Her GadgetMatch

Huawei Band review

Published

January 11, 2017

Isa Rodriguez

New Year celebrations have come and gone, my dear millennials, and with that comes fitness resolutions which (historically) don’t even last as long as Kim Kardashian’s social media hiatus (Yes, Kim K. is back on Instagram and maybe it’s time you up your selfie game, too).

Make this year different. Drop that phone and go outside to exercise; lose those unwanted pounds and finally work on those dream abs. In 2017, the only thing you should be gaining are likes on your latest #Fitspiration IG posts!

So, how do millennials, self-proclaimed digital natives in this social media jungle, begin a journey to a healthier lifestyle? With a fitness smartwatch, of course!

Working out and working it!

I spent most of December trying out the Huawei Band, a budget-friendly fitness smartwatch. I figured that at the very least, it will serve as a constant reminder (on my own wrist) of a healthier lifestyle I’m supposed to be living.

As it turns out, the Huawei Band was very good at reminding me about my lifestyle. It vibrates every time a fitness goal is reached (with virtual fireworks!), or even as a reminder to stand up and stretch after sitting for too long. The smartwatch connects to your phone via Bluetooth and may be operated through the Huawei Wear app. The app automatically calculates the number of steps needed per day according to the user’s height and weight. It also measures the distance walked, steps taken, and calories burned.

The band allows you to change watch faces for your many fickle moods.

The Huawei Band is water resistant, so neither snow nor rain nor heat nor sweaty workout activities will be a problem. The watch goes on automatic sleep mode after a few seconds; it comes alive at a tap — or several, as the watch isn’t that sensitive, which may be a good thing considering the many random movements of an exercise routine. Battery life lasts a good three to four days without needing a charge.

The Huawei Band is light and water resistant, perfect for those sweaty workouts — if you actually get to the working out part!

Naturally, the fitness band should be on you at all times to track your every movement, including your time in bed (sleep is also monitored). Though unnatural at first, having a watch on all the time is something I got used to after a while. Pretty soon, it became convenient, as it left my hands free while still allowing me to get my phone notifications. But, although it’s great that the watch syncs with your phone and receives alerts, the Huawei Band does not allow you to answer calls or read full messages.

Nope, the watch isn’t off; it’s just in sleep mode

The Huawei Band retails in the Philippines for only PhP 2,990 or $80 for the rest of the world, a very affordable price tag compared to other fitness smartwatches. The small, simple gadget has a straightforward purpose and it stays true to that. The Huawei Band packs a punch when it comes to basic fitness functions, but as can be expected for the price, it has limited extra features.

GadgetMatches and matching outfits

When one thinks of fitness bands, one thinks of those rectangular plastic things that go around your wrist and come in bright colors. While I find those cute, I also find glitter glow-stick bracelets cute. Both, however, are not proper accessories to cocktail dresses or half of the things found in every girl’s wardrobe. The usual problem with these fitness trackers is that most of them are targeted towards men; they usually do not have the aesthetic we women need.

For something that’s supposed to be on your wrist 24/7, I couldn’t understand why most of these fitness bands looked, well, way too much like fitness bands.

In this aspect, the Huawei Band won out. The huge circular face is reminiscent of analogue watches, and the white plastic band looks clean and simple — easy to match with any outfit, no matter what the occasion.

After a month of usage, I now have a better gauge of my fitness activities and the calories I’ve burned along the way. I still don’t have abs (it’s coming!), but I am proud to say that not once did my outfits look unmatched.

[irp posts=”9073″ name=”Huawei shipped 140 million smartphones in 2016″]

Her GadgetMatch

What your smartphone color choice reveals about you

Eight colors, eight personalities. Here’s how to pick.

Published

August 14, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Your phone color says more than you think. With the Pixel 11 series, Google’s giving you eight ways to make that statement, and there’s genuinely one for every kind of person.

Hibiscus

You’re never the quiet one in the room. Hibiscus doesn’t ask for attention; it just takes it, and if that sounds like you, you’re probably not planning to start hiding now. This is the pick for anyone who’d rather stand out than blend in.

Pistachio

You’re the one who remembers everyone’s coffee order. Pistachio is soft and easy; the one whom people gravitate toward without quite knowing why. It doesn’t try hard to be liked. It just is.

Frost

You like things a little too organized. Frost means clean lines and a clear head, the color equivalent of a camera roll with zero mess in it. If your notes app has color-coded folders, this one’s calling your name.

Obsidian

You let the work speak for itself. No flash needed, because when you show up, the room adjusts anyway. Obsidian is the classic choice, the one that’s never trying too hard because it doesn’t have to.

Canyon

You’re the one who suggests the sunset drive. Canyon is warm and a little restless, always chasing golden hour whether or not anyone else is up for it. Available on the Pro and Pro XL, it’s built for people who treat every evening like it might be a good one.

Olive

You’re outdoorsy, but you’ll still show up looking put together. Olive is low-key and grounded, the one who doesn’t try too hard because it’s already comfortable in its own skin. Another Pro and Pro XL exclusive.

Fog

You’re hard to read, and you like it that way. Fog is understated on purpose, a Pro and Pro XL colorway for anyone who’d rather keep people guessing.

So, which one’s you?

Eight colors, three phones, one very personal decision. Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro, and Pixel 11 Pro XL goes on sale starting August 20 — with Pistachio, Hibiscus, Frost, and Obsidian on the base model; and Canyon, Fog, Olive, and Obsidian on the Pro line.

Which one’s calling your name?

Her GadgetMatch

TECNO and Angélica Dass team up for a global portrait project

Dass aims to photograph 100 people across five countries using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra

Published

July 8, 2026

Vincenz

TECNO has partnered with Brazilian photographer Angélica Dass in launching “100 Portraits of Becoming.”

It is a two-year global initiative that explores identity, representation, and how AI sees people.

The project officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya — where Dass began photographing participants using the latest TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra.

Who’s Angélica Dass?

Angélica Dass is best known for exploring identity and self-expression through portrait photography.

Her award-winning “Humanæ” project challenged conventional ideas of race and skin color by highlighting the diversity of human skin tones.

ICYMI, Dass and her project gained much recognition from:

TED
World Economic Forum
UNESCO
American Museum of Natural History
Vogue
National Geographic

Portraits beyond appearances

With this portrait project, Dass teams up with TECNO to photograph 100 people across five countries.

Rather than simply documenting faces, 100 Portraits of Becoming aims to tell the stories behind each participant. Every portrait is paired with a personal narrative about growth, identity, and life experiences. Creating what TECNO calls a “Living Archive.”

Participants are photographed in natural light, without filters, and while wearing clothing of their own choice to better reflect their authentic selves.

The collaboration also explores how AI can go beyond simply recognizing faces. Asking instead how technology can better reflect the complexity of human identity and give people more control over how they choose to be seen.

Powered by TECNO’s Universal Tone imaging

All portraits are shot using the TECNO CAMON 50 Ultra, which features the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.

Introduced in 2023, Universal Tone is designed to improve how smartphone cameras capture different skin tones. According to TECNO, the system is built on a database covering hundreds of skin tone samples, allowing photos to produce more natural and accurate results across a wider range of complexions.

The company says the technology aligns with the project’s goal of promoting more authentic and inclusive representation in photography, especially as AI-powered imaging becomes increasingly common nowadays.

From Kenya to the world

As previously mentioned, Kenya serves as the project’s first stop. With TECNO citing the country’s growing technology ecosystem and young population as reasons for beginning there.

Over the next two years, the initiative will travel to the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil. The first collection of portraits and stories expected to go live online in August.

As of writing, TECNO is currently accepting participants from the Philippines where Dass is expected to take part from August 16 until August 22, 2026.

Through 100 Portraits of Becoming, TECNO hopes to spark conversations around identity, diversity, and how technology can better reflect the people it captures—not just visually, but through their stories as well.

Her GadgetMatch

Dyson’s viral portable fan arrives in the Philippines

Published

June 23, 2026

Carolyn Ramoran Hamilton | Almost Diplomatic

If there is one Dyson launch that has generated unusual levels of anticipation this year, it is the Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan.

The compact cooling device quickly gained a following after its international release, reportedly selling out within a day in several markets. Now, just in time for the hottest and most humid months of the year (no thanks to climate change), it is finally arriving in the Philippines.

With temperatures continuing to climb, the timing feels almost inevitable. Lightweight and designed for use on the move, the HushJet™ Mini brings Dyson’s airflow technology into a portable format that fits easily into everyday life—whether commuting through the city, attending outdoor events, traveling, or spending long days under the sun.

Its appeal extends beyond functionality. Finished in Dyson’s Stone/Blush colorway, the device combines cooling performance with a sleek aesthetic that feels at home alongside the accessories people already carry daily.

The new Dyson HushJet Mini is your new companion against heat and humidity.

The launch also marks one of the most accessible entry points into the Dyson ecosystem. Priced at PhP6,499, the HushJet Mini offers consumers a practical way to experience the brand’s engineering and design in a product built for everyday use.

Given the strong demand seen overseas, interest is expected to be high when the fan officially launches in the Philippines.

Where, when, and how to get your own Dyson HushJet

The Dyson HushJet Mini Portable Fan in Stone/Blush will be available beginning June 25, 2026 at 3 p.m. at participating Dyson stores, including Mall of Asia, Podium, Greenbelt 5, and One Bonifacio High Street.

For those hoping to get their hands on one, it may be worth keeping a close eye on Dyson Philippines’ official social media channels and Dyson.ph. If international demand is any indication, this could be one of the season’s most sought-after releases.