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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
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.
Samsung can’t let the year end without getting one last hurrah. After teasing the smartphone for months, the South Korean brand has finally unveiled the much-awaited Galaxy Z TriFold in all its glory.
This year started with a similar bang. Earlier, Huawei launched the Huawei Mate XT, the market’s first tri-fold smartphone. Since then, other brands have teased similar entries to compete against Huawei. Now, Samsung is ready with its own.
One gigantic screen
As with Huawei, the Galaxy Z TriFold will feature two hinges to complete the tri-fold format. Unfolded, the main screen is a humungous 10.0-inch screen. It will allow a lot of different uses; users can utilize the entire screen as one giant panel or split it into three windows for multi-tasking.
Then, users can fold the main screen inward, much like a brochure. When bent, the screen can turn into an immersive way to watch movies. Otherwise, the screen can fully fold into itself, which allows users to utilize the smaller 6.5-inch cover screen on the other side.
Both screens have a Dynamic 2X AMOLED display, featuring a refresh rate of 120Hz. It is also capable of up to 2,600 nits of brightness. Meanwhile, the main screen features 1,600 nits of brightness.
Both a looker and a fighter
If you’re worried that this just looks like a fad, the Galaxy Z TriFold has a wealth of hardware to convince you of what it can do.
Inside, the foldable sports a customized Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, tailored specifically for Galaxy. It features 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
The main screen has three-camera setup. Heading the pack is a 200-megapixel wide-angle camera. It’s paired with a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 10-megapixel telephoto camera. Both the main and the cover screen will each come with their own 10-megapixel selfie camera.
Finally, the Galaxy Z TriFold will have a 5600mAh battery. It’s compatible with up to 45W Super-Fast Charging 2.0 (wired) and up to 15W Fast Wireless Charging 2.0. It also has Wireless PowerShare for other Samsung phones and those with WPC Qi wireless charging.
Built for durability
Durability is often a concern for those who want to buy a foldable. Have smartphone makers finally perfected a foldable screen?
While we can’t confirm this phone’s durability just yet, Samsung claims that the Galaxy Z TriFold focuses on keeping the screen safe for use for years to come.
Firstly, when folded, the screens will not touch each other. There’s a minimal gap, but there will be no contact between the folded screens. Regardless, Samsung still installed a new reinforced overcoat for increased resistance against dings and scratches.
Additionally, the chassis has been reinforced with an Advanced Armor Aluminum Frame. The hinges have also been strengthened with titanium for added durability.
Finally, the Galaxy Z TriFold is IP48 rated.
These added measures are nothing to sneeze at. When unfolded, the body is only around 4.2mm thin and weighs only 309 grams.
Price, availability
As bombastic as this reveal is, the Galaxy Z TriFold is not available everywhere just yet. Starting December 12, the foldable will launch exclusively in South Korea. China, Taiwan, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates will follow shortly after.
Meanwhile, the United States will get the foldable in the first quarter of 2026. Presumably, the American launch will coincide with the wider global one, but Samsung has not confirmed this yet.
There’s also no word on price yet. However, if the Mate XT is anything to go buy, expect an eye-watering price for this one. For reference, the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 costs US$ 1,999.
The HUAWEI nova 14 Series, and the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) have been officially unveiled in the Philippines.
Dubbed as the “King of AI Selfies”, the HUAWEI nova 14 Series ushers a bolder, new age self-expression for the younger market powered by smarter and faster photography.
Meanwhile, the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) delivers a 4-in-1 all-round productivity and PC-level features.
It is ideal for both students and professionals and delivers a premium performance in a sleek and lightweight body.
The HUAWEI nova 14 Series is now available for preorder for the following prices:
- HUAWEI nova 14: Starts at PhP 22,999 (free HUAWEI WATCH FIT for early buyers)
- HUAWEI nova 14 Pro: Starts at PhP 32,999 (free HUAWEI WATCH FIT SE for early buyers)
- HUAWEI nova 14i: Starts at PhP 12,999 (exclusive vouchers and partner offers available)
To celebrate the launch, HUAWEI also partnered with local streetwear brand Don’t Blame The Kids (DBTK).
Customers who pay in full for either the nova 14 or nova 14 Pro at select HUAWEI Experience Stores and online channels will receive a limited-edition DBTK Supernova T-shirt starting December 5, while supplies last.
On the other hand, the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026) is priced at PhP 37,999, inclusive of a freebie bundle worth PhP 21,896.
This package includes an M-Pencil Pro, Smart Magnetic Keyboard, Bluetooth Mouse, and WPS Office out of the box.
HUAWEI nova 14 Series
With the new series, HUAWEI makes their strongest leap yet for self-capture imaging performance.
The nova 14 Pro, in particular, has a 50MP Front AI Portrait Dual Camera. It can capture images with a 0.8x to 5x zoom range, letting users shift from close-ups to wide group shots.
This is also reinforced by AI features, including AI Best Expression and AI Beauty Effect.
On the rear side, the nova 14 Pro sports a new Ultra Chroma Camera which captures richly-detailed multispectral light far beyond traditional RGB cameras.
The shooter also has an adjustable F1.4 to F4.0 aperture and RYYB sensor. Moreover, Adaptive Multi-Focal Dual Flash adjusts flash dynamically to ensure photos remain perfectly lit.
HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026)
Those needing a premium productivity tool, meanwhile, can consider the HUAWEI MatePad 12 X (2026).
It is built to deliver a PC-level experience together with its accessories (M-Pencil Pro, keyboard, mouse). Be it signing documents, reviewing or editing coursework, getting creative, playing games, and binge-watching, the latest tablet can keep up with several tasks.
The slate features a 12-inch 3rd Gen ultra-clear PaperMatte Display with anti-glare, anti-reflection, and anti-fingerprint technology. This panel has a 2800 x 1840 resolution and up to 1000 nits of peak brightness.
Powered by NearLink technology, the MatePad 12 X (2026) is compatible with the new M-Pencil Pro. This stylus has new intelligent features, including pinch and rotate, along with a new Star Ring quick button.
Inside the tablet is a 10100mAh battery for up to 14 hours of video playback. This battery supports 66W HUAWEI SuperCharge for quick refueling.
In a congested country like the Philippines, using navigation for shortcuts is a requirement. However, these apps can hog a lot of battery. If you forgot your car charger, it’s practically game over for your phone. Today, Google is shipping out a Maps update which can save your phone’s battery for those long drives.
Announced earlier this month, the update will include a Power Saving mode for Google Maps. The new mode will turn the normally colorful interface into monochrome with particular emphasis on black. The interface will reduce all interactable elements, so you can just focus on the display.
Presumably, it also reduces the power required by the app, while still prioritizing navigation. According to Google, smartphones will get up to four hours more juice when the mode is enabled.
Unfortunately, it’s not a widely released update yet. Google is limiting the update’s rollout to the Pixel 10 series for now. It’s also limited to driving mode; it won’t work if you’re just walking or cycling. The option is accessible through Driving options under Navigation in the settings.
In countries where Android Auto isn’t the norm just yet, a power saving mode for navigation is a godsend. Besides hoping that the update arrives on more devices, one can also hope that Google, who also owns the app, will introduce a similar mode to Waze. (To be fair, Waze did have a battery saver option, but it just dimmed the display for long straights.
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