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iPhone 17: Better display tech, power efficiency, more

More capable Neural Engine, longer battery life, Center Stage front camera among upgrades

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The latest iPhones are here. Apple has launched the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, alongside the standalone iPhone Air model on Tuesday morning.

The base model, the iPhone 17, has been made more capable than ever, with upgrades in display technology, power efficiency, Neural Engine, and more.

So, what’s new?

Better, brighter, larger display

The iPhone 17 comes with a slightly larger 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR display with thinner borders for more display real estate.

This display now features the same ProMotion technology found on Pro series models, with an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate.

In a nutshell, that means smoother scrolling and better video playback, but for gaming, it means the audiovisual experience is elevated as well.

Users can also benefit from the now 3,000 nits peak outdoor brightness — the highest ever on an iPhone — and reduced glare.

Moreover, the display is protected by Ceramic Shield 2. This upgraded coating is said to be three times more scratch resistant than Ceramic Shield, adding to the iPhone 17’s overall durability and toughness.

More power efficient, more capable of AI tasks

The iPhone 17 features an A19 chip built on a 3nm technology. It makes the handset faster and more efficient for handling even intensive tasks.

Featuring a 16-core Neural Engine, the chip also enables more power-efficient AI inference.

Users will benefit from the more powerful 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU chip especially in gaming and graphics intensive tasks.

The chip is likewise tailor-made for running on-device AI better while still being power efficient.

Of course, the iPhone 17 runs on iOS 26 and features Apple Intelligence, as well as relatively newer features like Visual Intelligence and Live Translation.

Faster wired charging also enables the iPhone 17 to be charged to 50% in just 20 minutes.

iPhone 17 cameras

As for its cameras, the iPhone 17 features a 48MP Dual Fusion Camera System. This 48MP main camera allows users to shoot at up to 2X zoom without detail loss.

In addition, the iPhone 17 has a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera camera which can also double as a 12MP 1x macro shooter for higher-quality close-up shots.

Center Stage front camera

Also new across the series is the 18MP Center Stage front camera. This features the widest field of view yet on an iPhone selfie camera.

That’s thanks to its large sensor that is almost twice the size of the previous one. Furthermore, what makes the sensor different is it has a square shape.

This means users will have better time taking selfies as they do not have to rotate the phone itself anymore.

The device will also intelligently respond when there are more subjects in the frame, widening the field of view to its maximum or even rotate it to landscape orientation.

Stabilization has also been made better for filming using the front camera. This optimization can also be felt on video calls.

iPhone 17 price, availability

The iPhone 17 starts at US$ 799 for the 256GB configuration. There are five available colors: Lavender, Mist Blue, Black, White, and Sage.

Pre-orders start on Friday with general availability starting September 19th.

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REDMI Note 15 Series named Presenting Partner for Spartan Race Philippines 2026 season

Titan Toughness takes center stage!

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Being a Spartan athlete for five years has taught me that endurance isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about the mental grit to keep moving when your body begs you to stop.

In this world, “toughness” becomes more than just a marketing buzzword. Now, it’s a requirement for survival. That’s why the partnership between Spartan Race Philippines and the REDMI Note 15 Series feels like a shared philosophy.

Partner for a tough course

Starting March 21, 2026, at Parklinks, Pasig City, the REDMI Note 15 Series officially joins the Spartan circuit.

For someone who has navigated these obstacles for years, I know that technology usually doesn’t belong in the mud. But the “Titan Tough” promise of the REDMI Note 15 is built for this exact routine.

It’s designed to be there for the moments that matter. For capturing the raw, unpolished triumph of the finish line; for surviving the grit of the course so you can focus on the next hurdle; and for finding the device at the heart of the festival area and the winner’s circle, mirroring the resilience of the athletes themselves.

Join the journey

Whether you are a seasoned elite racer or stepping into your first Open heat, this season is about testing your limits.

To help you get to that starting line, you can use the discount code REDMINOTE15 to get 10% OFF on all Spartan Race OCR, Spartan Kids Race, and Hurricane Heat events.

See you at the starting line. AROO!

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Stylish, student-friendly HONOR X8d launches

Price, pre-order offers

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HONOR Philippines has launched its latest mass-market smartphone entry that caters to students and the youthful market in general: the HONOR X8d.

The budget smartphone is priced at PhP 15,999 and is available in Blue, Velvet Black, and Velvet Grey colors.

As part of launch offers, those who pre-order until March 27 can get a free accessory and can also avail of 0% installment plans via credit cards and Home Credit.

Customers can get the device through Lazada, Shopee, and HONOR stores.

REVIEW: The HONOR X8d is serviceable

The HONOR X8d is powered by a Snapdragon 6s 4G Gen 2 processor and comes with 8GB of RAM (plus 8GB expansion) and 256GB of storage.

It has a large 7,000mAh battery which supports 45W charging, making it a very long-lasting daily value companion.

The device features a 6.77-inch 120Hz display which has up to 3,000 nits of brightness, making it useful for practical situations.

The handset comes with usual display certifications and protections, including 3840Hz PWM dimming, E-Book mode, SGS drop resistance, and an IP65 rating.

For its cameras, the X8d has a 108MP main camera, plus a 16MP front camera. The main shooter can capture decent quality at 1x, 2x, and 3x zoom ranges.

There are also handy AI editing tools like AI Eraser, AI Cutout, and AI Upscale.

Out of the box, the HONOR X8d runs on MagicOS 10 based on Android 16. It also has staple productivity tools like AI Translate, AI Writing, AI Notes, and AI Recorder, alongside features such as Magic Portal and Circle to Search.

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GoTyme Bank, Visa partner for FIFA World Cup 2026 raffle giveaway

Win an all-expense-paid trip to the World Cup with your GoTyme Visa Debit Card

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GoTyme Bank and Visa have officially teamed up for a FIFA World Cup 2026 raffle giveaway.

This gives Filipino football fans the chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to attend either the World Cup Group Stage or Final in the United States.

The partnership marks GoTyme Bank’s growing presence not only in the market but also in the global stage. Recently, the digital bank has grown to over 9 million customers in the Philippines, and 20 million worldwide.

Under the partnership, GoTyme Bank and Visa have released new limited-edition FIFA World Cup 2026-themed Visa Debit Cards.

These are available in two designs: Pitch Black and Trophy Gold. Both are designed by Filipino artist Ross Du, who incorporated the iconic tournament’s iconic trophy.

The latter, in particular, has some rarity as there will only be 20,000 copies printed in GoTyme Bank kiosks nationwide. Customers can have them printed starting March 23.

Print, Spend, Score

To join the raffle, cardholders simply have to spend at least PhP 1,000 for a raffle entry. That’s using the Classic or Pitch Black card.

Overseas spending also comes with a 3x multiplier, meaning three entries for every PhP 1,000 spent abroad.

Two winners — one Classic and one Pitch Black cardholder — will each win an all-expense-paid trip for two to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage in Los Angeles.

But even better, those who get the exceptionally rare Trophy Gold card will automatically get a raffle entry for the grand prize raffle draw — with no minimum spend required.

One Trophy Gold cardholder will win an all-expense-paid trip for two to attend the World Cup Final in New York City. This includes roundtrip business class seats as well.

In addition to the major prizes, 10 customers will receive exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026 Visa Premium merchandise.

The fly-off promo runs until May 7 for the Classic and Pitch Black cardholders and until June 10 for the Trophy Gold cardholders.

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