News

iPhone 16 Pro: Ultimate ‘creator’ phone?

Plenty of features for content creation

Published

September 10, 2024

Rodneil Quiteles

We already know that the iPhone 16 Series is getting a Camera Control button. But the iPhone 16 Pro takes things even further with the Apple Intelligence-powered features for the photos, videos, and audio.

Better Camera Control

Camera Control goes even deeper in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The new camera preview helps users frame the shot and adjust other control options. These include zoom, exposure, or depth of field. These helps immensely with composing your shots.

Later this fall, Camera Control will be updated with a two-stage shutter to automatically lock focus and exposure on a subject with a light press. This lets users reframe the shot without losing focus. Additionally, developers will be able to bring Camera Control to third-party apps.

Visual Intelligence

In an update coming in late 2024, Camera Control will also have the Visual Intelligence feature. If you’re familiar with Google Lens and Samsung’s Circle to Search, it kind of works like that.

You simply point at a subject, press Camera Control, and it’ll pull up relevant information on that subject.

Camera Control will also serve as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, like when users want to search on Google to find where they can buy an item, or to benefit from ChatGPT’s problem-solving skills. Users are in control of when third-party tools are used and what information is shared.

Photo, Video, and Audio improvements

Those who use their Pro iPhones for content creation should get a kick with all the new features coming.

Powered by A18 Pro, the upgraded camera system introduces a new 48MP Fusion camera with a faster, more efficient quad-pixel sensor and Apple Camera Interface. This unlocks 4K120 fps video recording in Dolby Vision

A new 48MP Ultra Wide camera also features a quad-pixel sensor with autofocus, so users can take higher-resolution 48MP ProRAW and HEIF images when capturing uniquely framed, wider-angle shots or getting close to their subjects with macro photography.

Let’s take it slow

Users can capture 4K120 fps in Slo-mo or Video mode, and adjust the playback speed after capture in the Photos app. You can do a quarter-speed playback, a new half-speed option for a dreamy effect, and a fifth-speed option that corresponds to 24 fps.

When coupled with the new image signal processor (ISP) of A18 Pro, users can do frame-by-frame cinema-quality color grading for 4K120 fps in Dolby Vision. Users can also capture 4K120 fps ProRes and Log directly to an external storage device for efficient pro workflows.

Do you hear what I hear?

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature four new studio-quality mics. These preserve true-to-life recorded sounds, and video can now be captured in Spatial Audio for immersive listening with AirPods, Apple Vision Pro, or a surround sound system.

Both pro models also introduce creative new ways to edit video sound with Audio Mix. This lets users adjust their sound after capture to focus on the voice of the person on camera. You can make it sound like the video was recorded inside a professional studio, or position vocal tracks in the front and environmental noises in surround sound. With wind noise reduction, powerful machine learning (ML) algorithms reduce unwanted noise for better audio quality.

Still on audio, you can now record multiple layers on a single track with Live Memos. A boon for those who dabble in the art of making sounds.

Photographic Styles

Photographic Styles help users express their creativity and customize their photos by locally adjusting color, highlights, and shadows in real time.

Styles also have a deeper understanding of skin undertones, so users can personalize how they appear in photos. Unlike filters, which often use a one-size-fits-all approach by adding a color to an entire scene, adjustments are applied to specific colors of a selected style.

A wider set of styles offers more creative options for editing a photo’s aesthetic, and styles can be further personalized with an easy-to-use new control pad and intensity slider for simultaneous adjustments across tone and color.

These adjustments can be rendered during live preview, applied after a photo is taken, or even reversed later.

Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is baked into the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. It maintains the privacy and security of user data with Private Cloud Compute. Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update, with the first set of features rolling out next month in U.S. English for most regions around the world.

Apple Intelligence helps users prioritize with summarized notifications, along with Priority Messages in Mail, a feature that understands the content of emails and surfaces time-sensitive messages. Across a user’s inbox, summaries convey the most important information of each email instead of previewing the first few lines.

Siri becomes more deeply integrated into the system experience and gets a brand-new design with an elegant glowing light that wraps around the edge of the screen when active.

Siri follows along when users stumble over their words and maintains context from one request to the next. Users can type to Siri at any time, and switch fluidly between text and voice as they accelerate everyday tasks. Siri also now has extensive product knowledge to answer thousands of questions about features on iPhone and other Apple devices.

Price and availability

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be available in black titanium, natural titanium, white titanium, and desert titanium, in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage capacities.

iPhone 16 Pro starts at USD 999/ SGD 1599, and iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at USD 1,199/ SGD 1899.

Like usual, there are many ways to upgrade to the latest iPhones by way of Trade In. Visit apple.com/store for more details.

Related Topics:Apple iPhone iPhone 16 iPhone 16 Pro iPhone 16 Pro Max

News

MediaTek launches the Dimensity 9600 Pro

Smartphones are scheduled to launch later this year.

Published

September 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The stage is set for next year’s smartphones. Both MediaTek and Qualcomm have unleased their upcoming flagship chipsets for the coming generation. If you’re looking for the Qualcomm side of things, go here. But if you’re looking for MediaTek, then you’re in the right place.

The Dimensity 9600 Pro adopts the 2nm process mode, which makes MediaTek one of the first companies to use it. The chip itself features a 2+3+3 All Big Core CPU. Specifically, it has two C2-Ultra cores going up to 4.55GHz, three C2-Pro cores going up to 4.35GHz, and three C2-Pro ones going up to 3.1GHz. This configuration can reportedly achieve 17 percent better single-core performance and 15 percent higher multi-core performance.

Besides all that power inherently built in, the chipset also has the G2-Ultra NX GPU. This GPU can deliver 27 percent higher peak performance, 24 percent lower power consumption, 18 percent faster raytracing, and gaming at up to 185 frames per second.

Finally, the chipset has the Imagiq 1290 ISP. With this engine, the processor can handle 60fps motion capture and 4K240 direct-output ultra-slow-motion video.

Alongside the Dimensity 9600 Pro, MediaTek is also launching the Dimensity 9600M, a slightly more lightweight option of the Pro that deliver flagship level performance to more users outside of that price point.

Smartphones that will come with the Dimensity 9600 Pro and 9600M will launch sometime in the fourth quarter.

News

Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series

This time, there are two models.

Published

September 23, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

The end of the year always heralds the next step of processors for next year’s smartphones. Besides the oodles of phone rumors we’ll have before the year ends, these new processors give us a powerful hint of what the new machinery can do. Today, Qualcomm has unveiled that next generation, announcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6.

Yes, this time, the Snapdragon flagship chipset will come in two flavors. Let’s start with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.

The “base” model of the duo has an octa-core Oryon CPU with two prime cores going up to 5GHz. It also has an Adreno GPU that touts 35 percent faster performance compared to the previous generation. Additionally, the chipset has a 16MB Flex Cache which can supposedly leverage the cache better to deliver better single-threaded performance.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will also have a new Spectra ISP. The engine can support single image capturing at 320 megapixels, or 64 megapixels with a triple rear camera combo. It also supports 8K video capturing at 30fps. Further, Intelligent Pixel Control features better contextualization skills so the camera can more accurately detect what you’re taking a photo or video of.

Finally, the X105 5G modem offers the usual array of 5G connectivity options but also goes up to supporting Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 8.

Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 offers much of the same as the duo’s regular model. However, it features 18MB of high performance memory, video recording that goes up to 60fps at 8K resolution, and new Matrix Cores that boost frame generation for gaming.

As expected, both models will appear in new smartphones from later this year to next year.

News

OPPO Find X10 Pro Max is the first phone with a triple 200MP camera system

Second to rock MediaTek’s Dimensity 9600 Pro chip

Published

September 22, 2026

Vincenz

Just a day after its sister company launched the camera-centric vivo X500 Pro Max with the same chip in it, OPPO grabs the spotlight with the Find X10 Pro Max.

More than pro

The highlight of the all-new OPPO Find X10 Pro Max has got to be its triple 200MP camera system — marking the first smartphone to have such PROwess. These are still co-developed with the niche Swedish camera maker, Hasselblad.

First and foremost, the main sensor boasts a large aperture of f/1.5. It also offers 17EV of dynamic range and a CIPA 6.5 professional-grade stabilization.

It also features the industry’s first DeepPix sensor technology. This creates the most “realistic” light and shadow reproduction while consuming less power at the same time.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Second, its UWA (Ultra-Wide Angle) lens with an f/2.2 aperture. This new module has a 124-degree FoV (Field of View) and can catch 102% more light than last year’s Find X9 Pro.

Last but definitely not the least, its telephoto shooter. The lens opening is at f/2.1 and has OIS with a CIPA 7.5 stabilization.

That separate bar beside its camera bump is dubbed as the “LUMO Original Color Capsule.” It houses not just the flash unit, but also the second-generation Danxia multi-spectral color sensor.

It does not stop at just pro-tography as the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max focuses on videography as well.

To make it a full-blown Pro Max model, it can shoot at a maximum of 4K/120fps or 8K/30fps video recording across all these three rear cameras.

Blackmagic Camera can also make use of these video strengths alongside OPPO’s 10-bit O-Log2 format.

And while we’re already at it, it also supports Open Gate capture where it uses the full camera sensor to capture footage in a 4:3 aspect ratio.

The previous telephoto extender lens is also supported alongside Tilta’s Khronos rig.

Max power

As alluded to earlier, the OPPO Find X10 Pro Max is the second smartphone to have MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9600 Pro SoC based on a 2nm process — just a day after the vivo X500 Pro series.

While it’s already mentioned that CPU is up to 15% faster and GPU is around 27% faster, the best thing is that it it’s 61% more power efficient in multi-core tasks.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Other than being the first smartphone with triple 200MP cameras, OPPO has also worked together with MediaTek in developing Laminar Flow Engine. This basically balances out system responsiveness alongside an even lower power usage.

Now that it’s mentioned, the Find X10 Pro Max packs a 8000mAh battery, 500mAh more than last year’s Find X9 Pro (and 950mAh more than the Find X9 Ultra),

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Screen bezels have also shrunk to a mere 0.99mm. That’s in contrast to the 1.15mm and 1.45mm bezels of the Find X9 and Find X8 series.

Charging is less speedy though at 80W (versus 100W on the Ultra).

While USB-C PPS support is limited to 55W, the new UFCS standard eliminates that limitation and makes full use of OPPO’s SuperVOOC charging speeds.

50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging all still remain.

Finding the other Xs

OPPO skips a Max-less Pro model in favor of two vanilla variants: the Find X10 and Find X10 E.

Both models possess a smaller 6.59-inch screen. Though display tech isn’t far off from its superior sibling, especially with the faster 144Hz refresh rate and BT.2020 support.

Much like the base vivo X500, the OPPO Find X10 runs MediaTek’s slightly down-powered Dimensity 9600M.

The Find X10 E, on the other hand, runs Dimensity 9500s.

Battery capacity of the Find X10 is the same as its Pro Max sibling at 8000mAh. Meanwhile, the Find X10 E has a slightly smaller 7025mAh tank.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Finally, cameras, while not Pro Max-level, were not totally compromised.

Find X10 E has a triple 50MP camera setup. While the base the Find X10 retains that 50MP f/2.0 120-degree ultra-wide shooter but replaces its main and telephoto cameras with a dual 200MP sensor at f/1.6 and f/2.6 respectively.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

For utmost durability, all Find X10 models feature IP66, IP68, and IP69 water and dust resistance ratings.

They also run the latest ColorOS 17 based on Android 17.

Pricing and Availability

The OPPO Find X10 series + Find X10 Pro Max are currently available for pre-orders in Mainland China.

Pricing and configuration are as follows:

Find X10 Pro Max (Moon White, Shallow Titanium, Warm Orange)

12+256GB = CNY 6799 (US$ 1015 / EUR 870 / GBP 750 / SG$ 1285 / MYR 4099 / PhP 63,465 / INR 95,735)
12+512GB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1120 / EUR 960 / GBP 825 / SG$ 1415 / MYR 4520 / PhP 69,999 / INR 105,590)
16+512GB = CNY 7999 (US$ 1190 / EUR 1025 / GBP 880 / SG$ 1510 / MYR 4825 / PhP 74,665 / INR 112,630)
16+1TB = CNY 8999 (US$ 1340 / EUR 1155 / GBP 1698 / SG$ 1260 / MYR 5425 / PhP 83,999 / INR 126,710)

Find X10 (Ice Blue, Light Titanium, Clear Orange)

12+256GB = CNY 5499 (US$ 820 / EUR 705 / GBP 605 / SG$ 1038 / MYR 3315 / PhP 51,330 / INR 77,430)
12+512GB = CNY 5999 (US$ 895 / EUR 770 / GBP 660 / SG$ 1130 / MYR 3615 / PhP 55,995 / INR 84,470)
16+512GB = CNY 6499 (US$ 970 / EUR 835 / GBP 715 / SG$ 1230 / MYR 3920 / PhP 60,665 / INR 91,510)
16+1TB = CNY 7499 (US$ 1120 / EUR 960 / GBP 825 / SG$ 1415 / MYR 4520 / PhP 69,999 / INR 105,590)

FindX10 E (Ice Blue, Shallow Titanium)

12+256GB = CNY 4999 (US$ 745 / EUR 640 / GBP 550 / SG$ 945 / MYR 3015 / PhP 46,660 / INR 70,390)
16+512GB = CNY 5499 (US$ 820 / EUR 705 / GBP 605 / SG$ 1038 / MYR 3315 / PhP 51,330 / INR 77,430)

* these are only rough price estimates

It’s rumored that international availability of the OPPO Find X10 series will likely happen next October. We just have to wait and see what OPPO global has to reveal.