Features

The laptop I wish I had when I was in University

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i

Published

March 8, 2022

All work and no play is a sure fire formula to burn out. Nobody wants that. Especially not students. Waaaaaay back when I was still in university, I kept on wishing I had a machine that I can use for my studies but also to quench my thirst for gaming. But I never had that.

Taking the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i for a spin, this is precisely the kind of laptop I wish I had all those years ago.

No game, no life

Indulge me on a little trip down memory lane. You see, I had quite the rocky time in University. More precisely, Universities. I was doing miserably in the Engineering course I initially took up. Eventually, I gave up.

At the time, I also stepped away from gaming. I was riddled with guilt about how I was failing my parents. I eventually chose to go after a Communications degree as it was the closest to multimedia I could get. There’s a whole other chapter in between, but we’re not gonna get into that right now.

So, fast forward to my Comms student life. I was doing fairly well. But I struggled a little bit every time we had to do film/video projects. I just didn’t have the equipment to really be ultra competitive.

Not only that, by this point, I had been years removed from any kind of gaming. We had a decent PC where I lived, but it could only really handle office stuff. I mostly buckled down and just made the most of what I could with what I had.

Computer shop hopping

To get some of our multimedia requirements done, I resorted to computer shop hopping. They were still a dime a dozen during those days. Naturally, that came with some issues. Files were frequently lost, jumbled, and worse, corrupted.

I kept thinking, if I had my own machine, none of this would have happened. My files would be more secure, and I would have had instant access to them wherever I was.

Using the IdeaPad Gaming 3i for some time, I couldn’t help but think how it would have made my life a thousand times more convenient.

Why the IdeaPad Gaming 3i?

Here’s a brief overview of the specs:

11th Gen Intel Core i5-11320H Processor
Windows 11
15.6” FHD (1920×1080) IPS 120Hz/165Hz
8GB RAM
512GB SSD
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050/3050Ti1

That’s plenty powerful for a machine that starts at PhP 52,995. It’s hard to imagine how it’ll perform just by staring at an info sheet. In practice, it’s so much more convincing.

Elsewhere on the laptop, you’re also getting an ample serving of ports:

2x USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only)
HDMI 2.0
Ethernet (RJ-45)
Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
Power connector

Lenovo also has your safety and security in mind. The 720p webcam has a camera shutter so you can be at ease when it’s not in use.

When you’re just watching our YouTube videos since you have to make GadgetMatch your daily habit, it fares pretty well. The Stereo speakers (2W x2, Nahimic Audio) are plenty loud both for watching and playing.

Much as I wanted to play straight away, I had to get some work done first. I spent a couple of days typing a few articles on the IdeaPad Gaming 3i. I even had it for our Mobile World Congress grind.

The full-size keyboard and that numpad on the side was super helpful since I had to deal with typing a lot of numbers. In fact, because of my time using it, I’m even considering getting a mechanical keyboard with a numpad. I digress.

But one of my key learnings throughout the years is that taking breaks are criminally underrated.

Getting my gaming fix

After stepping away from the laptop for a bit, I browsed Steam for games I could play. I already had Control and Death Stranding in my library, but I wasn’t really down to playing those. As I browsed, I was surprised to find that DragonBall FighterZ was on a massive sale.

Bought the game right away and installed it. The game demands that you use a controller, so I paired the IdeaPad Gaming 3i with my Midnight Black DualSense controller. Afterwhich, I think I stayed up more than I should have playing the game I had always wanted to play for the past few years but somehow managed to stay away from.

Naturally, I wanted to try other games too. So while I was giving Majin Buu a beatdown as Mystic Gohan, I was downloading and installing Valorant in the background.

My Valo experience was less joyful. Only because of the jarring realization that I one hundred percent suck at first-person shooter games. I felt bad for the people I played with. I totally dragged the team down.

You know what I didn’t mind at all during my entire gaming session? How the IdeaPad Gaming 3i performed. Personally, I think that’s the hallmark of a really good machine. When it takes a backseat to your experience of the game. It just works.

In case you were wondering, the games were running on Medium settings. I only checked this afterwards. It was more than enough for the FHD screen which really prioritizes refresh rate performance. This thing was built for gaming and it shows.

The right choice to get started

I have loftier requirements for my machines now, but the IdeaPad Gaming 3i still impressed me. If you asked me to use the laptop for the rest of the year, I probably wouldn’t mind.

It also helps knowing that if you get this now, you’re entitled to three (3) years of Lenovo Premium Care. That’s Lenovo’s superb after sales service.

They promise support from real people, real fast. And I know it’s standard practice to promise these things, but I personally know a handful of people who have experienced this first hand and it’s truly a fantastic service.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i is built to help you finish your tasks early, so you can play more. Lenovo understands that it’s important to have that kind of balance. And this machine can help with that.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i starts at PhP 52,995 and is available in Legion Exclusive Stores, Lenovo Experience Stores, and authorized resellers nationwide. Visit legion.lenovo.com for more information and follow @lenovolegionph both on Facebook and Instagram

Features

This is the history of basketball videogames since the ’73 Knicks

Did you know that the first basketball videogame was invented in 1973?

Published

June 15, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Knicks fans, rejoice; your long, long wait is finally over! The New York Knicks are once again the NBA Champions. As you’ve probably heard so many times by now, the last time that New York’s own was on top of the basketball pyramid was in 1973, 53 years ago.

Here’s a fun fact that you might not know, though: The last Knicks championship is tied to the history of the basketball in videogames. Did you know that the very first basketball video game was invented in 1973, the exact same year that the Knicks won their last championship?

But, of course, a lot of things have happened since then, and a lot of videogames have come and gone. Here are the most notable basketball games you might have played (or missed playing) in history:

NBA 2K

It would be pointless to start a list of basketball games without stating the obvious first. The NBA 2K series is the quintessential hooper sim today. When you think of the sport in videogames today, you can’t spend two seconds without thinking of the long-running franchise.

Now an annually releasing series, NBA 2K started in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast. At the time, it was just another drop in a sea of ‘90s basketball games. Now, it’s an institution with constantly updating graphics and mechanics.

NBA Live

Around the time that NBA 2K first started, NBA Live was the king of the jungle. Up until 2018, it was another annually releasing series going alongside (and against) the behemoth known as 2K.

But it’s had a storied history as well. It started off as the NBA Playoffs series. The first one, 1989’s Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, featured eight teams who were part of that year’s playoffs. This went on until 1993 when it evolved into NBA Showdown, one of the first games to feature every NBA team. In 1994, Showdown reinvented itself once again into NBA Live and turned into an annual series before its unfortunate cancellation in 2018.

NBA Street

If sports simulators aren’t your thing, NBA Street is an arcade-style series that has ups the fun with trick shots and streetball rules. It features three-on-three hooping with 29 teams and 5 players from each. Whereas NBA 2K and NBA Live helped gamers live out their dreams to become an NBA superstar, NBA Street was one for the gamers who just wanted a fun time.

The series spawned a few sequels since 2001 but eventually met its end in 2007. Now, however, you can continue the legacy in the recently launched NBA the Run, a spiritual successor created by developers of the original NBA Street games.

NBA Jam

“Boomshakalaka! He’s on fire!”

Even if you’ve never played NBA Jam before, you’ve probably heard its most iconic catchphrase. NBA Jam was so influential that it’s considered one of the most important games of the SNES and the arcade cabinet generation.

Besides impressive graphics for its time, it was a spectacle. Because it had no fouling system, you can physically bully people out of your way. You can catch fire if you’re too good at shooting, hence the “he’s on fire” line. You can jump to gravity-defying heights to make a dunk. Plus, the game features so many fun Easter eggs, including one that turns you into a literal tank on the court.

Double Dribble

Technically a sequel to Konami’s Super Basketball, 1986’s Double Dribble was a fairly straightforward simulator that attempted to feature realistic gameplay in a very two-dimensional time. For its time, the game was remarkable because it featured highly detailed animations for fancy moves like slam dunks.

However, the game came out before the rise of the NBA’s massive popularity in media. It doesn’t have a license to feature actual teams or players. Then again, haven’t you heard of the Boston Frogs or the New York Eagles?

One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird

Contrasted to the above’s five-versus-five or three-versus-three formats, 1983’s One on One featured, as the title says, a mano-a-mano duel between Julius Erving and Larry Bird. With an isometric half-court layout, either player takes turns dunking or shooting over the other.

While one-versus-one modes are available in today’s games, One on One let players live out their fantasies as two of the biggest basketball stars at the time. It even let you shatter the backboard Though the game isn’t much of a talking point nowadays, it was so popular for its time that it helped establish Electronic Arts as a household name in gaming.

Atari’s Basketball

As the father of modern basketball games, 1978’s Basketball, built for the Atari, was the first game to feature the full-court format so popular today. Like One on One, Basketball features only two players. The game was so rudimentary that the two hoops were represented with two sticks, and the two players were different colored blobs.

However, in 1979, Atari released an updated version with detailed graphics. It was also controlled with a trackball, the first of its kind to do so. Though it didn’t have named superstars or teams, it’s clearly the predecessor of the games we all know and love.

Basketball!

And now, we’ve come to the beginning. Released on 1973, Basketball! is officially the first basketball video game in history. Since it’s on the Magnavox Odyssey, the very first home gaming console, that comes as no surprise.

Like Pong, which also found a home in the Magnavox Odyssey, Basketball! features two square dots (the players) bouncing a smaller dot (the ball) into two “hoops” on both sides of a court. The game had a static image laid over the dots to simulate an ongoing basketball game. It was so basic that it didn’t even have a computing system for point. Players had to manually tally scores on their own based on where the small dot lands.

If it’s hard for you to imagine just how long today’s Knicks fans have waited for a championship, this was the state of gaming when they got their last ring.

Cameras

What HYROX Hong Kong looks like up close

Photographed on the Canon EOS R6 Mark III.

Published

June 11, 2026

MJ Jucutan

HYROX drew people from all over the world for a single purpose: finish the course. In Hong Kong, athletes showed up at AsiaWorld-Expo ready to run, row, and push through 8 stations of pure functional fitness.

So, we brought the Canon EOS R6 Mark III to capture one of the most demanding fitness races on the planet.

The Expo floor is a lighting nightmare, a mix of harsh overheads and deep shadows, but the 32.5MP sensor handled the contrast without breaking a sweat.

The 40fps electronic shutter and Pre-continuous shooting meant we were already capturing the moment half a second before we consciously decided to press the shutter.

Covering a race means staying mobile, and the 8.5-stop IBIS let us move freely alongside athletes without losing the shot. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II stayed locked on athletes even when they were squinting through the final stretch.

What came out were stories of triumph and determination. Even when their bodies were screaming, they pushed through anyway.

This is what HYROX Hong Kong looked like from the inside.

Words by MJ Jucutan. Photos by Sky Rodillas.

Buyer's Guide

Buyer’s Guide: Xiaomi Pad 8 Series

Do you need the base or the Pro?

Published

June 8, 2026

MJ Jucutan

Choosing between the Xiaomi Pad 8 and the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro feels like picking between a “sweet treat” and a “full-course meal.”

It’s deciding between a reliable travel companion and a specialized workstation. Both tablets rock a slim 5.8mm profile and a manageable 485-gram weight, and a 9200mAh battery.

However, under the hood, they are playing in different leagues. Especially since the “Pro” moniker adds serious muscle to the internals, and a solution for that glossy screen distraction.

Specs at a glance

Product	Xiaomi Pad 8	Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro
Processor	Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 (4nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm)
Display	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)	11.2″ 3.2K IPS LCD (144Hz)
Surface	Ultra-Glossy Glass	Optional Matte Nano-Texture
Storage/RAM	Up to 12GB LPDDR5X / 256GB	Up to 16GB LPDDR5T / 512GB
Rear Camera	13MP	50MP
Front Camera	8MP	32MP
Charging	45W Turbo Charge	67W HyperCharge
Pricing	Starts at PhP 20,999	Starts at PhP 38,999

Why you should pick the Xiaomi Pad 8

The standard Pad 8 is that “Goldilocks” device, hitting that sweet spot between price and premium hardware.

It’s ideal if your tablet usage is centered on media consumption and light productivity. Since it shares the same 11.2-inch screen size as the Pro, it fits perfectly on an airplane tray table, making it a dream for frequent flyers.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is no slouch; it still runs titles like Racing Master at 60fps on Ultra-High settings. If you’re a fan of XG or KiiiKiii, you’ll appreciate the quad-speaker setup and Hi-Res Audio support without needing to pay the “Pro” tax.

It’s the smart choice for those who want a capable second screen to complement their main laptop.

Why you should level up to the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro

The “Pro” is for those who found the standard model’s limitations — like the glossy screen reflections or the 128GB storage ceiling — to be a dealbreaker.

The biggest upgrade is the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a powerhouse chip that turns the tablet into a legitimate workstation for video editing in CapCut or heavy multitasking in HyperOS 3.0.

Beyond power, the Pro version offers a Matte Glass Edition, which completely solves the “reflection” issue that can ruin your movie sessions or drawing time under bright lights.

You also get significantly better cameras, such as a 32-megapixel front sensor for professional-looking video calls. There’s also a 50-megapixel rear camera for high-res document scanning.

Finally, the 67W HyperCharge means you spend less time tethered to a wall and more time being productive.

Which Xiaomi Pad is your GadgetMatch?

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 if you want the best value for your money.

It’s thin, light, and powerful enough for 90% of users. It handles gaming, writing, and music playback with ease, making it a worthy recipient of a seal of approval for anyone on a budget.

Just be sure to skip the 128GB entry model and go for the 256GB version to ensure you get those faster storage speeds.

Swipe Right on the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro if you are a “power user” who hates screen glare. If you plan to use the Focus Pen Pro for serious creative work or need 512GB of space for a massive game library, the Pro is worth the extra investment.

It’s a high-speed machine that charges faster, captures better photos, and runs every app with flagship-level fluidness.

The Xiaomi Pad 8 starts at PhP 20,999 with Normal Keyboard while the Xiaomi Pad 8 Pro starts at PhP 38,999 with Touch Keyboard. Both tablets come with free Focus Pen Pro.