News
iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max bring bold redesign, 8x zoom, and more
Including Apple’s fastest chip yet
Apple just pulled the wraps off its most advanced iPhones yet: the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both models feature a bold new design, a powerful new A19 Pro chip, and Apple’s biggest-ever leap in battery life.
A new design built for power
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup comes in a brushed aluminum unibody that’s light but strong. It’s crafted with aerospace-grade alloy and built around a vapor chamber for better cooling. That means the A19 Pro chip can push harder for gaming, video editing, and Apple Intelligence, all while staying cool to the touch.
The design also makes room for a larger battery. Apple says the Pro Max offers its longest-lasting battery ever, and both phones can charge to 50% in just 20 minutes with the new 40W Dynamic Power Adapter.
A brighter, tougher display
The 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR displays are brighter than ever, hitting 3000 nits outdoors. ProMotion is here, up to 120Hz, with Always-On support. Ceramic Shield 2 now protects both the front and back, offering 3x better scratch resistance and 4x better crack resistance compared to older models.
The most powerful iPhone chip yet
A19 Pro is Apple’s fastest iPhone chip to date. It’s built with a 6-core CPU, a redesigned 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The chip delivers 40% better sustained performance than the last generation, making room for AAA gaming titles with ray tracing and higher frame rates.
Networking also gets a boost with the new N1 chip, enabling Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and more reliable AirDrop and Personal Hotspot connections.
Pro cameras with up to 8x zoom
The new camera system brings three 48MP Fusion lenses: Main, Ultra Wide, and a brand-new Telephoto. Together, they give users the equivalent of eight pro lenses.
The Telephoto camera now supports 4x optical zoom at 100mm and an incredible 8x optical zoom at 200mm — the longest ever on iPhone. The improved Photonic Engine enhances color accuracy, low-light shots, and detail. Digital zoom also goes up to 40x.
Up front, the new 18MP Center Stage camera automatically adjusts the frame to fit everyone in selfies, shoots ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video, and even allows simultaneous Dual Capture with the rear cameras.
Pro video features for creators
For filmmakers, iPhone 17 Pro is the first smartphone to support ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock. That means smoother workflows, pro-level synchronization across cameras, and more flexibility when editing.
iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence
Out of the box, the new Pros run iOS 26 with Apple Intelligence baked in. Live Translation works across Messages, FaceTime, and calls. Visual intelligence lets you search and act on anything you capture in a screenshot. Plus, apps across music, maps, and even gaming get meaningful upgrades.
Price and availability
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup comes in deep blue, cosmic orange, and silver. Storage starts at 256GB, going all the way up to 2TB on the Pro Max.
Pricing starts at $1,099 for iPhone 17 Pro and $1,199 for iPhone 17 Pro Max. Pre-orders open September 12, with availability beginning September 19.
It’s been a while since the last time we got a FromSoftware game. Elden Ring Nightreign felt like an age ago, even if it was launched just last year. Plus, the title isn’t even a new one, technically, since it’s just building off of Elden Ring. Unfortunately, our wait for a new FromSoftware game has to go on for a little bit longer. FromSoftware has delayed the launch of The Duskbloods to 2027.
The Duskbloods is an interesting addition to the FromSoftware oeuvre. Compared to the usual fare, the Switch-exclusive title is a multiplayer extraction game with a distinctly Bloodborne-like feel. If you’re used to FromSoftware’s usual formula, The Duskbloods represents a huge change.
But it’s a welcome one, nonetheless. If the recently released Elden Ring port of the Switch 2 is any indication, FromSoftware does have a handle of what performance looks like on the console.
Sadly, the new title needs a bit more time in the oven. Citing “final adjustments to game rules and balancing,” FromSoftware is delaying the launch of the game to 2027. According to the studio, this is in response to the successful network test a while back.
The delay shouldn’t come off as a surprise. Though the studio promised a 2026 launch for the title, most of the year has passed without a definite launch date. That was already a telltale sign that a delay was coming.
At the very least, the delay comes with the benefit of launching the game farther away from Grand Theft Auto VI and the Ocarina of Time remake, which will surely dominate holiday gaming this year.
The launch of the new MacBook Pro is a polarizing one, to say the least. The notebook introduces a new touchscreen feature that isn’t really an automatic hit for fans. Some have even pointed out how Steve Jobs once said that touchscreen MacBooks were a bad idea. If you’re a part of this group, a new discovery might alleviate your worries a little bit. Apparently, you can turn off the new MacBook Pro’s touchscreen functionalities.
According to MacStories’s Federico Viticci, the new MacBook Pro with Touch includes accessibility features that can turn off the touchscreen entirely. Other early testers have also corroborated this option.
A touchscreen notebook isn’t the most popular type of laptop. Though this particular display has been available for quite a while, it hasn’t really taken off. Case in point, Apple’s announcement hasn’t been met with the warmest of fanfare.
It’s also telling that Apple baked in a way to turn this setting off. At the very least, we didn’t have to wait a while. The hullabaloo is reminiscent of the reception to Liquid Glass, another polarizing feature that Apple eventually made configurable for detractors.
Also, this isn’t the first time that Apple tried experimenting with the MacBook. Do you remember the short-lived Touch Bar?
Strangely, it’s such a strong contrast to the MacBook Neo launched earlier this year. Whereas that particular model debuted to applause, the new MacBook Pro attracted more raised eyebrows.
SEE ALSO: What the MacBook should touch on instead
News
TechLife Pad Neo SE: Price, availability in the Philippines
Now available at PhP 8,999 SRP, with deals on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
TechLife has officially launched the Pad Neo SE. It’s a 10.1-inch tablet aimed at families, positioned as a study device first, with room for creativity and after-school entertainment. It comes in Space Grey, Bubble Blue, and Aurora Green.
The Eye Comfort Display is the main draw. The larger screen gives kids more space for research and online classes. It’s designed to keep longer study sessions easier on the eyes.
Dual stereo speakers handle lessons and shared family viewing, while split-screen support lets kids and parents run two tasks at once.
The tablet supports Smart Parental Control and Google Kids Space. Parents can pick the apps, books, videos, and learning content their kids can access.
For the hardware, the Pad Neo SE runs Android 16 on an octa-core processor. It offers up to 8GB of RAM, including memory expansion, and 64GB of storage that can be expanded up to 1TB.
Also, its 6000mAh battery last through a full school day of classes and lessons. Rounding out the spec sheet are 5MP front and rear cameras and the Google Gemini AI assistant.
Price, availability in the Philippines
The Pad Neo SE retails at PhP 8,999. With vouchers, it can go for as low as PhP 7,099 on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.
As part of TechLife’s Peak Season offers, which run from October 29, 2026 to January 3, 2027, buyers get a free Folio Case or a free Power Bank R211 5,000mAh, depending on availability. An online giveaway for the Pad Neo SE also starts October 29 on TechLife’s official social media pages.
Vouchers apply to participating online platforms only. Stocks and vouchers are limited. Freebies are available while supplies last.
-
Reviews2 weeks agovivo V80 review: Good phone, tough sell
-
Gaming2 weeks agoKINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I–III] now available on PS5, Switch 2
-
News1 week agoOPPO Find X10 Series: Price, availability in the Philippines
-
Buyer's Guide2 weeks agoiPhone Duo Philippines: Prices, installments, and where to buy
-
Cameras1 week agoDJI Osmo Pocket 4P Pearl White now available globally
-
News1 week agoOPPO Find X10 Series: Price, availability
-
News2 weeks agoSony unveils three premium Walkman music players
-
Entertainment1 week agoCyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 now streaming, Cyberpunk 2077 update coming




