Anyone in their late 20s who just finally broken free from the asylum that raised them would know that settling for a small, tight space would be better for mental sanity.

Getting away from my parent’s clutches meant bidding goodbye to a capacious living room. There’ll be no more monstrous TV that I can watch on while I rot on the sofa bed.

You can’t have the same luxury in a 40 sqm condominium space. When you’re moving out, you have to let go some of the stuff that made you… you. But it gives you an opportunity to create a new identity, armed with the freedom of making decisions on your own.

Freestyle for those who just earned their freedom

Taylor Swift’s speech at the NYU Spring 2022 graduation ceremony resonated with me as I pack my bags and boxes.

“The scary news is: You’re on your own now. The cool news is: You’re on your own now.”

It’s scary to be on your own. No fallbacks; no safety net. But I revel in the freedom of making decisions that won’t be disapproved by my parents.

Instead of opting for the familiar rectangular TV, an unconventional projector such as Samsung The Freestyle took over my chamber.

I didn’t have to worry about mounting a TV on bare walls I haven’t decided how to decorate or setting a TV stand that would cramp my already tight space.

I’ve had my hands on it a few years back, which makes me familiar with its capabilities as a Smart TV. Now, it’s on its 2nd-generation, and this portable TV just got even better.

Learning to adjust and adapt

Samsung’s The Freestyle is easy to set up, and it’s even easier if you have a Samsung device that allows you to control everything through the SmartThings app.

While I have the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, I still managed to set everything up using my iPhone. My Samsung account, after all, is still logged in on my Safari browser. (I am deeply sorry, Samsung)

The beauty of having a Smart TV is how everything just works. It connected easily — on my WiFi, signing in my accounts, and accessing my favorite streaming apps.

It took me less than 30 minutes to set the whole thing up. From unboxing the device to figuring out the setup and finding the right angle.

It keystones automatically, which meant adjusting the screen to a perfect rectangle regardless of the angle you’re projecting on. This makes it easy to watch on a wall or on a ceiling — depending on your preference and watching behavior.

And more importantly, the remote control works even if you don’t point directly to the device. I tried pointing it at the screen and on a different wall, and the Freestyle just works flawlessly — even its voice assistants such as Samsung’s Bixby.

Whatever situation it finds itself in, the Freestyle just knows how to adapt and give you the best experience. I’m still learning to do the same.

Drawn to a whole new world

The first thing I did was watch my comfort anime, One Piece, and feel free like a kid again. The picture quality — whether on daytime or at night — is superb, vivid, and crisp.

Even at the scorching noon time reaching a heat index of almost 50-degrees Celsius, the sunlight is no match for the Freestyle’s projected screen. It’s like looking at a phone screen with almost 3000-nits peak brightness.

Netflix has just added the Enies Lobby arc, which is the storyline that made me fall in love with the anime. Having no friends growing up like Nico Robin makes me burst into tears every time I re-watch the scene where she screamed wanting to be live and be saved.

It didn’t help that the built-in speaker projects a 360-degree sound making me feel as if Nico Robin is screaming within my apartment.

To refresh my tears and regulate my emotions, I shifted to watching my favorite Disney movies since I just came back from Hong Kong Disneyland, and the magic’s still inside me.

I relieved my memories by playing my favorite films such as Aladdin, Frozen, Tangled, and Little Mermaid. Singing to my childhood songs made it magical, and the Freestyle just makes the experience spectacular.

Since the Freestyle can be connected via Bluetooth and/or HDMI to another sound system, I linked it to my JBL PartyBox Encore Essential, which immersed me and my whole space — making me feel like I’m back in Disneyland.

Of course, I almost burst into tears again.

To endless possibilities

I had a lot of fun using the Freestyle. Sometimes, I’d stand in front of the projector while playing some of Ariana Grande’s music videos, acting as if I’m starring in my own music video. Honestly, there are plenty of ways to experience and enjoy the Freestyle.

It’s portable, lightweight, and I bet it would make a great tool for traveling — especially on camping and road trips. I haven’t found ways to do that since I’m preoccupied with moving in and out of my new home.

Looking back, I would have loved to own the Serif as I dream of decorating my own space with my own aesthetic. But the sudden life change didn’t give me the space and the budget to make me build my dream space.

Nevertheless, it came with an unconventional solution. One that gave me endless possibilities as I try to explore who I am becoming. The Freestyle suits those with creative minds; it’s just as versatile as I am. Simply plug it in and find the right angle to experience a new way to watch your favorite content.

Maybe we don’t get what we want, but the universe will always give us what we need at the moment. Everything is still in perfect alignment. That’s my conclusion from the whole ordeal with the moving out process and having to only take the Freestyle with me in my new space.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

I’m a big fan of Samsung’s Lifestyle TVs. Most of the time, they’re unconventional and fits a certain aesthetic and — of course — lifestyle.

Samsung The Freestyle fits those who are in love with freedom, wanting to watch their favorite shows in YouTube, Netflix, or Disney+ whenever, wherever possible. It’s a smart projector and TV in one that won’t require you to use your last three brain cells, because it just works.

Samsung The Freestyle (2nd Gen) is currently available at an introductory price of PhP 34,999. Its predecessor retailed for PhP 48,999.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Freestyle: On-the-go smart entertainment hub | Samsung The Serif: What’s it’s like to watch on an artistic TV? | Samsung The Premiere: Turn any space into a private cinema

OnePlus has been fairly consistent when it comes to their positioning. Historically, the brand has offered flagship-level smartphones for a more affordable price point compared to its chief competitors. The OnePlus 11, for instance, did great overall, with just minimal misses here and there.

Now, the brand is back with the OnePlus 12R. It’s technically the “lite” or base model of the latest numbered series, but promises the same smooth, flagship-caliber experience. Users loyal to the OnePlus brand might think, is it time to upgrade? Conversely, is it worthy of a non-OnePlus regular’s consideration?

OnePlus 12R specs

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
• OxygenOS 14 based on Android 14
• 16GB RAM
• 256GB internal storage
• 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 94.2% screen-to-body ratio
• 120Hz dynamic refresh rate, up to 1000Hz touch response rate
• 5,500mAh battery
• 100W SUPERVOOC charge

Appearance, feel: Still needs improvements

It’s good that the OnePlus 12R’s volume keys are now on the right. It makes it easier to adjust the volume when held with just one hand.

The alert slider is on the left, and the selfie camera punch hole is in the middle. Other than that, there aren’t many changes. The rear cameras look exactly the same from the OnePlus 11 series.

I wish OnePlus solved the slippery problem too. Although the unit we reviewed had a matte black finish, it was still slippery to hold. I’m sure most users have this habit of putting their phones on their laps from time to time. I wouldn’t recommend doing that with this particular model.

It will fall 100% of the time. Furthermore, it doesn’t help that there is no case to at least reinforce the grip. I was extra cautious every time I held the phone, because it just didn’t give me that assurance I was looking for.

Display, audio: Immersive, punchy

Moving on, the device’s display is bright as it gets. You will see content with a more natural tone. Details are vivid and crisp, and are retained even in bright and dark spots. Even when you zoom in on a 2160p video being played, you are guaranteed clear and accurate images. Moreover, I didn’t experience any eye strain while doing a handful of stuff on the phone. That’s always a great sign, but is expected of more expensive phones nowadays.

On the audio side, the dual speakers provide you with an immersive feel. The sound comes out loud and punchy. They’re also placed appropriately. Even when you hold the phone horizontally for streaming or gaming, chances are you won’t block the speakers with your fingers.

Performance, browsing, gaming: Smooth AF

Performance wise, the OnePlus 12R is good as advertised. You will feel the smoothness right away when scrolling, switching between one app to the other, and more. This annoying thing that happens with Android phones lately where the keyboard just suddenly hangs on your screen didn’t occur once with the OnePlus 12R.

I also played Marvel Super War, easily one of the most demanding MOBA titles out there. The phone did not get hot even after a lengthy session at high graphics settings. That’s where the upgraded RAM capacity kicks in. But I feel it’s something the OnePlus 11 can also do, so it isn’t downright special.

I love the larger battery on the OnePlus 12R. It easily lasts a whole day on average usage. You’ll need just about 40 minutes to charge it from 15% back to full. When not in use, it will spend probably just 1% to 2% battery overnight on standby.

OnePlus 12R cameras: Hit and miss

• 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX890 main camera
• 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera
• 2MP macro camera
• 16MP selfie camera

Although OnePlus has a partnership with Hasselblad, the OnePlus 12R particularly uses a Sony IMX890 sensor for its main camera. It delivers fairly well for what is expected of a OnePlus camera. Color reproduction is very… well, OnePlus (you’ll understand if you’ve been using OnePlus devices in the past).

The tone is more on the redder, browner, and slightly more saturated side, which is ideal for food and landscapes. You’ll definitely capture the vibe of places and entice viewers with your food photos. This is without needing to post-process the color temperature or add filters.

The main camera does its job. It retains good detail even in captures against the light, thanks to its high dynamic range. It does well to fend off the sun’s rays or unwanted glares, and blend it with the photos you take.

You will get crisp and vivid photos by default, but detail loss will begin to be felt at 2x zoom and beyond. But it’s not like that’s super noticeable from your phone’s screen.

What I appreciate is the adjustable depth of field after portrait shots, for you to be able to match the background’s blur or bokeh effect properly with the subject. Speaking of, I underwent a trial and error phase under portrait mode. Some snaps came out out of focus, even if the indicator said “ready.”

But I reckon it’s not a perfect process, so I just adjusted on the fly. However, I did expect a lot more assistance from the camera especially since there’s some AI processing that comes with the algorithms. There were also times where the blurred effect at f/1.4 was too exaggerated, as if it’s cartoonized. On the positive side, there’s not much segmentation error and the transition from focused to blurred parts is generally smooth. But it would be tricky for users who aren’t too meticulous adjusting settings and would just rather point and shoot.

Other than that, I enjoyed shooting cityscapes and landscapes with the 8MP ultra-wide lens. There’s just a “correct” feel to it and it covers what you intended to do properly. The 2MP macro lens is extraneous at this point, since the main camera does pretty well for close ups of food and other subjects. I wouldn’t have hurt for OnePlus to include a periscope lens or an extra portrait sensor, considering its price point. As for filming, the camera package also has OIS and EIS support, and taking videos at 1080p @ 60fps had no hiccups on my end.

In front, the selfie camera delivers the same, “realistic” results as its predecessor. This may both be a good and bad thing for those who want smoother selfies instead of having their pores or eyebags come out too sharp. Personally, I prefer some smoothness with selfies, but a little retouching won’t hurt. You do you.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

As I’ve mentioned, OnePlus is consistent with how they approach the market. Loyal OnePlus user? You may feel this is an upgrade if you’ve been using a handset from two to three generations prior. Trying something new to break the iPhone-Galaxy S series duopoly? Go ahead, there’s no harm trying.

The OnePlus 12R is smooth, without a doubt, if that’s what you’re looking for. The camera package delivers the same signature performance expected of the brand. On paper, there are a lot of improvements. But is it worth it? It’s tough to say yes resoundingly.

If you happen to own a OnePlus 10 or 11, the differences in overall usage are minute. If you’re ready to spend PhP 40,000 or more, there are a lot of options that come with more cameras or put focus on gaming. Alternatively, if you want to save, there are also capable flagship killers in the market for a lot less. Moreover, other top brands’ flagships — base model or better — are selling for a lot less these days.

That makes the release of this particular variant from the series a little confusing or questionable at this point. Perhaps, it would have been better if OnePlus waited a bit more and dropped a banger of a latest flagship line with a lot more features and enhancements. I’m trying to make sense of it, but for now, it’s best to wait.

The OnePlus 12R retails for PhP 43,990 in the Philippines.

SHP: https://bit.ly/OnePlus-12R-Shopee
LAZ: https://bit.ly/Oneplus12R
Kiosks and partner Stores: http://bit.ly/3O9q76V

Just when we thought the Midnights’ era was over and the clock’s hands are now pointing to the tortured poets, a ‘Lavender Haze’ has arrived in the midrange smartphone department of the Philippines.

The realme 12 5G is here, and dang, does it look magical!

Just over a month after the official release of the realme 12 series, a new younger sibling just arrived, dead set on satisfying a niche that wants a competitive mobile device but has arguably smaller pockets.

You showed me colors you know I can’t see in anyone else

Right off the bat, the realme 12 5G is nothing short of stunning. The unit I have is in Twilight Purple, and believe me when I say that it’s a feast for the eyes. The other color variant of the phone is Woodland Green and its deep green hues will certainly win many hearts as well. 

Despite not having the vegan leather of its older siblings, the realme 12 5G still has the ability to turn heads and serve the borahae aesthetic which a lot of people (count me in!) like.

The camera layout of the realme 12 5G is a visual language we’re familiar with all too well. The luxury watch design is something I will always be a fan of. I really admire smartphone brands that create their own visual identity rather than those who take the easy route of copying a certain bitten fruit brand.

However, I must say that the metal frame of the realme 12 5G is a certified fingerprint magnet. But if you’re like part of the, say, 99% of the population who use smartphone cases, the free clear case that comes straight out of the box is an easy fix. That’s another episode of android-smartphones’-generosity-saves-the-day! 

It is also an important thing to note that while I really love the big camera design of the realme 12 5G, it can be bothersome when using the phone in landscape orientation. My fingers are naturally covering/touching the cameras. While it’s not that uncomfortable, you might have to wipe the lenses much more than you think you should.

The ports and buttons are pretty generic for the most part. The volume controls and power buttons are sitting on the right, the USB-C port, stereo speakers, and the 3.5mm headphone jack (yes, a headphone jack in 2024? I know, right!)  are on the bottom. realme, however, stepped up the game through the power button because it does not only double as a fingerprint scanner, it also allows custom shortcuts by double-tapping or double-pressing. This feature is called the dynamic button.

A display made for ‘Islang Pantropiko’ (Tropical Island)

BINI Jhoanna 🥰

Rocking a 6.72 FHD+ LTPS LCD display that supports a screen refresh rate of up to 120Hz is another impressive feature the realme 12 5G boasts under its purple sleeves. With a screen-to-body ratio of 91.4% and a camera punch hole that effortlessly blends with the display, an immersive experience is guaranteed.

The image looks sharp, the colors are vivid, and scrolling on this device is a breeze. Although, I would have loved it more if the bezels are thinner or at least, proportionally distributed but again, that’s just me being a true-blooded Virgo.

But that’s not where the display admiration ends. The realme 12 5G also supports up to 800 nits of screen brightness. It can go further to 950 nits when the ‘Extra Brightness’ mode found on the display settings is toggled on. 

This makes the display easily viewable even outdoors. That’s especially true during these ‘Islang Pantropiko’ summer weather when the sun’s scorching heat is not that forgiving to smartphones with dim displays.

The cameras: Do I love it? Do I hate it? I guess it’s up and down!

I would like to be very honest, I initially wanted to name this portion of the review as “The tortured camera department” but I feel like that would not be accurate of what I really feel towards the shooters of the realme 12 5G.

The smartphone sports three cameras in total. At the back lies the 108MP main camera that supports 3X zoom and a 2MP portrait camera. Meanwhile, the 8MP AI selfie camera resides on the front panel.

The quality of the photos produced by the realme 12 5G is a hit or miss for me. There are times when I really feel like it’s doing a great job but there are also times when I just feel like it could have done so much better. Take a look at these sample photos.

Photos taken in broad daylight look pretty good. The colors are vivid and the sharpness is on point. The only thing I can complain about is the dynamic range which, on some conditions, can look underwhelming or too processed for my liking.

Despite the not so accurate edge detection, portrait shots of the realme 12 5G can produce decent outputs. However, I highly suggest using the 1X option rather than the 3X one for a natural looking and overall better quality.

The High Res mode dedicated to capture 108MP photos doesn’t really pose that much of a difference. Sure, the photos may appear a tad but brighter but when looking closely, the highlights are overexposed. 

Not just that, photos taken using the High Res mode generate massive files. I even took a single photo that is over 90MB in size.

The 3X zoom seems underperforming and inconsistent as well. The photos can look good and usable one time but frequently, it just appears oversharpened and heavily processed. The colors can be too saturated as well.

Low light photos taken using the realme 12 5G is also another yin and yang for me. When there is enough light, it can produce really impressive results but it can also struggle during the darker times when you feel like you really need it to perform as intended.

As for the selfies, I can say that I am quite happy with the phone’s performance. It may not be flagship level but it won’t let you down in your “me” moments.

The video is limited to 1080p at 30FPS for both the rear and front-facing cameras. I do believe that there’s some sort of EIS for the rear camera but the quality is nowhere near amazing.

So long, realme

One thing I really love about the midrange Android market is despite the competition price point, companies are really generous when it comes to battery and charging speeds. realme 12 5G is not an exception.

Packed with 5000mAh battery that supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging, quick battery drain and slow charging speed are a thing of the past. Being a heavy social media user, the realme 12 5G lasted me a whole day of use with a few more juice left before I reached out for its charger. 

realme promises a 0-100% of charge in just 83 minutes. True to its claims, I was able to charge the phone from 20% to full in just 72 minutes. Impressive is an understatement.

You need to calm down, you’re being too loud

The realme 12 5G’s dual stereo speaker also has a feature called the Ultra Volume Mode that allows you to push up the volume level up to 200%. While it’s not necessarily bad, I find the audio quality to be a little bit harsh-edged and crunchy. 

The bass is really lacking as well to the point that it kinda affects my music time with my current favorite bubble gum P-pop songs. The normal volume, albeit a little bit better, is not really an entirely different story. This just goes to show that just because it’s loud, doesn’t mean it’s a great speaker.

I think there’s been a glitch…or two?

Moving forward to speed talks, the realme 12 5G is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 6100+. Basic operations like browsing on social media is an easy feat for realme’s newest midrange device. Even multitasking seems smooth on this device, switching back and forth between apps hasn’t really been an issue on my end. 

It does reload some apps, mostly games, when reopening them but I feel like that’s pretty normal for midrange android devices.

The gaming experience, however, is kind of underwhelming. When playing Roblox even on automatic graphics quality, I still experienced a considerably significant amount of frame drops. That became more frequent when I dialed up the graphics settings to maximum quality. 

Surprisingly, I didn’t notice any frame drop when I played Asphalt 9 on default graphics settings and only a few occurred when I modified the settings to the highest graphics quality and 60FPS option. 

As for the device’s temperature, the realme 12 5G may warm up during heavy use over an extended period, but it remains comfortable to hold. A brief rest allows the phone to cool down quickly.

You’ve got some tricks up your sleeves 

Another thing that makes the realme 12 5G so interesting is the special features that come with it. Even though some of them can be viewed as plain gimmicks, some could be really useful. For example, the mini capsule 2.0 as realme likes to call it  is an animation feature that is quite similar to Apple’s dynamic island, is nowhere near impressive and does not really improve the phone’s functions in any way.  

On the other hand, the Snap Cards feature of the device which allows you to use your phone to store RFIDs by scanning the actual RFIDs could be a game changer for some people. Imagine you forgot your work RFID that records your attendance but hey, your phone is there to save the day! I believe things like these are what makes the realme 12 5G a fun device to have inside your pocket.

Other features worth mentioning include RAM expansion, dynamic button, and extra brightness.

Final Thoughts

To sum everything up, the realme 12 5G offers a wide spectrum of features a lot of people will love. With its unique aesthetic and color options, impressive sunlight display, and long-lasting battery life, it offers a holistic and fun experience for its users. . The device’s ability to deliver decent photos is also worth keeping in mind.

Its performance, although not perfect, still provides a satisfying user experience. To top all that off, it also has special features under its belt. With its competitive pricing, I will definitely recommend the realme 12 5G for people who love aesthetics and value functionality but do not want to break the bank.

Pricing and Availability

The realme 12 5G is the least expensive offering among the realme 12 series. Priced at Php 14,999, the handset comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You may purchase the device and get freebies on realme’s TikTok shop until April 30. The realme 12 5G will also be available on realme’s official Shopee and Lazada store on May 5 to 10.