Samsung phone.

The campaign pretty much formalizes Jacob Batalon — who plays Ned Leeds — as Samsung’s Team Galaxy’s newest ambassador.

The clip ends with the text “A brand new shape for a Brand New Day”, which is also a callback to what the brand has been teasing regarding the future of its Galaxy foldable devices.

Samsung to release latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked

Next week, Samsung is set to launch its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

Ahead of the launch, customers who wish to reserve as early as now can get a US$ 30 credit during pre-order, for a total of up to US$ 1,230 in savings.

Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 US$ 500 Samsung.com gift cards towards their purchase.

Apps

iOS 27 public beta gives us our first taste of Siri AI

You can access the beta for free.

Published

July 16, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Normally, public betas come and go with nary a peep from anyone but dedicated fans and testers. After all, why care about a beta when the final release is likely just around the corner? This one, however, is special. Today, Apple launched the iOS 27 public beta, and it’s our first taste of the redesigned Siri AI.

Recently, WWDC 2026 unveiled Apple’s latest attempts at entering the AI segment. Whereas previous iterations to incorporate AI failed to make an impact, Siri AI promises to provide users with helpful feedback that’s actually helpful.

Now, in the public beta for iOS 27, users all over can finally access the new assistant. To get to the beta, you need to be a part of the beta program, which you can easily sign up for on beta.apple.com. Once signed up, you can get the update from Software Update in Settings. You’ll see options for a developer beta and a public beta. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta.

At face value, Siri AI offers much of what you’d get from a traditional AI-powered assistant. However, it does slightly differ because it integrates the entire phone. The assistant contextualizes your information (including emails, messages, and photos) to give you the most accurate feedback that you might need.

If that’s not enough, Siri AI also has its own chatbot app. If you’re more used to ChatGPT, the assistant should give you that bit of familiarity.

Now, if you don’t want to go for a beta, Apple is expected to launch iOS 27 in its final form sometime in September.